Jongno 5-ga Station chicken hot pot lunch with self-bar: Sunhuine

On days when I want a hearty meal in Dongdaemun, I start craving dak hanmari ("one whole chicken" hot pot), a Seoul classic with warm broth and tender chicken. This time I visited Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun (순희네빈대떡 닭한마리 동대문본점). It also has bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) and yukhoe tangtangi (seasoned raw beef), so it looked good for groups too. If you're looking for a chicken hot pot lunch near Dongdaemun Market, have a look.

Where is Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dongdaemun?

Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun is in the chicken hot pot alley between Jongno 5-ga Station and Dongdaemun Station. It's within walking distance of Jongno 5-ga Station Exit 5, so it was easy to reach by public transport. The address is 20 Jongno 40ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Size and seating: about 200 seats over two floors

The restaurant stretches across the 1st and 2nd floors, which stood out to me. With about 200 seats, it seemed fine for family meals, get-togethers with friends or company dinners. There are lots of tables, so it's worth knowing about when you need a place for a big group.

Sunhuine Bindaetteok menu and prices

The signature dishes are the chicken hot pot, seafood bindaetteok and yukhoe tangtangi. There are also half-chicken portions, yukhoe bibimbap and meat patties, so you can pick to your taste. I didn't hesitate and ordered the chicken hot pot. A pot simmering at the table makes a filling meal whatever the weather.

• Chicken hot pot (whole) ₩33,000
• Half chicken hot pot ₩15,000
• Seafood bindaetteok ₩12,000
• Yukhoe tangtangi ₩38,000
• Yukhoe bibimbap ₩12,000
• Meat patties ₩4,000 per piece

Self-bar and draft beer machine

There's a self-bar with the things you need for the meal. You take as much as you want yourself, which was convenient. If you run short of something mid-meal, you can help yourself without feeling awkward about it, which I loved!

The restaurant also has a draft beer machine. Chicken hot pot with a cold draft beer seemed like a great fit for an after-work dinner or a get-together with friends.

How do you make the dak hanmari dipping sauce?

The sauce is quietly the most important part of eating chicken hot pot, right?

For the sauce here, add minced garlic and dadaegi (seasoned chili paste) to cabbage and mix well. It's spicy and sharp, with crunchy cabbage on top, which made it great for dipping the chicken. It has a different charm from the broth, and I kept reaching for it.

How to eat dak hanmari: whole chicken cut at the table, rice cakes first

After a short wait, a staff member brought out a big whole chicken. They cut the chicken in the pot into bite-size pieces for us, so it was easy to eat. I think foreign visitors like this tableside cutting too!

Once the broth starts bubbling, eat the rice cakes first. Soaked in the warm broth, they were chewy yet soft.

The seasoning isn't heavy, so they were easy to eat, and they're perfect to pick at one by one while you wait for the chicken to cook.

How did Sunhuine's chicken hot pot taste?

Simmered long enough in the broth, the chicken was moist and tender, which I liked.

The meat didn't feel dry. It pulled apart neatly along the grain and was easy to eat, and with the warm broth on mild chicken, my stomach felt more settled with every bite.

Rather than relying on strong seasoning, the style here lets you enjoy the plain flavor of the chicken itself and the savory depth of the broth.

Is Sunhuine a good chicken hot pot lunch near Dongdaemun Market?

I liked that you can get chicken hot pot and a range of side dishes all in one place. The spacious restaurant works for groups, and if you like mild chicken and warm broth, it's worth a visit. If you're deciding on a chicken hot pot lunch near Dongdaemun Market, check the location and menu above.

It's open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. It's a good idea to double-check the hours before you go.