G&J Chicken
지앤지치킨
About
A nostalgic retro fried chicken pub tucked deep inside Gyeongdong Market, serving sharp garlic soy chicken with a classic cabbage salad.
Tucked deep inside the labyrinthine alleys of Gyeongdong Market near Cheongnyangni, G&G Chicken operates in a quiet residential corridor where dining options are virtually nonexistent. Reaching it requires a dedicated ten-to-twenty-minute trek from exit 2 of the market, but the destination is an unapologetic relic of old Seoul. Inside, an aged radio cassette player sits near weathered menus, a ten-commandment health pledge hangs on the wall, and the counter still holds an old-school retail license to sell cigarettes. The cooking belongs to a bygone era of fried chicken purism. Service begins with the quintessential Hof-style shredded cabbage salad, roughly hand-sliced rather than machine-shaved. The undeniable centerpiece is the signature garlic soy chicken (maneul soy chicken), served exclusively as a whole bird without half-portion options. The chicken is fried dry until the batter turns hard-crusted and fiercely crispy. Rather than coating the bird in a thick, cloying glaze, the kitchen pours over a watery, un-sugared soy base topped generously with coarsely chopped raw garlic. The thin sauce soaks directly into the fried skin while somehow preserving its shattering crunch, delivering a sharp, pungent punch of allium heat that completely sidesteps the sugary profiles dominating contemporary chicken chains. For extra intensity, the owner provides an additional dish of the pungent garlic-soy marinade on the side for dipping. Equally striking is the value, with whole chickens priced at an astonishing 13,000 won. Patrons lingering over cold draft beer or multiple bottles of soju frequently supplement their tables with a 7,000-won basket of dakttongjip (fried chicken gizzards), which arrives deeply crisp and chewy. Closing promptly around 9:00 PM, G&G Chicken offers none of the polished comforts of modern gastro-pubs, relying instead on raw garlic, sizzling oil, icy pints, and the straightforward hospitality of a neighborhood fixture that time largely forgot.
Menu
- Garlic Soy Chicken₩13,000
- 후라이드치킨(국내산)₩13,000
- 양념치킨(국내산)₩14,000
- 반반치킨(국내산)₩14,000
- 순살팝콘치킨(미국산)₩14,000
- 불난닭발(국내산)₩14,000
Local tips
- Closing time is around 21:00, so plan for an early evening visit.
- Half-order (half chicken) is strictly not allowed.
- Try the signature garlic soy chicken for an intense, pungent kick without sweetness.
Details
- Cheongnyangni Station