Cold chicken noodle set at a Seocho Korean restaurant: Seocho Jeonggye

While hunting for a good Korean restaurant near Seocho Station, the name Seocho Jeonggye (서초정계) caught my eye. It sounded unusual yet familiar, so I got curious — turns out it's a Seocho Station Korean restaurant built around chicken dishes, with a whole lineup of menu items. I'd especially heard the summer specialty chogyeguksu (cold chicken noodle soup) and dak kalguksu (chicken knife-cut noodle soup) were famous, so I went in with high expectations. It sits right across from the Lawyers' Association building, so it's easy to find, and the clean interior made for a satisfying, filling meal.

Where Seocho Jeonggye is and when it opens

• Address: 20 Beobwon-ro 1-gil, Mido Building 1F, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Directions: Exit 8 of Seocho Station, turn left at the first alley, then right at the next one — it's right there, facing the Lawyers' Association building.
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–22:00 (break time 15:00–17:00, last order 21:00). Sundays and holidays run on a separate schedule, so call ahead.
• Other info: Separate men's/women's restrooms, Wi-Fi available
• Parking: No dedicated parking lot.

3 minutes on foot from Seocho Station, across from the Lawyers' Association building

It's close enough to reach in about 3 minutes on foot from Seocho Station. With the courthouse and the Lawyers' Association nearby, it draws a lot of office workers. The exterior is clean and tidy, giving off the comfortable feel you'd expect from a Korean restaurant specialist.

What the dining room at Seocho Jeonggye feels like

Inside, Seocho Jeonggye was cozy and neatly arranged. The tables are spaced well enough for office workers to gather at lunch, and I'd guess families come in more at dinner. It's quiet but warm, a good match for Korean food. One wall even has a hanok-style lattice door, which gave a bit of a traditional hanok feeling.

The stack of personal plates by the kitchen were brass bowls, which felt charmingly old-school. I didn't notice on the way in, but on the way out there was sikhye (sweet rice punch) at the entrance — cool and sweet, perfect after a meal.

Seocho Jeonggye menu and prices, and what we ordered

Seocho Jeonggye's signature dishes are dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) and dak kalguksu. It's built around chicken, with plenty of variety on the menu.

• Dakbokkeumtang, medium (2–3 people): ₩32,000
• Dak han mari, medium (2–3 people): ₩30,000
• Boneless dakbokkeumtang, single: ₩13,000
• Cheese boneless dakbokkeumtang: ₩15,000
• Dak kalguksu: ₩11,000
• Chogyeguksu (summer): ₩12,000
• Gamjajeon (potato pancake): ₩17,000
• Dak muchim: ₩18,000
• Salt-grilled dak-odolppyeo: ₩15,000
• Jeonggye-tteopim: ₩20,000
• Dak tteokgalbi: ₩8,000

Both dak kalguksu and chogyeguksu come with a set option letting you add dak tteokgalbi or jeonggye-tteopim. That day we ordered chogyeguksu, the chogyeguksu-plus-jeonggye-tteopim set, dak kalguksu, and dak tteokgalbi.

Side dishes: self-serve kimchi jar and yuja pickled radish

You could help yourself to as much kimchi as you wanted from a big jar — it really showed the owner's generosity, and it paired perfectly with the dak kalguksu. The radish pickle was sweet and tangy, with yuzu added for a distinctive fragrance. A special side dish you won't find elsewhere — one of Seocho Jeonggye's own touches.

Chogyeguksu: chilled chicken noodles

True to its reputation as a summer specialty, the flavor was refreshing and tangy — excellent. The generous chicken breast was lean and light, giving that healthy feeling, but never dry, which I really appreciated. The tangy-sweet broth also perked up my appetite right away. Exactly the right dish for hot weather.

Jeonggye fried chicken

The set came with two pieces of fried chicken — one stuffed inside a large pepper, the other inside a perilla leaf, both filled with a chicken stuffing and fried. Both were crispy outside, moist inside, and delicious whether dipped in soy sauce or the spicy special mustard sauce. Eating them alongside the chogyeguksu worked beautifully — the noodle soup cleanly cut through the richness of the fried chicken, making the set feel very well put together.

Dak kalguksu: chicken noodle soup

The broth was rich and deep. The clean flavor of the chicken stock matched well with the chewy knife-cut noodles. Adding a little of the seasoning sauce brought out another layer of flavor, and a single spoonful of broth was enough to warm me right up — the kind of dish you'd crave especially on a cold day.

Dak tteokgalbi: grilled chicken patty

The outside was clearly browned and grilled, but the inside was so moist and tender I'd say it beat beef tteokgalbi. The lean chicken flavor combined with the sweet-salty seasoning made it work equally well as a side dish with rice or as a drinking snack. It was big and thick enough that I wondered if the price was really right.

Is Seocho Jeonggye worth a visit?

Seocho Jeonggye was a Korean restaurant where you can enjoy chicken prepared many different ways. Chogyeguksu and dak kalguksu each suit their own season, and adding jeonggye-tteopim and dak tteokgalbi made for a very generous meal. The clean interior and comfortable atmosphere kept me satisfied throughout. If you're near Seocho Station looking for a hearty Korean meal, I'd recommend Seocho Jeonggye.