Located in Thongil Street in the buzy capital city of Pyongyang, the Samgyethang Restaurant, established in 2017, has gained acclaim for its exclusive focus on serving Samgyethang, a hearty chicken soup.
Samgyethang, valued for its nutritious properties, brings together the warm and gentle flavors of chicken and insam (ginseng), making it a traditional dish among the Korean people. The preparation involves simmering a four- or five-month-old chicken filled with astragalus, dates, glutinous rice, and insam in a stone pot or earthenware bowl. It can be savored as is, with a pinch of salt, or by extracting its essence into a juice. The unsalted water-boiled version is known as takbaeksukthang.
Esteemed for its effectiveness in combating inappetence, indigestion, and anemia, the restaurant’s chicken soup retains the authentic taste and benefits of insam. In response to customer demand, the restaurant has expanded its offerings to include various soups with medicinal ingredients, earning widespread popularity.
Diversifying its menu, the establishment now features additional dishes and teas promoting health, such as insam yakbap (sweet rice dish), insam tea, seasoned insam, mushroom yakbap, abalone yakbap, and oyster yakbap. According to Ri Un Gyong, a waitress at the restaurant, all patrons applaud Samgyethang for its distinct and satisfying taste.
