Local food map Seoul (South Korea)
Seoul guides
Recipes 13
Pick a recipe
All Seoul recipes
Samgyetang — traditional dish from Seoul, South Korea
Soup Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥640kcal
💪45gProtein
🌾28gCarbs
🥑36gFat
🌿4gFibre
⚖️500 gServing

* Per serving · 500 g. May vary.

Samgyetang

How to order / say it
Say it 삼계탕 — [sam-gyay-tang]
Order I'd like the samgyetang, please.
Locally 삼계탕 주세요.
Say locally

Ginseng chicken soup with a whole young chicken stuffed with rice and herbs.

Why try it?

Samgyetang is a comfort food that traditionally replenishes energy and is especially savored during hot summer days for its supposed health benefits in Korean culture.

How it tastes

This soup combines a delicate and herbal broth with tender, juicy chicken. The ginseng adds a slightly medicinal flavor, blending harmoniously with garlic and glutinous rice.

Origin & History — first documented: 1450

Dating back to the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897), Samgyetang was regarded as a specialty food composed to invigorate during the hot seasons and has retained its place in Korea’s health food cuisine.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥩 1 whole (1 kg) young chicken
  • 🌿 20 g ginseng root
  • 🌾 100 g glutinous rice
  • 🧄 5 cloves garlic
  • 🧂 10 g ginger
  • 5 jujube (Korean date)
  • 🧄 30 g green onion

Method

  1. 1 Rinse and clean the chicken, then stuff it with glutinous rice, ginseng, garlic, jujube, and ginger.
  2. 2 Place the chicken in a pot and cover with water.
  3. 3 Simmer the chicken over low heat for approximately 1.5 hours.
  4. 4 Garnish the soup with chopped green onions before serving.

More from Seoul

Tteokbokki © Wikimedia Commons
Street food Vegan

Tteokbokki

떡볶이
tuhk-bohk-kee

Spicy and sweet rice cakes cooked in a chili-based sauce.
Sundubu-jjigae © Wikimedia Commons
Soup Fish & Seafood

Sundubu-jjigae

순두부찌개
soon-doo-boo-chee-geh

Spicy soft tofu stew served with various additions like meat or seafood.
Bibimbap © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Bibimbap

비빔밥
bee-bim-bahp

A mixed rice dish with assorted vegetables and beef, often topped with a fried egg.
Kimchi
Side dish Fish & Seafood

Kimchi

김치
kim-chee

A fermented vegetable dish, primarily made of napa cabbage and Korean radishes.
Jjigae © Wikimedia Commons
Soup Fish & Seafood

Jjigae

찌개
jee-gae

Korean stew often made with meat, seafood, or vegetables.
Bulgogi © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Bulgogi

불고기
bool-goh-gee

Thinly sliced marinated beef barbecued or grilled over an open flame.
Korean Barbecue © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Korean Barbecue

고기구이
GO-gee-goo-ee

Grilled meats served with side dishes and dipping sauces.
Samgyeopsal © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Samgyeopsal

삼겹살
sahm-gyup-sahl

Grilled pork belly pieces served with various side dishes.
Jjajangmyeon © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Jjajangmyeon

짜장면
jah-jahng-myuhn

Noodles in a savory black bean sauce with diced pork and vegetables.
Japchae © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Vegetarian

Japchae

잡채
jahp-cheh

Savory and slightly sweet stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables.
All Asia recipes — South Korea — Seoul — Samgyetang
keyboard_arrow_up