Tosokchon – highly recommended place for Ginseng Chicken Soup or Samgyetang in Seoul

9 November 2014

Tosokchon is a Korean restaurant known for its signature samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup) made with glutinous rice, ginkgo nuts, ginseng, garlic and jujube, as well as 30 different types of medicinal herbs and grains.

It is located near to the west side of Gyeongbukgung and we came all the way for samgyetang dinner after visiting Changdeokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village and Samcheongdong.

We arrived at the Tosokchon and saw a long line of people waiting outside. This restaurant must be good!
 Queue outside the Tosokchon restaurant in Seoul.



Thankfully, the line moved fast and we were ushered to our seats after about 15 minutes. The restaurant occupies a hanok, with an open courtyard within. Seating is traditional korean style, on the floor, in many rooms surrounding the courtyard. I think the capacity of this restaurant is big, hence the fast turnaround.

The restaurant occupies a hanok, with open courtyard, and seating is traditional korean style, on the floor.

Guests are to remove their shoes before entering and the dining will be at the low lying tables. Cushion provided but I still find it uncomfortable seating cross legged on the floor. My poor legs are deprived of blood after a while.

We ordered a standard white chicken soup and a black chicken (Silkie chicken, which is black-pigmented right down to its bones) soup which cost a bit more but came with a cup of finely grounded herb (ginseng?).  It is believed that eating the black chicken offers more health benefits than eating the normal white chicken.

Each serving of soup also came with a small cup of rice wine. I poured half of it into the soup and drank the rest like soju.
 Standard Chicken Soup.

Black Chicken Soup which cost a little more.

Big piece of ginseng root embedded in the cavity of the chicken, with glutinous rice and other good stuff.


White pepper and salt mixed in a small plate serves as a dip for the meat. I noticed that the Koreans on the next table quickly break up the chicken carcass to expose the glutinous rice with the big piece of ginseng inside before eating. The good stuff are all in the soup. Hence, must savour and finish every drop of it.

Poster near the entrance showing the spices used. My photo is a bit blurred as it was shot while I was walking out.

I must say the Samgyetang was super good and was worth the trouble to find the restaurant and queue to have a meal here.

How to get there:

Address: 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Hours: 10AM–10PM

Phone: +82 2-737-7444