170 m from Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station: a Hanok dining experience at Tosokchon Samgyetang, serving since 1983

The Starting Point of Tosokchon, Opened by Jeong Myeong-ho in 1983 in an Alley West of Gyeongbokgung Palace

According to legal records, Tosokchon Samgyetang has operated near Gyeongbokgung Palace since around 1983, based on samgyetang developed by its founder, Jeong Myeong-ho, after returning from the Vietnam War. The restaurant's original recipe is introduced as chicken stuffed with ingredients including ginseng, milk vetch root, perilla seeds, coix seeds, pumpkin seeds, ginkgo nuts, chestnuts, garlic, and jujubes.

The restaurant address is 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tosokchon; the lot-based address is 85-1 Chebudong. It is located in the Seochon neighborhood between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheong Wa Dae, making it convenient for a meal before or after visiting the palace. It is also described as being about 1 km from the Cheong Wa Dae visitor area.

Meal Hours from 10:00 to 22:00, with Last Orders at 21:00

According to the latest available information, the restaurant is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 21:00. Information stating that it operates without a break period is repeated, but hours may change due to holidays, weather conditions, or store circumstances, so it is safest to confirm on the day by calling 02-737-7444.

Its regular closing schedule is listed as open year-round. Since this is a restaurant rather than a tourist attraction requiring admission, there is no entrance fee; customers only pay for their food orders. Allowing 60 to 90 minutes for the meal and travel should fit comfortably into a Gyeongbokgung Palace and Seochon itinerary.

• Opening time: 10:00
• Closing time: 22:00
• Last order: 21:00
• Main phone: 02-737-7444
• Closing days: Open year-round

Basic Samgyetang from 20,000 Won, with Choices of Black-Boned Chicken and Cultured Wild Ginseng Root

Menu information published in 2025 lists Tosokchon samgyetang at 20,000 won, black-boned chicken samgyetang at 25,000 won, and cultured wild ginseng root samgyetang at 26,000 won. Prices may change, so the menu displayed at the restaurant should be treated as the reference before ordering.

In addition to samgyetang, tourism information lists black-boned chicken samgyetang, lacquer chicken, pajeon, and electrically roasted whole chicken among the items sold. For a group, deciding in advance whether each person will order a soup or whether to share electrically roasted whole chicken and jeon can shorten ordering time. Anyone with allergies or who needs to avoid lacquer ingredients should ask staff about the ingredients again before choosing lacquer chicken.

About 170 m from Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3: How to Find the GS25 Alley

By public transportation, Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 is the closest. The restaurant is described as being about 170 m from the exit, usually a 3- to 5-minute walk. Common directions advise walking straight from the exit and entering the alley on the left near GS25.

Because it is located inside Jahamun-ro 5-gil and can be easy to miss if you follow only the main road, it is better to enter “Tosokchon Samgyetang” or the road-name address into a map app. After visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, head from the west gate toward Gyeongbokgung Station and use the area around Exit 2 as a landmark to simplify navigation.

• Subway: Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3
• Recommended exit: Exit 2
• Distance from exit to restaurant: About 170 m
• Walking time: About 3–5 minutes
• Address: 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tosokchon

Vehicle Conditions: One Hour of Free Dedicated Parking, Then 1,000 Won per 10 Minutes

There is a dedicated parking lot for customers arriving by car inside the alley. Reviews and informational materials describe one hour of free parking followed by a charge of 1,000 won per 10 minutes. Some reviews also state that valet parking is not provided, so it is better to ask for parking instructions near the entrance first.

The area around Gyeongbokgung Station has many pedestrians and tourists. Since restaurant queues and parking queues may overlap during the lunch peak, visitors arriving by car will find it relatively more practical to come just after opening at 10:00 or after lunch. Parking fees and procedures may change, so check the on-site instructions before leaving.

To Avoid Lines on Sambok Days and Around Noon, Visit at 10:00 or After 15:00

Visitor reviews repeatedly mention long lines on sambok days, such as Chobok and Jungbok. Even on weekdays, demand from Gyeongbokgung visitors and office workers may overlap around 12:00, so those wishing to minimize waiting will find arriving just after the 10:00 opening the simplest choice.

Some review platforms also include accounts of being able to enter with relatively little waiting around 15:00. However, this is based on visits on specific dates and is not a guaranteed rule. The restaurant is also praised for its fast turnover due to its spacious seating arrangement, which resembles several connected hanok houses, but groups or visitors coming on sambok days should plan on waiting.

Combine It with Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheong Wa Dae, but Consider the Uneven Hanok Alley in Advance

Tosokchon is about five minutes from Gyeongbokgung Station, making it convenient for lunch after visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace or a late lunch after visiting Cheong Wa Dae. Information indicates that the restaurant is about 1 km from Cheong Wa Dae, or roughly 15 minutes at a brisk walking pace, so carrying water and a parasol is advisable during hot seasons.

Based solely on publicly available information, it is difficult to confirm whether there is a dedicated entrance for wheelchairs or strollers, an accessible restroom, or consistently available menus in foreign languages. Since the restaurant is located in an alley and a hanok-style space, visitors using wheelchairs or strollers or wishing to avoid stairs should call 02-737-7444 before visiting to ask about the route inside and available seating.

Why Calling Is Necessary When the Official Website Is Difficult to Confirm

As of this review, an independent official website URL for Tosokchon Samgyetang could not be confirmed. Therefore, for information that may change, such as opening hours, menu prices, and whether takeout or reservations are available, the safest approach is to check both the latest listing on a map service and the restaurant's main phone number, 02-737-7444.

Online reviews sometimes list takeout, delivery, and reservation availability differently. Rather than traveling a long distance on the assumption that a reservation is confirmed, it is better to call on the day of the visit to ask about the waiting system, group seating, and takeout availability before setting out. No related videos were included because the YouTube search tool did not return results after exceeding its daily quota.