Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) 2026: Average Price and Where Solo Diners Can Order

Bottom line: Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) is one of the few Korean comfort-food dishes you can order solo without any trouble. Because a whole small chicken comes in a single bowl, selling it by the single serving is the default -- unlike Korean barbecue, almost no samgyetang restaurant will turn away a solo diner for ordering just one.

If you didn't know: According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price-tracking survey, the average price of a bowl of samgyetang in Seoul this past May was 18,154 won, up about 29% from 14,077 won five years earlier in 2021. Travelers who don't know this benchmark often pay mid-20,000-won prices at restaurants near tourist sites without a second thought, assuming that's just the normal rate. Knowing the average gives you a reason to double-check the menu at any place charging well above 20,000 won.

Samgyetang is made by simmering a whole young chicken, bones and all, stuffed with ginseng, jujube and glutinous rice. Lift the lid and a cloud of steam rises immediately; the first spoonful of broth carries both the slightly bitter edge of ginseng and the rich, savory depth of the chicken stock. It's traditionally associated with Bok-nal, the hottest days of summer, but plenty of diners order it in fall and winter too, to warm up -- most restaurants keep it on the menu year-round. Both cards and cash are generally accepted, though well-known old-school spots in busy districts sometimes charge above the average, so it's worth glancing at the price board before you sit down. First-time visitors can simply walk in and order the one item on the menu marked "samgyetang" without having to ask the server whether a single serving is allowed at all.

Journey stage: During the trip · Verified 2026-10-18 · Source Korea Consumer Agency