Hongcho Buldak Jangchungdong Branch
홍초불닭 장충동점
About
A longtime Jangchung-dong spot for dry-fried, smoky spicy chicken, tucked on the second floor of the neighborhood’s food alley.
홍초불닭 장충동점 is a throwback to Seoul’s old 불닭 craze: a long-running, no-frills spot where the signature heat comes dry-fried, smoky and charred rather than in a pool of chili sauce. The restaurant is upstairs, with dark tables and an old-school feel that suits a meal built around shared plates and drinks. It has been operating since 2004, and the menu keeps its focus on spicy chicken and a handful of companions. Start with the 불닭, the straightforward version of the house specialty: chicken cooked over direct heat, with a pronounced fire-kissed aroma. For a richer take, 쌈닭 adds stretchy cheese; 시즐링 불닭 comes with onions grilled on a hot plate, while 마요불닭 offers another variation. The heat is lively but, according to one diner, more comfortable than the hottest tteokbokki; expect a dry, smoky burn rather than a thick, sweet-spicy sauce. 닭발 is another draw, and one late-night table paired it with 누룽지탕 and 콘치즈구이. That combination makes sense: the scorched, spicy chicken feet meet the mellow, savory crunch of nurungji, while corn cheese adds a creamy, lightly sweet counterpoint. 양념떡 is a popular-sounding option on the menu, too, and 골뱅이소면, egg roll and steamed egg offer more ways to round out the spread. The room’s appeal is less about polish than familiarity: a place for friends to settle in over sizzling, spicy plates, with soju or beer close at hand. If you want to temper the heat, order the nurungji; if you’re revisiting the old-school 불닭 style, go for the original or the cheese-topped 쌈닭 and eat it fresh at the table. One takeout reviewer found the chicken less satisfying after a long trip home, so this is a meal best enjoyed hot, straight from the kitchen.
Menu
- Buldak (spicy grilled chicken)₩22,000
- Spicy chicken feet₩22,000
- Scorched-rice soup₩7,000
- Baked corn cheese₩8,000
- Cheese buldak₩25,000
- Steamed egg₩7,000
- Seasoned rice cakes₩7,000
- Whelk with thin noodles
- 시즐링 불닭₩18,000
- 불곱창₩14,000
- 불돈₩17,000
- Spicy Cartilage₩14,000
Local tips
- The signature-style buldak is a good first order; add nurungji-tang to temper the heat.
- It’s on the second floor, up stairs in a building without an elevator.
- Blog-reported hours are daily from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.; confirm before visiting.
- Group dining and reservations are reportedly available.
Details
- Dongguk University
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 18:00–01:00
- Monday
- 18:00–01:00
- Tuesday
- 18:00–01:00
- Wednesday
- 18:00–01:00
- Thursday
- 18:00–01:00
- Friday
- 18:00–01:00
- Saturday
- 18:00–01:00