In Seoul, South Korea, Chicken Ginseng Soup Is A Traditional Dish Worth Trying

Chicken Ginseng Soup Is A Traditional Dish Worth Trying

Chicken Ginseng soup (Samgyetang) is a comforting bowl of bubbling hot soup consisting of a small chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng, garlic, and jujube (red date).

It’s a very popular dish in Korea and it’s customary to eat during the summer with the belief that the nutrient rich soup will replenish those nutrients lost in the hot summer days.

From my outsider perspective and first time having it, it has a chicken soup kind of comfort level while eating, except I enjoyed it a lot more.

This particular restaurant is conveniently located near the famous Bukchon Hanok Village and is a great way to end the visit to the area.

After a very long day of travel and exploring the great city of Seoul, I certainly needed a pick me up and this dish had the intended effect. I can see why this is such a beloved dish and a staple in the South Korean culture.

This is a broth that you season with salt and pepper yourself.  The woman who brought the soup out also set the salt and pepper in front of me as well letting me know to season.

It’s nice to be able to season the broth yourself and adjust to your contentment. The base broth is quite bland on its own and certainly needs the salt and pepper.

Once seasoned to your liking it’s reminiscent of a chicken noodle soup, just replace the noodles with rice…and the chicken pieces with a whole baby chicken…with rice stuffed inside.  But you know what I mean.  This is a cozy soup. The chicken just falls off the bone it’s so tender.  The ginseng flavor is very subtle. It’s there but not overpowering at all. The sticky rice on the inside of the chicken is delicious as well.

It’s quite a filling meal that will leave you warm and content. Perfect if you’re feeling a little under the weather as well. 

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