Sokcho market stall No.4 dakgangjeong and fried snacks: Seomin Gapbu

Hi everyone, it's Banjjokdalbit!! What comes to mind when you think of a Sokcho trip?!? One course you can't skip on a Sokcho trip is Jungang Market, right?? Among all the different foods there, the most famous dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken) feels like an essential stop.

Where is Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip in Sokcho's chicken alley?

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip (서민갑부 시장닭집) is located at stall No.4 in the chicken alley of Sokcho Jungang Market. There are several shops here, but today I visited the one that appeared on the TV show Seomin Gapbu. This place was the 13th shop featured on the show Dokhan Insaeng: Seomin Gapbu back in 2015.

Since it's in the chicken alley of Sokcho Jungang Market, it's easy to find. After visiting this time, I realized it's easier if you know the stall number — Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip is No.4.

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip menu, prices and spice levels

Here's the menu at Sijang Dakjip.

• Boneless dakgangjeong ₩21,000
• Boneless fried chicken ₩21,000
• Garlic dakgangjeong ₩24,000
• Deodeok dakgangjeong ₩24,000
• Shrimp gangjeong small ₩11,000 / large ₩21,000
• Dakgangjeong+fried chicken half-and-half ₩21,000
• Dakgangjeong+shrimp gangjeong half-and-half ₩21,000
• Kodari fried ₩23,000
• Kodari gangjeong ₩24,000
• Kodari half-and-half ₩24,000

Regular flavor is the default, and switching to spicy, honey-sweet, or honey-hot adds ₩1,000.

The dakgangjeong are displayed out front so you can see and check them with your own eyes before buying. Don't they all look delicious, each with its own character??? We went with the shop's signature garlic dakgangjeong!

Since they fry it fresh when you order, it takes about 15 minutes. You could use this time to go shopping elsewhere in the market haha.

For those who want just a little, cup-sized dakgangjeong and cup-sized shrimp gangjeong are also available.

Can you order fried snacks from the stall next door at the same time?

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip operates together with Ttokine Twigim right next door, so we could order fried snacks too. Everything could be packed up in one spot without needing to line up separately.

Sharing these photos for anyone who might find them useful!!!

If you buy the fried snacks, you can eat them inside.

How to carry garlic dakgangjeong home and keep it crispy

Here's the garlic dakgangjeong we packed to go. Ingredients are domestic of course, and delivery is available too, just so you know!! The packaging is neat, so there's no worry about sauce leaking while carrying it.

That day the market was crowded and it was tough carrying around a bunch of stuff, but the garlic dakgangjeong stayed neatly packed the whole way. If you close the box lid completely right after frying, steam builds up and makes it soggy — but if you leave the lid slightly open while moving, you can eat it crispy.

What does the garlic dakgangjeong taste like?

Looking at the photo again makes me want to eat it once more — the balance of garlic aroma and the sweet-spicy special sauce is impossible to stop eating once you start. It goes really, really well with beer.

It's a generous portion that 2-3 people can enjoy plenty of, crispy outside and moist inside. Crispy outside, juicy inside!! It doesn't easily get soggy even after cooling.

Since it's boneless, it's easy to eat, and the batter isn't thick so you can really feel the texture of the meat. The syrup coating typical of gangjeong is thin and even, so the sweet-spicy flavor really comes through.

When the sweetness of regular seasoned dakgangjeong feels like too much, choosing the garlic version seems to boost the savory depth of the sauce even more. As expected! Garlic is a flavor pretty much every Korean loves without exception. That said, the garlic scent doesn't linger strongly, so it's easy to eat without feeling heavy.

The flavor doesn't change even after it cools, so it seems great for delivery, as a gift for friends, or to pick up on the way home after a vacation!! If you're looking for a dakgangjeong spot in Sokcho, I highly recommend Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip!!