Andong Jjimdak, Seoul
A week-long obsession with Hanwoo beef at just about every restaurant in Seoul meant that we were due for a change of protein. I wanted something-chicken and didn't want anything-fried...so we headed to Andong Jjimdak for braised chicken.
An insanely popular chain restaurant with multiple outlets all over Seoul, Andong Jjimdak is tremendously accessible as there's a branch in every district. Service is choppy but quick, detached but efficient. Like a fast-food restaurant, without the ensuing oil-laden guilt of fast food. So even if there's a queue, especially during peak dining hours, it moves real fast.
Because we're lazy AF, we opted for the Boneless Jjim Dak (30,000KRW), which is nearly twice the price of the bone-in version. This passed muster: the chicken was juicy, the sauce was robust, and there was a comforting rustic quality to it...but I would have liked a stronger spice to this. And tbh, a competent homecook would easily muck out a better rendition.
The crisp, clear notes of the dongchimi, a radish kimchi soup, was a refreshing counter to the rich heartiness of the jjimdak.
The kimchi looked bold and spicy, but it tasted anemic. This needed more kick.
The restaurant front in Myeong-dong for reference.
Andong Jjimdak
2-22 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga
Seoul
Tel: +82 2 310 9233
An insanely popular chain restaurant with multiple outlets all over Seoul, Andong Jjimdak is tremendously accessible as there's a branch in every district. Service is choppy but quick, detached but efficient. Like a fast-food restaurant, without the ensuing oil-laden guilt of fast food. So even if there's a queue, especially during peak dining hours, it moves real fast.
Because we're lazy AF, we opted for the Boneless Jjim Dak (30,000KRW), which is nearly twice the price of the bone-in version. This passed muster: the chicken was juicy, the sauce was robust, and there was a comforting rustic quality to it...but I would have liked a stronger spice to this. And tbh, a competent homecook would easily muck out a better rendition.
The crisp, clear notes of the dongchimi, a radish kimchi soup, was a refreshing counter to the rich heartiness of the jjimdak.
The kimchi looked bold and spicy, but it tasted anemic. This needed more kick.
The restaurant front in Myeong-dong for reference.
Andong Jjimdak
2-22 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga
Seoul
Tel: +82 2 310 9233
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