Chicken hof in Hadae-dong, Jinju: half fried, half seasoned at Smope

There are days when you want crispy fried chicken but can't give up sweet-spicy seasoned chicken either — a beloved national dish either way. On days like that, the answer is always... half-and-half chicken! This time, while looking for good eats in Jinju's Hadae-dong, I visited "Smope Yangnyeom Tongdak & Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang."

It's a place where you can enjoy all kinds of chicken dishes, from fried chicken to chicken stew, so it's a great spot to drop by for a simple chicken-and-beer dinner.

Where is Smope Yangnyeom Tongdak in Jinju, and what are the hours?

📋 Store info

• 📍 Address: 346-22 Hadae-dong, Jinju
• ⏰ Hours: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM
• 🅿️ Parking: Public parking lot in front of the store (paid)

If you're looking for a Jinju Hadae-dong chicken hof where you can comfortably chat with friends over chicken, this one is worth keeping in mind.

Why order the half fried, half seasoned chicken at Smope?

Here's the menu board for reference. I was curious about the pot-lid chicken stew too, but today it was straight to chicken! Torn between fried and seasoned, I ended up ordering the half-and-half chicken so I could enjoy both. That's exactly the kind of dilemma half-and-half solves, haha.

First, cabbage salad and pickled radish came out.

After a short wait, the half-and-half chicken finally arrived~ On one side sat golden-brown fried chicken, and on the other, glossy red seasoned chicken. Just looking at it made my mouth water. Chicken really is a food that lifts your mood the moment it hits the table.

How is the fried chicken? Crispy and nutty

First I tried the basics — fried chicken. Grabbed a piece while it was still hot and took a bite right away. The crispy texture on the outside was great, and the meat inside was juicy, making it satisfying to eat together.

Freshly made fried chicken really is all about that crispiness. The batter wasn't too heavy, so it paired easily with the meat, and the savory, salty flavor kept my hand reaching back for more even without any extra sauce.

The seasoned chicken: sweet, spicy, old-style

Next was the seasoned chicken, coated in appetizing red sauce! The glossy look gave off a hint of old-style seasoned chicken nostalgia, which got me excited. On the first bite, sweetness came through first, followed by a slightly spicy, salty umami that I really liked. It wasn't an overly spicy style, more of a sweet-and-spicy seasoned chicken that was easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Pot-lid chicken stew, dakgalbi and the Naver review event

The pot-lid chicken stew sets and dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) menus were really varied, and there was a discount event running too. If you're deciding on dinner in Jinju's Hadae-dong or looking for good eats there, "Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang" is worth checking out too.

There's a Naver review event!

Is Smope a good spot for group gatherings in Hadae-dong, Jinju?

If you're looking for a Jinju Hadae-dong chicken hof to chat comfortably with friends over chicken, or a Jinju Hadae-dong meeting spot for a group, this place is worth a visit. Takeout and delivery are available too.

Next time I visit "Smope Yangnyeom Tongdak & Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang," I'd like to try the pot-lid chicken stew whose name had me curious from the start. And when the fried-or-seasoned dilemma strikes again... half fried, half seasoned chicken solves it neatly! Half-and-half chicken was the happy answer.