Korean Galbi Chicken: The Famous Suwon Wang Galbi Tongdak

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Today’s recipe is the legendary Korean Galbi chicken. While Korean fried chicken is famous worldwide, this specific Galbi chicken (known as wang galbi tongdak) has become a viral sensation. My European friends are obsessed with its sweet and savory glaze, and today I’ll show you how to make this authentic suwon chicken in your own kitchen!

The Diverse Flavors of Korean Fried Chicken

Korean chicken isn’t just about spice. From Yangnyeom to Soy Garlic, the variety is huge. However, galbi chicken stands out because it uses the premium marinade traditionally reserved for ribs. This suwon chicken style offers a deep umami flavor that makes wang galbi tongdak truly unique.

Korean Galbi Chicken: The Famous Suwon Wang Galbi Tongdak — cheese chicken: www.bhc.co.kr

If you want a simpler version, check out my Chicken Jeon recipe, but for the full experience, this galbi chicken is a must.

Korean Fried Chicken Jeon

Korean Fried Chicken is absolutely delicious, but marinating, battering, and deep frying can be a hassle, right? Now, you can easily enjoy Korean-style Chicken Jeon at home.

Today, enjoy it in a Ban Ban (half and half) chicken style—half yangnyeom (seasoned) chicken and half fried chicken!

CHECK OUT THIS RECIPE

My Journey to Finding the Best Suwon Chicken

While living in Korea, my boyfriend and I visited Suwon, the home of wang galbi tongdak. After seeing the Hwaseong Fortress, we tried the local suwon chicken, and it was life-changing! He declares it the best galbi chicken he’s ever had. Since we moved to Belgium, I’ve recreated this wang galbi tongdak recipe so you can enjoy suwon chicken anywhere in the world.

What is Wang Galbi Tongdak?

Wang galbi tongdak literally means “King Rib Whole Chicken.” It’s a specialized suwon chicken that uses a soy-based galbi marinade.

What does galbi taste like? It is a perfect harmony of salty soy sauce, sweet fruit notes (like pear or apple), and nutty sesame oil. This complex flavor profile is why galbi chicken has a much deeper taste than standard honey soy recipes.

Why Galbi Sauce is Special

Galbi sauce is not just about flavor.It’s about balance. The soy sauce adds depth, the garlic adds warmth, and the hint of sweetness ties it all together. The grated pear or apple is a secret ingredient that tenderizes the meat and adds a natural sweetness. This harmony of flavors is what makes galbi sauce so memorable.

Korean Galbi Chicken: A Healthy Roast

Since I’m on a health kick, I’ve developed this galbi chicken as an oil-free, roasted version. This suwon chicken style is perfect for the holidays. You get all the flavor of wang galbi tongdak without the hassle of deep-frying. It’s the ultimate way to enjoy galbi chicken at home.

Authentic Korean Galbi Chicken Recipe

This galbi chicken is coated with a special sweet soy sauce marinade, inspired by the famous wang galbi tongdak. It’s a healthier, oven-roasted version of the classic suwon chicken that everyone loves.

Ingredients

1 whole chicken
Galbi Chicken Sauce: 90ml soy sauce, 80g sugar, 1.5 tbsp minced garlic, 1/4 onion (chopped), 10g green onion (white part), 0.5 tbsp paprika powder
1 tbsp potato starch (mixed with 3 tbsp water for thickness)
Garnish for Wang Galbi Tongdak: 2 cloves garlic (sliced and fried), green part of green onion, sesame oil

Instructions

1. Prepare the Suwon Chicken Base

Remove the string from the whole chicken and trim the wingtips.
Cut down the center and spread it open (butterfly style) to ensure your galbi chicken cooks evenly.
Pat dry, pour 3 tbsp of cooking wine, and season with salt and pepper. Let it rest for 30 minutes.

koreangalbichicken3 — suwon chicken recipe

2. Make the Secret Wang Galbi Tongdak Sauce

In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, onion, and green onion.
Bring to a boil, then simmer.
Stir in the potato starch paste gradually until the sauce reaches a thick, syrupy consistency—this is the key to perfect galbi chicken.

3. Bake and Glaze your Galbi Chicken

Brush the chicken skin with the prepared sauce.
Place on a baking tray, skin side up. Bake at 365°F (185°C) for 25 minutes.
Pro Tip: For authentic suwon chicken, brush another layer of sauce after 15 minutes.

4. Flip and Caramelize

Turn the chicken over, brush with more sauce, and bake at 185°C for 15 minutes.
Flip back to skin side up, add more sauce, and bake for 10 minutes.
Final Step: For that signature wang galbi tongdak look, brush a final layer and bake at 465°F (240°C) for 5 minutes until beautifully caramelized.

5. Garnish and Serve

Top your galbi chicken with crispy fried garlic and chopped scallions.
Serve hot and enjoy the most authentic suwon chicken outside of Korea!

FAQ about Dak Gomtang

While most Korean fried chicken is known for its crispy batter and spicy gochujang sauce, Suwon chicken (specifically wang galbi tongdak) is characterized by its deep, savory galbi glaze made of sweet soy sauce.

Yes! While this recipe focuses on a healthy roasted chicken, you can also deep-fry or air-fry the chicken pieces first and then toss them in the Galbi sauce. The key is to thicken the sauce in a pan so it coats the Galbi chicken perfectly, regardless of the cooking method.

Galbi oven chicken has a complex flavor profile: the umami of soy sauce, the warmth of minced garlic, and the natural sweetness from sugar or fruit. It tastes very similar to Korean BBQ beef ribs but with the juicy texture of chicken.