Hosu Jip 호수집 “Lake House” (Seoul Station, Seoul)

Here’s another no-frills, unpretentious restaurant that I frequent often called Hosu Jjip 호수집 (Lake House), a short walk between either Chungjeongro Station and Seoul Station. The restaurant specializes in two dishes that compliment each other perfectly: dakbokkeumtang (spicy chicken stew) and dakkochi (chicken skewers).

The spicy chicken stew is delicious and comforting. Full of tender pieces of chicken, rice cakes, potatoes, mushrooms, and fragrant perilla leaves, it’s the ideal dish for sharing amongst close friends and even better when washed down with maekju or soju. Combine that with the soy-marinated chicken skewers — that are meticulously hand-grilled over charcoal briquettes for extra smokiness — and you have one of the better one-two combinations in all of Seoul. Because of the lengthy time to grill the skewers, the restaurant limits two skewers per person, much to the chagrin of many customers. Not surprisingly, the skewers are so delicious that I’ve seen customers beg the waitstaff for extras and some willing to pay double the price but to no avail. All in all, besides the sometimes long wait period, this old-school place with 30+ years of experience is definitely a must-try for spicy chicken lovers in Seoul.  

Dakbokkeumtang 닭볶음탕 

Large 대 25,000 won

Medium 중 20,000 won

Small 소 17,000 won

Dak Kkochi 닭꼬치 (Chicken Skewers) 1,500 won (limit 2 per person)

Service: ★★★★ out of 5 stars

Ambiance: ★★★½ out of 5 stars

Value: ★★★★½ out of 5 stars

Hosu Jip “Lake House” 호수집

61-4 Jungnim-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

Phone: 02-392-0695

Hours: Mon. ~ Sat. 11 am ~ 11 pm (closed from 2-5 for dinner prep), closed on Sundays

Click here for an interactive map: http://me2.do/G69UHQwy