Gwanghwamun Tojongjib: Discovering a New Flavor of Chicken Dishes
A New Chicken Restaurant in Gwanghwamun
Gwanghwamun Tojongjib, newly opened at the end of 2024 behind the Dongwha Duty Free Shop at Gwanghwamun Station. This place was originally a Soondae guk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant run by an elderly person, but young owners have created a new atmosphere by opening a chicken dish restaurant. The exterior of the building has stacked firewood, and you can see chicken being grilled over a brazier, which draws your attention even as you pass by.
I've visited both for lunch and dinner, and it's a place where you can enjoy a simple meal for lunch and a variety of chicken dishes with drinks for dinner. I'd like to share my satisfying experience with both the menu and atmosphere!
Lunch Menu: The Charm of Soup Sets
For lunch, they serve a soup set with a chicken leg, which is divided into three types: Baekban (white rice set), Heukban (black rice set), and Hongban (red rice set). These menus, which are distinguished by the color of the soup, have different flavors, with Baekban being seasoned with salt, Heukban being soy sauce-based, and Hongban being chili powder-based.
- Baekban(Clean Broth): Has a clean taste like chicken gomtang (Korean chicken soup), characterized by a soft and savory broth.
- Heukban(Dark Broth): Gave off a deep flavor reminiscent of Japanese soy sauce-based chicken ramen.
- Hongban(Red Broth): Had a spicy and hot taste like chicken stew (Dakgaejang), making me feel like I was releasing stress.
The kimchi and gochujang (Korean chili paste) pickles that came as side dishes were also really delicious, and the rice, which was slightly undercooked, combined well with the soup, which actually made it feel more charming. I thought it was the perfect set for a light meal at lunchtime.
Dinner Menu: Perfect for a Drink!
For dinner, they had a variety of menus to enjoy with alcoholic beverages. I ordered the chicken stew, seasoned chicken, and firewood-grilled chicken, and each one had a distinct charm.
- Steamed Chicken: The soft and moist chicken went really well with soju.
- Seasoned Chicken: Thanks to its sweet and sour seasoning, it was perfect as a side dish with beer.
- Firewood-Grilled Chicken: The subtle charcoal aroma made it taste like it was calling for beer.
In particular, the beer is served as draft beer instead of bottled beer, and the fresh and smooth taste made me want to drink more. All the main side dishes were priced under 25,000 KRW, making the value for money excellent.
Clean Interior and Friendly Service
The interior of the restaurant was decorated with a clean and sophisticated design, and the friendly service from the staff was also impressive. What's interesting is that the food tasted better every time I visited. It seems that the owner is actively reflecting customer feedback to improve the menu.
In Conclusion...
If you are wondering about lunch or dinner near Gwanghwamun, I would like to recommend Gwanghwamun Tojongjib. It's a place where you can enjoy a clean and hearty meal for lunch and a variety of chicken dishes with drinks for dinner. Be sure to try the firewood-grilled chicken!
Since it's near my office, I often visit, and I actively recommend it to people around me. If you have a chance to be in Gwanghwamun, it's a good idea to stop by!
