Even on the dog days of summer, natives and tourists alike stand in a line that wraps around the corner of Tosokchon Samgyetang, enduring the blistering sun and stifling humidity, waiting to be seated for a hot bowl of its namesake dish.
Chobok, which was observed just over a week ago, marked the first of three days on the lunar calendar (collectively referred to as Sambok) that Koreans deemed the hottest days of the year. The other two days are joongbok (tomorrow!) and malbok, which falls on August 11th this year. The farmers observed Sambok by consuming samgyetang, or other boyangsik ("health foods"), to nourish themselves and bolster their stamina during the growing season. This custom still prevails today, as demonstrated by the long lines outside samgyetang restaurants on these particular days.
Tosokchon Samgyetang serves a whole, young chicken gorged with sweet rice, jujubes, and ginseng simmered in a pot with their signature mix of nuts and seeds, which includes pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, black sesame seeds, job's tears, walnuts, pine nuts, and gingko nuts, and chestnuts. The resulting elixir invigorates your wilting core, fortifying you against the wearying influence of the summer heat from the inside out.
Tosokchon Samgyetang
Address: 5, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Hours: 10:00 AM~10:00 PM daily (매일 10:00~22:00)
토속촌 삼계탕
주소: 서울 종로구 자하문로5길 5
영업시간: 매일 10:00~22:00
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