Busan chicken stew late-night meal at Yetnal Tongdak & Tang

Today, I’m going to introduce a place in Seomyeon, Busan that is great for everything from dinner to drinks. There are so many good restaurants and bars in Seomyeon that I always wonder where to go whenever I make plans with friends. This time, I visited Yetnal Tongdak & Tang Seomyeon Branch (옛날통닭앤탕 서면점), where you can enjoy old-fashioned whole chicken and dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken stew) together. I was craving a hearty dakdoritang today, so after work I headed out for a late-night meal with my girlfriend.

Yetnal Tongdak & Tang in Seomyeon’s food alley

Yetnal Tongdak & Tang Seomyeon Branch sits in Seomyeon’s central commercial district, one of Busan’s busiest areas. Seomyeon is one of Busan’s signature downtown districts: people come for meals and cafés during the day, then flock to its bars and restaurants in earnest at night. It is especially a place where you can feel Seomyeon’s lively atmosphere, which runs from evening into the early morning. There were no customers when I arrived, but after midnight they started coming in. Ahhh, the good old days.

One thing that stood out to me before I visited was that it stays open until late.

• Address: 73-1 Jungang-daero 680beonga-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: 17:30–05:30
• Main menu: old-fashioned whole chicken / chicken / dakdoritang, etc.
• Location: near Seomyeon’s central food alley
• Recommended for: gatherings with friends / company dinners / drinks / late dinners

What is the atmosphere like inside?

Once inside, the overall mood felt relaxed and cozy. There are plenty of neat, stylish restaurants these days, but at a chicken restaurant or bar like this, I think an atmosphere where you can sit back and enjoy food and drinks suits it even better. Looking around from my table, it felt less like a place for a quiet meal alone and more like somewhere to visit with friends, a partner, or coworkers to enjoy food and drinks. That made me think it would also be a decent choice for a company dinner or gathering.

I could see the menu and a poster for the Tteoksuni Set, too 😍 I want to eat it all, but today I’ll hold back...

This is the basic table setting‼️

Dakdoritang that became more clean-tasting as it simmered

Before the dakdoritang arrived, cheers 🎶🎶🎶

The staff said I could eat it right away, so I took a bite. The initial sourness and raw smell of chili powder made for a worrying first meeting, but as it continued to simmer, the broth became spicy with a clean, sharp kick that paired well with drinks. The seasoning had soaked nicely into the chicken, and eating it with the broth made me want rice, so I ordered it right away.

Even after eating pizza and then more of this, it was so good that I forgot to take photos—so here’s one hurried shot 😆

Chicken thigh, chicken breast, rice cakes, and glass noodles—one whole bowl of rice disappeared in no time. Feels goooood.

If you are looking for good chicken in Seomyeon, want a hearty dakdoritang alongside your chicken, or need somewhere comfortable for a drink until late, keep this place in mind. If you are looking for chicken and a bar in Seomyeon, Yetnal Tongdak & Tang Seomyeon Branch could be worth a visit. 🍗🍻 Next time, chicken, I choose you‼️