What a year it has been! Plenty of excitement, plenty of MAKAN and also plenty of travel! We know y’all have been asking for more makan when we travel overseas and we’re (obviously) happy to oblige when we can 
We were extremely honoured to be invited by the Korea Tourism Organization (Malaysia) to go on a trip to South Korea and explore not just the interesting spots to visit but also the interesting places to makan! And by interesting, we mean REALLY interesting (Ramyun and Budae-jjigae please wait in the queue LOL)
You can read about the highlights of our trip to Busan and Jeju in our upcoming posts (coming soon!) and definitely about all the makan places too. So here’s the next installment of our adventure in Busan 
(BTW – head down to our Instagram profile page and watch all the IG Stories from the trip!) 
Samgye-tang (삼계탕) is a really popular Korean dish! It’s a dish many of us enjoy right? But let’s face it, it can be pretty hard finding a good one back home in SG. Well, we had the pleasure of having some Samgye-tang while in Busan and from a place that’s famed for their authentic serving of this legendary dish.
Seoul Samgyetang 원조서울삼계탕 has been serving up Samgye-tang since 1960! I’m guessing that means they know a thing or two about Samgye-tang right? 😛
But first, some appetizers and sides!
So there’re a few sides that will get your appetite going – Kimchi is always a treat and the Pickled Garlic is great (for fans of garlic that is haha). Be sure to also try the Seasoned Abalone too.
Well, to be honest, these Sides are probably the most flavourful things you’ll enjoy at the table at Seoul Samgyetang 원조서울삼계탕 simply because… Samgye-tang isn’t exactly a dish famous for its.. complex flavours 😛
The Samgye-tang arrives bubbling hot (SUPER SHIOK!) and the herbal aromas really whets your appetite! And I know that this is (supposedly) a ‘Summer’ dish but I can’t imagine why – this is amazing in the cold winter! Really warms you up!
They have a standard serving but we recommend going for the upsized Samgyetang with Abalone, Red Ginseng and Wild Ginseng. It’s got pretty much the full monty so you might as well go for it lah right LOL And don’t worry it’s not just you slurping Ginseng soup and chomping on the chicken til the end –
Apparently, the flow is supposed to go that we (lovingly) slurp up some of that hot Ginseng soup and then add some of the Rice Noodles that come on the side. Once ready, dig into that tender chicken that also has some Korean Rice (which is generally a little sticky). In the end, it’s a bit of a noodle/porridge chicken soup that you will find yourself slurping til you’ve got nothing left 😀
There’s s little treasure buried in the soup – an abalone awaits you! There’s also a little bit of a chili sauce on the side but I think if you’re a fan of Samgye-tang, then you’ll probably go without so you can enjoy the pure, authentic flavour it’s know for. This is a place for fans of Samgyetang!
By the way – when we visited, there’s a sticker outside that will show Seoul Samgyetang listed in the Halal Restaurant Week Korea listing. Of the 4 different ‘Halal’ categories listed on the spectrum in Korea, this one is listed as ‘Pork Free’. What does that mean exactly? Read the next section!
A Quick Word About Halal Food In South Korea
So in case you’re wondering, it’s (thankfully) getting easier to find Halal food in Korea these days. It may be particularly easier to find it in big cities like Seoul but cities like Busan and Jeju are doing their best as well.
You may see some of these labels when you visit restaurants that are suitable for Muslims to visit. They have 4 main categories that determine the ‘Halal-ness’ of an eatery. This is to be expected lah I guess especially where the Halal food scene is still developing.
The 4 categories are;
- Halal-certified (safest as the eatery is certified Halal by the Korea Muslim Federation)
- Self-certified (basically means eatery is Muslim-owned)
- Muslim-Friendly (serves Halal food but may serve alcoholic beverages) *most common*
- Pork Free (eatery does not have Pork but may serve non-Halal meat and/or alcoholic beverages)
It may seem complicated with 4 categories but as always, we can simplify it. Do your due diligence and do not be afraid to #AskTheQuestion especially since you’re travelling. Halal is an individual responsibility so get the info and make an informed decision. Look for these labels at the door. If there is any doubt at all, best to give it a miss 
You can get useful information by clicking HERE and HERE!
Thank you Korea Tourism Organization for taking the initiative to spread more information about Halal / Muslim-travel in South Korea!
Seoul Samgyetang 원조서울삼계탕
36 Nampo-gil, Jung-gu
Busan, Republic of South Korea
Tel: +82-51-245-3696
Operating Hours:
10.00am til 10.30pm DAILY
CLOSED ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
This meal was part of a trip organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (Malaysia). We visited all kinds of cool places and plenty of Halal makan places including this one! All information (including prices, availability of item on menu and Halal status of establishment) are accurate at the time of posting. All photos used in this site are property of The Halal Food Blog unless stated otherwise.
