Surviving the Summer Heat with ‘Stamina Boosters’ from Bujatjib and Seodobibap

In Korea, the warmest period of the year that starts after the monsoon season is called ‘sambok deowi’. To survive the summer heat of ‘sambok deowi’, Koreans traditionally feast upon stamina boosters, such as ‘samgyetang’ (ginseng chicken soup). If you’re wondering where to prepare for the summer heat, here are two restaurants that are officially recognised by the city of Jeonju for the quality of food and price!

Bujatjip

I couldn’t believe the price. The restaurant Bujatjip, located ajacent to the Jeonju Train Station, offers ‘otdak baeksook’ (Korean chicken and lacquer tree branch boiled with medicinal herbs) for only 23,000 won!

In Bujatjip, customers ‘self-service’ water, side dishes, beverages, and alcoholic drinks. I think this is how the restaurant can maintain the low price.

The server chopped the chicken into pieces in front of the table. Despite the low price, the chicken (‘ttuk’ size, which is the biggest) was big enough to fill the stomachs of three adults.

Also, I really enjoyed the texture of the chicken and the ‘deep’ medicinal taste of the broth. Just to let you know, the lacquer tree can cause skin rashes for some people, but the tree used in Bujatjip is the one that does not cause such rashes. So feel free to enjoy !

After finishing the chicken, I cooked ramyun noodle with the remaining broth. This was new for me, because chicken baeksook restaurants usually cook rice porrige with the broth. But ramyun noodle and chicken broth went relly well together.

After finishing the whole chicken baeksook, I’m ready to survive the summer heat!

<Bujatjip>

Address: Dodangsanro 70, Deokjingu, Jeonju (opposite Hanyang Gas Station)

Opening hours: 0900-2300 everyday

Menu: Tojong (Korean) Otdak 23,000 (large) 28,000 (larger); Tojong Hanbang (medicinal) Baeksook 23,000 (large) 28,000 (larger)

Seodobibap

If you’re looking for a quick and simple stamina booster, I recommend ttukbaegi (earthenware bowl) samgyetang of Seodobibap. Located on the sixth floor of Seodo Plaza, Seodobibap is also recognized by the city of Jeonju for its price and quality of food. Here, you can enjoy the medicinal herb broth samgyetang for just 10,000 won!

Despite the low prices in the menu, all the ingredients were from Korea.

Usually, samgyetang broth tend to be white. However, the samgyetang broth at Seodobibap is rather dark, because it includes sambaekcho (Asian lizard’s tail plant), hetgaenamu (oriental raisin tree), black garlic, gasiogapi (acanthopanax), ssuk (Korean mugwort), and others. I really liked the herbal aroma of the broth. The owner advised me to pour a bit of the broth over salt to make the sauce for the chicken.

The chicken in Seodobibap’s samgyetang was very soft. After I was done with the chicken, I found the mung bean and rice porrige on the floor of the bowl. Finishing the whole bowl of samgyetang from Seodobibap really seems to have boosted my stamina!

<Seodobibap>

Address: 36 Yongmeoriro, Wansangu, Jeonju (6^th floor Hyojadong Seodo Plaza)

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 1130-2000 (closed on the first and third Tuesdays and Sundays of the month)

Menu: Sambaekcho Samgyetang 10,000 won; Sambaekcho Bangyetang 7,000 won