Tasty Tuesdays: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Restaurant: Dae Myeong Dori Tang (대명도리탕)
Type: Korean Spicy Chicken Soup (닭도리탕)
Location: Bongmyeong-dong (봉명동)
Price: -Spicy Chicken Soup – 15,000 (feeds 2)-30,000 (feeds 4~5)
 -Wild Chicken – 40,000 (whole chicken)

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Before coming to Korea, I never knew about the country’s obsession with chicken. Maybe you were like me and thought that it was going to be all rice and noodles with kimchi for every meal. Sure, I knew a little about Korean barbeque, so I knew there would be some pork. But never did I expect the sheer amount of tasty chicken dishes available in this country! We have all enjoyed some fried chicken, maybe gotten some dalkgalbi (닭갈비) when we are feeling in the mood for something a little spicy. However, there are so many other options that aren’t as well-known as those two. One of my favorites is a spicy chicken soup called 닭도리탕 (“dak-do-ri-tang”). There are quite a few spots around town to try it out, but most are older looking places that can be intimidating if you don’t know exactly what you are looking for. That is why I am going to help all of you out by recommending a place that, in my opinion, is one of the best ones you will find.

The main dish at Dae Myeong Dori Tang is, of course, the spicy chicken stew. For all of you out there that are afraid of not being able to handle the spice, don’t worry; it is not an overpowering spice at all, and I would say less spicy or relatively similar to what you would expect from a normal dalkgalbi restaurant. There are three options available as far as the size of stew. If you are going with two or three people, I would whole-heartedly recommend getting the middle-sized option for 20,000 won (you can say “Joong” to order it). The smallest option is quite small, but if there are only two of you and you aren’t that hungry, then go for it.
HOWEVER! *BIG DISCLAIMER* If you order the 15,000 won smallest option, you CANNOT get refills on the side dishes. And you definitely do not want to limit yourself there, because while the chicken stew is very good on its own, the mass quantities of side dishes are what make Dae Myeong Dori Tang one of the best.

             Just look at all them side dishes! Truly glorious. Do yourself a favor and order the 20,000 won size of chicken stew, giving you the chance to eat as much as you can at a really good price. Everyone can find something they like among the various sides: omelette, squid rings, shellfish, Korean “pancakes” (전), fried….stuff. It is all delicious.
             Now, some of you may be out there saying, “Phil, I have been in Korea long enough to know about Dak-dori-tang. This ain’t my first rodeo. Side dishes, shmide dishes. I’m going to need more to go on than just delicious chicken and awesome side dishes.”
        

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    For those people that said that, I am truly sorry. I have a hard time judging exactly how many rodeos people have been a part of based solely on first glance. You are in luck, though, because spicy chicken stew is not the only thing on the menu! For the more adventurous readers out there, you can also find wild chicken (which is different from a normal chicken, I have been told) and rabbit on the menu. I personally have not tried them yet, but if you want to try them out, go for it.
             Dae Myeong Dori Tang is located in Bongmyeong-dong (봉명동) very close to Bong Jeong Elementary school. For those of you who are not so familiar with the area, it is about a 5-10 minute bus ride from Chungdae (충대) and about a 5-10 minute taxi ride from G-Well City. Many taxi drivers will know the restaurant if you just say “Dae Myeong Dak-Dori-Tang” because it is pretty famous.
Feel free to hit me up with comments or questions by leaving a comment on the blog. Much love for everyone reading this blog, and check back soon for another great Tasty Tuesday. And, as always, get your eat on.

-Phil Drendall

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