In Korea, some of the most memorable meals don’t come from fancy restaurants, but from vans parked on quiet side streets. These vans, with rows of golden chickens slowly turning on rotisseries, are hard to miss once you catch the aroma. Known as tongdak, this style of rotisserie chicken is simple! Seasoned lightly, roasted until the skin crisps, and the meat stays juicy and tender. Unlike the Korean fried chicken that has gained global fame, tongdak is straightforward comfort food that feels both hearty and familiar.
For many Koreans, tongdak carries a sense of nostalgia. It recalls childhood weekends when families would line up at these vans, waiting to take home a foil-wrapped chicken still steaming from the rotisserie. Even today, the experience feels warm and intimate—no delivery boxes or elaborate sides, just sharing a freshly carved chicken with loved ones. It’s a tradition that shows how, sometimes, the most ordinary foods can hold the deepest cultural meaning.
I still remember my first time buying tongdak from a van near my apartment. The smell drew me in before I even realized where it was coming from, and I ended up taking one home wrapped in foil, warm enough to burn my hands a little. Sitting at my small kitchen table, tearing off pieces with my fingers, I felt like I’d stumbled into a secret part of Korean life. It wasn’t just the taste, it was the experience of discovering something locals had cherished for years, and suddenly I understood why tongdak still holds such a special place in people’s hearts!
In Korea, some of the most memorable meals don’t come from fancy restaurants, but from vans parked on quiet side streets. These vans, with rows of golden chickens slowly turning on rotisseries, are hard to miss once you catch the aroma. Known as tongdak, this style of rotisserie chicken is simple! Seasoned lightly, roasted until the skin crisps, and the meat stays juicy and tender. Unlike the Korean fried chicken that has gained global fame, tongdak is straightforward comfort food that feels both hearty and familiar.
For many Koreans, tongdak carries a sense of nostalgia. It recalls childhood weekends when families would line up at these vans, waiting to take home a foil-wrapped chicken still steaming from the rotisserie. Even today, the experience feels warm and intimate—no delivery boxes or elaborate sides, just sharing a freshly carved chicken with loved ones. It’s a tradition that shows how, sometimes, the most ordinary foods can hold the deepest cultural meaning.
I still remember my first time buying tongdak from a van near my apartment. The smell drew me in before I even realized where it was coming from, and I ended up taking one home wrapped in foil, warm enough to burn my hands a little. Sitting at my small kitchen table, tearing off pieces with my fingers, I felt like I’d stumbled into a secret part of Korean life. It wasn’t just the taste, it was the experience of discovering something locals had cherished for years, and suddenly I understood why tongdak still holds such a special place in people’s hearts!