Gangbuk fried chicken shop with two birds for 20,000 won: Gimssi

When you're grocery shopping at Suyu Market, there's a smell that's hard to walk past — freshly fried chicken. This time at Suyu Market, I picked up dakgangjeong (sweet and spicy fried chicken bites) and fried chicken drumsticks from Gimssi Chicken to take home.

Let me start with the conclusion: after eating it, I understood why people call this a go-to spot for dakgangjeong near Suyu Market. The medium-spicy dakgangjeong especially was right up my alley. It starts off sweet, then the spice builds as you keep eating, so one piece led to another. And considering today's chicken prices, getting two chickens' worth for about ₩20,000 — enough for a family of four to eat well — felt like pretty good value.

Where is Gimssi Chicken Suyu Market Branch, and when is it open?

Gimssi Chicken is located at 29 Dobong-ro 71-gil, 1st floor, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's near Suyu Market South Gate 1, so it's easy to stop by while you're at the market. There's a big poultry shop right next door, which makes it easy to spot. It's open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Since it's a takeout-only shop, the idea is to pack the chicken or dakgangjeong and enjoy it at home rather than eat in. When I visited, there were other customers ordering and picking up takeout too, and even with a bit of a wait, the staff moved quickly, so turnover felt faster than expected. It seemed like a great stop if you're grocery shopping at the market and want to grab a tasty snack or dinner to go.

Gimssi Chicken menu and prices

What's interesting about Gimssi Chicken is that it doesn't just sell dakgangjeong. Fried chicken is ₩9,900, seasoned or half-and-half chicken is ₩11,900 each, old-style whole fried chicken is ₩7,000, and seasoned old-style whole fried chicken is ₩10,000. They also sell gizzards — fried for ₩8,000 and seasoned for ₩10,000.

You can choose your spice level for dakgangjeong — mild, medium, or spicy. Medium size is ₩9,000, large is ₩13,000, and XL is ₩17,000, so you can pick the amount you want. Fried boneless chicken also comes in medium (₩8,000), large (₩12,000), and XL (₩16,000).

You can also order specific parts like wings, drumettes, or drumsticks, which is great if everyone in the family has a favorite cut. With so many options, you can pack just dakgangjeong as a snack, or put together a mixed chicken order for dinner — it's versatile. Everything is fried fresh once you order.

What does the medium-spicy dakgangjeong taste like?

My favorite menu item was definitely the medium-spicy dakgangjeong. On the first bite, sweetness spreads across your mouth, then a subtle heat creeps up right after. It's not just spicy dakgangjeong — the sweetness and spiciness come through together, so I kept reaching for more. Personally, I prefer dakgangjeong that isn't overly sweet or overly spicy but hits that flavorful spicy sweet spot, and this was exactly that.

They fry rice cakes in along with the chicken, so it's basically like eating sotteok (skewered rice cake and sausage) minus the skewer — chicken and rice cake together. The sauce had a subtle garlic aroma along with a sweet, salty umami that paired well with the chicken. And you can't talk about dakgangjeong without mentioning texture.

Even after taking it home, the outer crispiness held up really well. I liked that the crunch stayed even after some time had passed since packing. The rice cake mixed in was chewy too, adding another layer of fun when eaten with the sauce. One piece of dakgangjeong, one piece of rice cake, then another piece of dakgangjeong — I couldn't stop. If you're looking for a go-to dakgangjeong spot near Suyu Market, I'd personally recommend starting with this medium-spicy version.

Mild fried chicken drumsticks the kids finished

This time I also tried the fried chicken drumsticks. While dakgangjeong is all about the spicy-sweet sauce, the fried drumsticks are much plainer and cleaner in flavor. I especially liked that they weren't as heavily salted as typical fried chicken. Even without curry powder, there was no gamey or fishy chicken smell at all. And since there's no sauce coating it, you can really taste the crispy batter.

Above all, the drumstick meat was plump, so even one piece had plenty to eat. I thought it would also work well as family-friendly fried chicken for kids. In fact, even kids who don't like strong flavors ate it happily with just a light dip in salt — that's how plain and clean it tasted. Having both the sweet-spicy dakgangjeong and the plain fried drumsticks meant everyone in the family could find something they liked, each with its own appeal.

Two chickens for about 20,000 won: value for a family of four

These days, even ordering one chicken means checking the price first. Gimssi Chicken had relatively affordable options, which was nice. We put together two chickens' worth for about ₩20,000, and it fed a family of four well. Of course, the price varies depending on what you order, but it's a plus that there's less financial pressure when you want to prepare a generous family snack or dinner.

You can choose your spice level for dakgangjeong, like medium-spicy, and beyond fried and seasoned chicken, there's also old-style whole fried chicken, boneless chicken, wings, drumettes, and drumsticks — so you can order to match what you're in the mood for that day. It's a good place to stop by on your way home from grocery shopping at Suyu Market, or to pick up dakgangjeong as a family snack. The dakgangjeong especially held its crispiness fairly well after packing, which was handy for situations when you can't eat it right away.

Would I order from Gimssi Chicken at Suyu Market again?

What stuck with me most about Gimssi Chicken was the crispy dakgangjeong and the reasonable prices. Above all, the medium-spicy dakgangjeong I ordered starts sweet and builds into spicy, so I kept reaching for more. The sweet, salty sauce with hints of garlic paired well with the chicken, and the chewy rice cake mixed in was delicious too.

The fried drumsticks, on the other hand, were plain and clean, making them a good choice for family members who aren't fans of strong seasoned chicken or dakgangjeong flavors. Being able to choose your spice level and pick specific parts from boneless chicken to wings, drumettes, and drumsticks also seems to be part of Gimssi Chicken's appeal.

Above all, its location near Suyu Market South Gate makes it convenient to swing by for takeout while you're at the market. If you're looking for a go-to dakgangjeong spot near Suyu Market or a generous chicken order for a family snack, Gimssi Chicken is worth a visit. Next time I go, I'll definitely order the medium-spicy dakgangjeong again. With sweet-spicy sauce, crispy chicken, and chewy rice cake all together, dakgangjeong really is fun to eat one piece at a time by hand.