Gluten Free Chicken and Walnut Pastries in Dangsan, Seoul

Today, I found myself back in Dangsan, not for a meal this time but for an international meetup. However, it reminded me that I haven’t yet shared the gluten-free highlights of Dangsan! Here, I’ll introduce you to two of them. Today, let’s talk about little Hodugwaja 호두과자 ( Korean walnut pastries) and gluten free Chicken, made of rice flour. Conveniently, both are situated along the same route, with Hodubang’s stand even located inside the subway station, near Line 2. Ssaltong Dalk 쌀통닭 Rice Chicken is just a short 3-minute walk away from Dangsan station exit 11.

Until now, I’ve spotted stands selling Hodugwaja 호두과자 in many Seoul subway stations. Apart from the walnut filling, I’m also a big fan of cheese and sausage varieties. However, there are two crucial things to keep in mind:

1. Many different brands sell Hodugwaja 호두과자, and NOT ALL of them use rice flour for these treats! (The one in Hongdae station, Line 2, is NOT gluten-free. I recall another one at Euljiro Station with 100% rice flour, but it’s been almost a year since I last went there, so I can’t guarantee it’s still the same.)
2. The Bungeobang 붕어빵 (fish-shaped red bean cake) is NOT gluten-free. I must admit that this was a bit disappointing, but later I discovered gluten-free alternatives in cafes that come pretty close in taste and texture.

Here they offer 4 different types of walnut pastries, all made a 100% of rice flour. Walnut-red bean paste (low sugary), walnut-custard cream, cheese & cheese and walnut-sweet potato. They don’t use any specific label or marker to indicate that they’re gluten-free, as is often the case. Instead, like many places, they advertise their products as being 100% rice-based (with no wheat). I haven’t asked them about the cream filling yet, but I’ve tried every variety of walnut pastry they offer and haven’t experienced any issues so far. So, they’ve earned a spot on my personal favourite list of gluten-free food options in Korea.

Not far away from the walnut pastry stand is Ssaltong Dak 쌀통닭, a chain store offering gluten-free fried rice chicken. They promote their fried chicken as a healthier alternative to the usual fried chicken, all thanks to its rice flour base. You can find their stores in various locations, including Gangnam, Gyeongi-do, Busan, and a few other places.

The restaurant is only about a 3-minute walk from Dangsan Station exit 11 and is surrounded by other fried chicken restaurants. The atmosphere might not be ‘classically chic,’ but I must admit, I’m a huge fan of those plastic chairs and tables outside restaurants and convenience stores in Korea! Ssaltong Dak can get quite crowded on weekends and even some weekdays in Dangsan, so it’s worth arriving early.

Last Saturday, I actually managed to arrive early! And there were hardly any people there. Otherwise, Dangsan is usually a more bustling area, perhaps also because it’s close to Hapjeong and Hongdae.

They also offer an English menu upon request, but I unfortunately forgot to take a picture of it *sweats*

The chicken is only fried with rice flour, not wheat flower. However, most of the sauces contain gluten, such as the Yangnyeom Sauce (as it contains soy sauce) and even the onion cream sauce. That said, the gluten-free chicken, available with bones or boneless (sunsal 순살), is still incredibly tasty even without the sauces. And it’s also marked as gluten-free on the menu.

Among the various side dishes, I’m a big fan of the king dog (hot dog) and the cheese balls. As mentioned in previous articles, I don’t react to small traces of gluten. I’ve been told that the batter for all the sides consists solely of rice flour as well. However, I’m not entirely sure about whether there’s wheat in the sausage of the king dog, etc.
For those willing and able to give it a try, I’m certain you won’t be disappointed with its taste.
But even without those sides, the chicken served with pickled radish is more than satisfying!

My recommended ordering quantities: For two people, one chicken and perhaps some side dishes, or for three people, two chickens have proven to be just right. But on very hungry days, I can even manage a whole chicken by myself.

Final thoughts

Even though some sauces contain gluten, making not everything on the menu gluten-free, I’m still a huge fan of the simple rice flour chicken! Especially when eating it immediately in the restaurant the chicken is super crispy and delicious.
But for those who prefer eating at home, they also offer takeout (and delivery, but only within the vicinity of the restaurant).

Total: ★★★★☆(4 out of 5)
Taste: ★★★★☆
Variety: ★★★★☆ (3.5 out of 5. Because gluten free chicken is awesome anyway)
Price: ★★★★☆
Interior: ★★★☆☆
Access: ★★★★☆

Ssaltongdak Dangsan 쌀통닭 당산점
Sunday ～Thursday 14:30- 23:30 (23:20 last order)
Friday～ Saturday 14:00- 0:00
Homepage
Adress: 9-2 Dangsan-dong 5(o)-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Naver map (with correct opening hours)