Uijeongbu market dakgangjeong shop before the 6:30 sell-out: Dalgom's

I was strolling around Uijeongbu Market when a savory, sweet smell drifted over from somewhere — I followed my nose and ended up at Dalgom's, a dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) place that's apparently famous around here. Haha.

Where is Dalgom's? Inside Uijeongbu Jeil Market, one minute from Uijeongbu Jungang Station Exit 1

Dakgangjeong Dalgom's is close to Exit 1 of Uijeongbu Jungang Station and sits inside Jeil Market! Just wander through the market and follow the fried chicken smell — that's the spot.

You can also come in from the back.

If you're walking a pet, you can leave them briefly at the waiting area out front while you order takeout. Dalgom's dakgangjeong ranks #1 in the chicken/dakgangjeong category on delivery apps like Baedal Teukgeup, Meokkkaebi, and Ddangyeoyo, and it's so popular that ingredients can sell out by 6:30 pm. I was planning to go around 7 but heard it might run out, so I hustled over. Haha, almost missed it!

Inside Dalgom's: an open kitchen where you see every step of the frying

The inside of Dalgom's was clean and tidy overall, so ordering felt pleasant. The waiting area is pretty spacious and there's Wi-Fi, so you can wait comfortably.

Dalgom's completely broke my stereotype of a market food stall! The cooking area is fully open so you can watch the entire dakgangjeong-making process, and the space is so clean and tidy that even germaphobes can eat here with total confidence. Kind of reminded me of a semiconductor cleanroom, if I'm being dramatic...

Ordering takeout through Naver is quicker and simpler! There are also events on other delivery apps, so check those out too. I'm thinking of trying delivery next time. Haha.

The owner told me the sauce is always made fresh and thrown out the same day — no leftovers carried over — and that the chicken isn't fried all at once in advance but in small batches, fried fresh like kimchi made to order. He said cooking is all about care and effort. Haha.

Tasting a freshly fried, unsauced piece while the order is made

While I waited for my order, the owner handed me a piece of chicken fresh out of the fryer, before it got sauced — and my eyes lit up. No seasoning at all, just plain fried chicken, but the meat itself was so juicy and delicious that I wanted to rush home and eat the rest with sauce right away. T_T

The packaging was neat and sturdy too. The smell nearly drove me crazy the whole way home. T_T

Dalgom's menu and prices: 9,000 to 24,000 won

• One flavor (half chicken, for one person) — ₩9,000
• Two flavors (whole chicken, for two) — ₩17,000
• Three flavors (1.5 chicken, for three) — ₩24,000

It's a great lineup for matching your group size! Whether you go alone or with a group, you can enjoy it without stress. I wanted to try three flavors, so I ordered the 1.5-chicken size.

• Honey
• Sweet
• Spicy Garlic
• Garlic Soy
• Bburinkle
• Cheese Mustard
• Original Fried

I went with Sweet, Garlic Soy, and Bburinkle. They all looked so good I had a hard time deciding. Guess I'll try the others next time.

How the sweet, garlic soy and Bburinkle flavors tasted

Once I finally got home and tasted them, each sauce had its own personality. Haha. Sweet was, well, sweet, so it's approachable for anyone. Garlic Soy was salty and savory with great depth of flavor. Bburinkle had a mild cheesy aroma that kept me reaching for more.

The batter was crispy while the meat inside stayed juicy — a great combo. The sauce clung to the chicken instead of pooling separately, soaking in nicely, so every bite made me say 'so good' out loud.

Visit tips for Dalgom's and the verdict

If you're looking for a great dakgangjeong spot in Uijeongbu, I'd recommend Dalgom's. Next time I want to try the Spicy Garlic and Cheese Mustard flavors I missed. Haha. Just note that ingredients sell out fast in the evening, so if you're planning a visit, it's best to avoid going too late!

If you ever find yourself at Uijeongbu Market, definitely stop by. The owner is really kind too.