Start with the rice cakes. Rice cakes are usually added to the pot early and cook faster than the chicken. Try them first while they are hot and soft, either on their own or with a little dipping sauce.
GUIDE 15
How to Eat Dakhanmari
Start with rice cakes, tender chicken, and the rich broth.
WHAT IS IT?
Dakhanmari is a shared chicken hot pot. Let the rice cakes and chicken cook in the bubbling broth, then build each bite with the dipping sauce, garlic chives, and noodles at the end.
HOW TO EAT IT
Make your dipping sauce. At the table, mix the provided soy sauce, mustard, vinegar, and minced garlic to your taste. If a spicy red pepper sauce is provided, add a little for extra heat. Start with small amounts of mustard, vinegar, and garlic, then adjust to your liking.
Eat the chicken with the sauce. Once the chicken is fully cooked, tear off a piece and dip it into your sauce. The savory chicken pairs especially well with the tangy mustard and garlic sauce.
Add garlic chives if you like. You can mix some garlic chives into the dipping sauce, or simply place them on top of the chicken and eat them together. The fresh, slightly spicy chives add a nice contrast to the tender chicken.
Keep enjoying the broth. The broth becomes richer as the chicken cooks. Enjoy it between bites or with the chicken and rice cakes.
Finish with kalguksu noodles. When most of the chicken is gone, add kalguksu noodles to the remaining broth. Let them cook until tender, then enjoy the noodles in the rich chicken broth.
Take it one relaxed bite at a time.
LOCAL TIP
Start with a little mustard, vinegar, and garlic in your dipping sauce, then adjust after your first bite.
TABLE TIP
Refill Your Side DishesNeed more banchan? Just ask the staff. Most Korean restaurants are happy to refill common side dishes at no extra charge, and some have a self-service banchan bar. A few dishes made with more expensive ingredients may be limited or not refillable. Don’t be shy—asking for more banchan is completely normal in Korea.
Don’t worry if…
The pot is meant to be shared and enjoyed over time. Let the chicken cook fully, take the rice cakes while they are soft, and save room for kalguksu.