How do I get to Taeyanggye Jangjakgui Nurungji Tongdak from Mapo-gu Office Station?

Taeyanggye Jangjakgui Nurungji Tongdak is located about a 5-8 minute walk from Exit 4 of Mapo-gu Office Station. Simply exit through Exit 4 and walk straight along the main road, and you'll find it easily, even if it's your first time visiting.

What are Taeyanggye Jangjakgui Nurungji Tongdak's operating hours, and how long should I expect to wait if I visit on a weekend?

Taeyanggye Jangjakgui Nurungji Tongdak is regularly closed every Monday and operates from 5 PM to 12 AM (midnight) from Tuesday to Sunday. On weekend evenings after 6 PM, you should be prepared for a wait as seating may not be immediately available.

How is Taeyanggye Jangjakgui's Nurungji Tongdak prepared, and what is the price range?

Taeyanggye Jangjakgui's Nurungji Tongdak is roasted for 100 minutes over oak wood, giving it a savory oak aroma. Prices range from ~$15 for the original flavor to ~$19 for the corn mozzarella cheese flavor.

Mapo-gu Office Station: Taeyanggye Wood-Fired Chicken

Mapo-gu Office Station: Taeyanggye Wood-Fired Chicken | TRVLOGUE

📍 Location: 1st Floor, 146 World Cup-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Approximately a 5-minute walk from Mapo-gu Office Station Exit 4)

🕒 Operating Hours: 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Closed every Monday)

💰 Price Range: Original Nurungji Tongdak starts at ~$15, Corn Mozzarella Cheese version ~$19. Many side dishes are in the ~$7 range.

🅿️ Parking information doesn't seem to be explicitly provided.

Location

It's a pleasant 5 to 8-minute stroll from Mapo-gu Office Station. Just take Exit 4 and walk straight along the main road – it's practically impossible to get lost, even if it's your first time. You could even walk here from Mangwon Station if you're up for a leisurely walk, making it a great route for an evening wander.

The area around Seongsan-dong is primarily residential, so restaurants here get surprisingly busy in the evenings. We arrived a little after 5:00 PM on a Saturday evening, and by 6:00 PM, there wasn't an empty seat in the house. If you're planning to visit after 6:00 PM on a weekend, be prepared for a wait!

Atmosphere

Outside the restaurant, you'll see chickens slowly rotating on spits, surrounded by stacks of oak wood, which immediately catches your eye. As you approach, the first thing that greets you is the unmistakable, savory aroma of oak wood-fired chicken. Just seeing it already makes your mouth water! 😋

The interior retains much of its original look from when it was the daggutang restaurant. The decor isn't flashy, but that's precisely what makes it feel so comfortable and welcoming. It's the perfect atmosphere for two or three friends to share a drink and conversation, rather than a solo meal.

Seating options include a long bar table, two-person tables, and larger tables accommodating four to six guests.

There's also a self-service corner and a wash station right next to it.

Menu

Beyond the wood-fired chicken, they offer a fantastic array of dishes perfect for pairing with drinks. You'll find everything from Gukmul Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes in Broth), Jikwha Bulgakbal (Spicy Grilled Chicken Feet), Jjolbaengi (Spicy Chewy Noodles with Whelk), Ttongjip Twigim (Fried Chicken Gizzards), Chokchok Nogari (Moist Dried Pollack), Yubu Udon (Fried Tofu Skin Udon), Naeng-Memil (Cold Buckwheat Noodles), to Jjinmandu (Steamed Dumplings). They even have convenient Set Menus, making it easy to order a variety of items to share and get more bang for your buck! 👍

For the two of us, we opted for the most classic choice: the Nurungji Tongdak. They boast that it's roasted for a full 100 minutes over oak wood, and you can truly taste that subtle, nutty oak flavor infused throughout.

Before the pandemic, I absolutely loved visiting traditional kiln saunas where they'd fire up oak wood, and this chicken perfectly captures that delicious, smoky aroma! The glutinous rice (nurungji) inside also gets wonderfully crispy and golden, making for a truly satisfying and hearty meal.

The chicken tears apart so easily, revealing tender, juicy meat. And the nurungji, the crispy rice crust at the bottom, was perfectly sticky, chewy, and incredibly savory.

Clean plate club achieved! Every last bit devoured!

Overall Verdict

With summer in full swing, sometimes a heavy, hot soup can feel a bit much. But if you're looking for a hearty, comforting meal without the broth, this wood-fired nurungji tongdak is an excellent choice. It's the kind of satisfying dish that hits the spot, especially when you need a little pick-me-up.

I never expected to find such perfectly roasted chicken, with all the excess fat rendered out and that incredible oak aroma, so close by in Seongsan-dong. The owner's decision to switch from beef bone soup to wood-fired chicken was clearly a brilliant one – the waiting lines speak for themselves!

If you're looking for a comforting meal or a great spot for drinks near Mapo-gu Office Station or in Seongsan-dong, I highly recommend giving Taeyanggye a try. I'm definitely planning a return visit! 😉

As a fun bonus, they're currently giving out one lottery ticket per receipt review. Haha, I even blurred mine out for the photo, but alas, it wasn't a winner. Guess I'll just have to keep working hard! 😉