Myeongdong is famous for skincare shelves and street tteokbokki carts, but after the sun goes down, the neighborhood turns into one of the best places in Seoul for chicken and beer. Whether you just landed from Incheon or you have been wandering the shopping strip all afternoon, a plate of crispy Korean fried chicken and an ice-cold draft beer is the easiest way to end the day like a local.
I have eaten my way through most of the Myeongdong chicken restaurants near the station more times than I can count, usually after a long night of exploring Jung-gu with friends visiting from abroad. Below are five Myeongdong chicken restaurants I keep coming back to, each with a signature dish, a fair price, and directions straight from the subway exit.
Why Myeongdong Is One of Seoul’s Best Chicken and Beer Neighborhoods
Chimaek, the Korean mashup of chikin and maekju, is practically a national pastime, and Myeongdong has one of the densest clusters of chicken restaurants in central Seoul. You will find loud group-friendly pubs, oven-roasted specialists, and the big national franchises all within a five-minute walk of each other. I first stumbled into this stretch years ago while showing a college friend around after his flight landed late, and chicken and beer turned out to be the perfect jet-lag cure. It has been my go-to recommendation for visitors ever since.
Getting to Myeongdong Chicken Restaurants by Subway
Every spot on this list sits within a short walk of Myeongdong Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. Hop off at Myeongdong Station, follow the signs for your exit number, and you are usually at the door within five minutes. If you are coming from Hongdae, Itaewon, or Gangnam, transfer onto Line 4 and ride it straight into Jung-gu. A T-money card covers the fare on every line, and English signage makes the whole trip easy even if this is your first subway ride in Korea.
1. OB Time: Chicken and Beer Right by the Station Exit
OB Time is a big, old-school hof-style pub that has been feeding after-work crowds and tourist groups for years. It is one of the loudest and liveliest Myeongdong chicken restaurants on this list, and honestly one of the first Myeongdong chicken spots I ever tried, so come here if you want a group table rather than a quiet dinner.
Signature dish: Green Onion Boneless Chicken (파닭 순살치킨), 23,000 won. The chicken arrives buried under a mountain of shredded green onion with a slightly tangy mustard-style sauce. Feel free to also try the odeng soup or the cheese-topped buldak wings if spice is your thing.
- Hours: Daily, 3:00 PM – 3:00 AM
- Cost: Around 23,000–35,000 won per person with drinks
- Tip: This is primarily a drinking pub, so come ready to order food along with your beer rather than drinks alone.
- How to get there: Take Exit 2 from Myeongdong Station. OB Time is about 30 seconds away on foot.
- Naver Map: Search “오비타임 명동” on Naver Map
2. Kkanbu Chicken Myeongdong: Bright, Spacious, and Tourist Friendly
Kkanbu Chicken opened a large, café-style branch in Myeongdong, and this Myeongdong chicken spot has quickly become one of the more popular chicken restaurants in Myeongdong for families and solo diners who want a cleaner, quieter room than a typical hof.
Signature dish: Garlic Soy Boneless Chicken (마늘간장순살치킨), 23,000 won. It is crispy, sticky, and not too sweet, and the boneless format makes it painless to share. Of course, feel free to mix it up with their crispy six-pack or crunchy wing-bong if you want something different.
- Hours: Daily, roughly 12:00 PM – midnight, though some evenings shift later, so it’s worth confirming the day of your visit.
- Cost: About 23,000–30,000 won for one chicken order
- Tip: Order through the tablet at the table; the English menu makes it simple even without any Korean.
- How to get there: From Exit 8 of Myeongdong Station, it is about a 100-meter walk on Myeongdong 8-gil.
- Naver Map: Search “깐부치킨 명동점” on Naver Map
3. Goobne Chicken Myeongdong: The Lighter, Oven-Roasted Option
If deep-fried chicken feels heavy after a full day of walking, this Myeongdong chicken restaurant is the answer. Everything here is oven-roasted instead of fried, so the skin stays crackly without the greasy aftertaste.
Signature dish: Spicy Crispy Whole Chicken, also called Gochu Basasak (고추바사삭), 21,000 won. It has a red pepper glaze with real heat but not the kind that lingers all night. Prefer something milder? Their original oven-roasted chicken or the sweet-and-spicy option are both easy alternatives.
- Hours: Monday–Friday and Sunday, 11:30 AM – midnight; Saturday, 12:00 PM – midnight
- Cost: Around 21,000–26,000 won per order
- Tip: The restaurant is on the third floor with elevator access, which is handy if you are traveling with a stroller or heavy shopping bags.
- How to get there: Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station, about a three-minute walk down Myeongdong 8-gil.
- Naver Map: Search “굽네치킨 명동점” on Naver Map
4. BBQ Chicken Myeongdong: The National Favorite, Upstairs in the Heart of the District
BBQ is one of Korea’s biggest chicken franchises, and its Myeongdong chicken branch sits two floors up, right in the middle of the shopping streets. It is a dependable pick when you want a familiar flavor without hunting for a hidden alley restaurant.
Signature dish: Golden Olive Chicken (황금올리브치킨), 23,000 won. BBQ fries in olive oil, which gives the skin a lighter, less greasy crunch than most fried chicken chains. If you want a change of pace, their sweet-spicy yangnyeom or cheese-topped options are worth a look too.
- Hours: Daily, 11:30 AM – midnight
- Cost: Around 23,000–30,000 won per chicken order
- Tip: Ask for the half-and-half option if you cannot decide between original and spicy yangnyeom sauce.
- How to get there: Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station, then a short walk up into the pedestrian shopping street.
- Naver Map: Search “비비큐치킨 명동점” on Naver Map
5. BBQ Chicken Myeongdong Star: Late-Night Chicken Until 1:30 AM
The Myeongdong Star branch of BBQ Chicken keeps some of the longest hours among these Myeongdong chicken restaurants, which makes it a lifesaver if your flight lands late or your shopping runs long into the evening.
Signature dish: Golden Olive Chicken (황금올리브치킨), 23,000 won, the same nationally loved recipe as the other BBQ branch, served here with a nightclub-style atmosphere and K-pop playing overhead. Feel free to branch out into their cheese balls or fries if you want sides to share.
- Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 1:30 AM
- Cost: Around 23,000–30,000 won per order
- Tip: They open earlier than most Myeongdong chicken restaurants, so this is a solid lunch option too, not just a late-night stop.
- How to get there: Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station, roughly a five-minute walk along Myeongdong 4-gil.
- Naver Map: Search “비비큐치킨 명동스타점” on Naver Map
Which of These Myeongdong Chicken Restaurants Should You Pick
If you want a loud group night out, head to OB Time. If you are traveling with family and want a calmer room, Kkanbu Chicken or Goobne Chicken Myeongdong are easier on the ears. If you just want the flavor most Koreans grew up on, either BBQ Chicken branch will not let you down, and the Myeongdong Star location is the one to remember if you are eating late.
Final Thoughts on Myeongdong Chicken Restaurants
Every one of these Myeongdong chicken restaurants sits close enough to the station that you can hop between two in one night if you are feeling ambitious. Order the signature dish first, then branch out into whatever else looks good on the table, because half the fun of chimaek is sharing plates with whoever you brought along. If Myeongdong leaves you craving even more chicken and beer, check out my Hongdae fried chicken guide for five more spots worth the trip across town.
