Cheonan chicken stew takeout, one and a half chickens: Sottture

On my way home after running errands in Cheonan, I found myself craving a warm chicken stew for dinner. Wanting to enjoy it comfortably at home, I picked up takeout from Sottture Dakdoritang, a well-known spot in Seongjeong-dong.

They started cooking as soon as I ordered, so I got it piping hot, and the deep, clean broth flavor came through just as well at home. Here's my takeout review of a generous, satisfying meal that even had chewy mushrooms as a highlight.

Where Sottture Dakdoritang is, and opening hours

• Location: 626-6 Seongjeong-dong, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam
• Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–23:00
• Parking: Lot available

Inside Sottture Dakdoritang and where to park

I came for takeout this time, but got to peek inside for a bit. Everything was neatly arranged, making it look like an easy pick for a family meal or a work dinner. Overall it had a tidy feel, with the kind of comfort you only get at a long-running local favorite.

The side dishes were also neatly laid out, each one plated cleanly — a satisfying first impression.

Another thing I liked was that there's a separate parking lot behind the restaurant.

Parking can be a bit of a headache around Seongjeong-dong, so having a dedicated lot made it much less stressful to drive there.

They also mentioned that dining in gets you an ice cream dessert afterward, which sounded pretty appealing too. Next time I'd like to give myself more time and actually eat at the restaurant.

The menu and our takeout order

The menu had various set sizes depending on how many people you're feeding. Since it was dinner for the family, we ordered the dakhanmariban dakdoritang — the portion looked generous enough for several people to share.

Since the kids would be eating too, we added a rolled omelet. Chicken stew plus rolled omelet seemed like an easy combo for kids, so we added it without much thought.

Even though it was a takeout order, they started cooking right after we ordered, so we got it back still warm — that was a nice touch. Since it wasn't pre-made but freshly simmered, the delicious smell kept wafting up the whole way home, building anticipation before we even walked in the door.

One-and-a-half-chicken dakdoritang, eaten at home

As soon as we got home, we warmed it up a bit and put it straight on the table.

A rich aroma hit first, along with a really appetizing look. The first spoonful of broth was cleaner than I expected. Rich dakdoritang can sometimes come off heavy or overly sharp, but Sottture's had none of that. The broth had plenty of depth but finished clean, the kind you keep spooning up without thinking. With broth like that, you naturally start craving rice.

The chicken was well-cooked and moist rather than dry, and the portion was really generous. True to its name — dakhanmariban, or one-and-a-half chickens — it was more than enough for the whole family, and the hearty amount only added to how satisfying it felt. The potatoes inside were cooked through and fluffy, and there were plenty of rice cakes too, making the broth even more fun to dig into.

The real kick: chewy mushrooms in the broth

Personally, the ingredient that stuck with me most was the mushrooms. The chewy texture was fantastic, and having soaked up the broth, they got more savory with every bite. I reached for them before the chicken. We kept saying how nice it'd be to add extra mushrooms — that's how much of a highlight they were this meal. I didn't expect mushrooms to play such a key role in a dakdoritang, but between the texture and the added flavor, they were genuinely the real kick of this dish.

Rolled omelet, the easy dish for kids

The rolled omelet we ordered alongside didn't disappoint either. Rolled up thick, it was moist and soft, and the kids devoured it. A bite of rolled omelet in between the stew naturally cooled down the spiciness, so the pairing worked really well. The kids especially loved the omelet, while the adults alternated between it and the stew for an even better meal.

I worried takeout might not taste as good, but it was fully enjoyable at home, and the generous portion made for a satisfying dinner for everyone. Starting the cooking right after ordering so it arrives still warm felt like a real strength of this place.

Final verdict on Sottture Dakdoritang takeout

Sottture Dakdoritang at a glance