Hwanggi Dak Gomtang

About

A 24-hour driver's diner in Myeonmok-dong serving milk-vetch chicken soup and oversized old-school pork cutlets.

Situated along Dongil-ro in Jungnang-gu, Hwanggi Dakgomtang operates as an around-the-clock drivers’ diner (*gisa sikdang*) catering to early risers, shift workers, and late-night solo diners alike. The ground-floor dining hall is expansive and unpretentious, outfitted with widely spaced four-top tables where visitors can settle in comfortably at any hour of the day or night. The house specialty is *dakgomtang*, a poultry soup infused with a subtle, aromatic whisper of *hwanggi* (milk vetch root). Served piping hot, the clear broth comes loaded with glass noodles, thinly shredded tender chicken meat, and generous helpings of chopped scallions. While table caddies provide fiery chili paste and seasoned condiments to deepen the color, purists often enjoy the broth unadorned, dropping in a raw egg to cook gently in the residual heat before tipping in a bowl of rice. The standard spread of side dishes features crisp *kkakdugi* (radish kimchi), raw onions, fresh garlic, *ssamjang*, and crunchy garlic stems (*maneuljjong*), which provide a sharp, earthy foil to the clean poultry flavors. For a richer format, the *dakdari baekban* separates the poultry, serving whole chicken leg meat on a plate alongside an earthenware pot of boiling broth. Defying the expectations of a specialized chicken joint, the menu also caters to hungry night owls with hefty portions of classic retro cutlets. The handmade *donkatsu* arrives palm-sized and thick, swimming in a nostalgic, glossy brown gravy alongside shredded cabbage salad, pickled radish, and a scoop of rice. Rounding out the nighttime spread, the tart, chewy *dak-kkeopjil muchim* (seasoned chicken skin salad) offers a nutty edge that locals frequently pair with a cold bottle of soju. It is straightforward, unfussy roadside fare tailored for quick daytime replenishment or slow, quiet dawn refuels.