PyeongyangokA Seodaemun Century Store, Chicken Gomtang with Neungi Mushroom

A chicken-gomtang place in Seodaemun I go to now and then for a restorative meal. It's a Seoul-designated "century store," and they boil a native-breed chicken and pick off just the meat into the broth. No bones or bony bits — a clear soup with the chicken, spring onion and mushrooms.

The broth is the standout. A good amount of neungi mushroom goes in, so even though the soup is clear it carries a deep mushroom aroma. Nothing sharp about it; a few spoonfuls in and you start to feel looked after. The broth is, in the end, the reason to come.

Think of the potato pancake as a separate thing

The gamja-jeon — a pancake of shredded potato — has become well known lately. I ordered one alongside, and on its own it's fine.

One thing, though. The broth already carries a fair amount of chicken fat, and the pancake is oil-fried on top of that, so going back and forth between them was oil on oil and didn't feel especially harmonious to me. Unless you really like potato pancake, the gomtang alone is enough.

What it looks like

The black earthenware pot is filled with a pale brown clear broth, with foam on the surface. Inside you can see green onion, mushrooms, pieces of yellow egg and shredded chicken. Above it, a golden-fried potato pancake is spread on a large plate, topped with red and green chili at its center, with a small bowl of spicy pickled chili beside it. A metal lidded container is also visible next to the spoon.

Menu words

• Dak-gomtang is a clear soup of chicken in a broth simmered for a long time
• Neungi is a strongly aromatic mountain mushroom that adds depth of aroma to the broth
• Gamja-chae-jeon is a pancake of finely shredded potato fried together

For visitors

• Dak-gomtang is a clear broth from long-simmered chicken. Think of it as the chicken version of beef gomtang. It is not spicy. Here they boil a native-breed bird and serve only the picked meat.
• The broth is made with neungi, a prized, strongly aromatic wild mushroom. It has a deep, almost earthy scent, and it's the heart of this soup.
• Have the rice in the soup or on the side. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Gamja-jeon is shredded potato pan-fried in oil. Not spicy — but, as above, not a guaranteed match with the gomtang.
• A "century store" (Baengnyeon Gage) is a designation Seoul (and the national government) gives long-running shops. Read it as "a vetted old establishment."

Who it's for

• ✅ Anyone who wants a clear, deep bowl of chicken broth to feel restored by
• ✅ Anyone who likes — or is curious about — a strong mushroom aroma; it's the centre of this soup
• ✅ Anyone after a mild, un-aggressive meal
• ✅ Anyone who wants to eat at an old, designated establishment
• ⚠️ Anyone expecting a rich, oily broth — this is the clear kind
• ⚠️ Anyone treating the potato pancake as the main event — its fit with the gomtang is iffy
• ⚠️ Anyone wanting fierce heat — this is a gentle chicken broth

Before you go

• Getting there — Seodaemun, Seoul. Check the name on the map before you set off.
• Ordering — the dak-gomtang first. Add the gamja-jeon only if you genuinely love potato pancake.
• Seasoning — the broth comes plain; adjust with salt and pepper. Rice can go in the soup or be eaten separately.
• Another option — if seafood sounds better in the same Gwanghwamun area, Seochon Gyedanjip, a seasonal-seafood spot in a Seochon alley, is also nearby.
• Hours · prices · closing day — Dak-gomtang from ₩9,000; open 11:00–22:00 (break 14:30–16:30), closed Sundays (as of Sep 2026). Still worth checking the map or calling before you go.