Myeongdong Chicken Skewers at Dak-i Kkochine: Prices, 7 Sauces, and How to Order (Halal Certified)
At the Myeongdong street stall Dak-i Kkochine (Grilled Chicken Skewers), a chicken skewer costs ₩6,000 for the M size (150g–170g) and ₩10,000 for the XL size (320g–340g). The price board hangs at the front of the stall, and those are the exact numbers written on it. A halal certificate is displayed at the stall, cash, credit cards and Alipay are all accepted, and when you're done eating you hand the skewer and tray straight back to the vendor.
What kind of stall is Dak-i Kkochine?
The signboard carries the Korean name Dak-i Kkochine alongside the English words Grilled chicken skewers and Chicken satay. Even if you can't read the menu names, the sign alone tells you what's being sold here.
On the right side of the sign there's a HALAL certification mark, and below it the actual halal certificate is displayed at the stall. Halal options are hard to find along the Myeongdong food street, so being able to look at the certificate with your own eyes before ordering is what sets this stall apart.
At the front of the counter sit model replicas of the finished skewers. They're built in enough detail that you can pick what you want by looking and pointing, with no shared language required. So how much cash should you have ready?
How much do chicken skewers at Dak-i Kkochine cost?
A price board titled "품목별 가격표" (price list by item) hangs above the stall. Weights and prices are written out by hand, and the menu splits into just two sizes: M and XL.
| Menu | Size | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boneless skewer (순살로 꼬치) | M | 150g–170g | ₩6,000 |
| Boneless skewer (순살로 꼬치) | XL | 320g–340g | ₩10,000 |
| Green onion & boneless (파&순살) | M | 150g–170g | ₩6,000 |
| Green onion & boneless (파&순살) | XL | 320g–340g | ₩10,000 |
The two menu names can be confusing, so here's the difference: the boneless skewer is chicken thigh meat only, while the green onion & boneless skewer has pieces of Korean green onion (daepa) tucked in between the chicken. Both cost the same, so pick whichever you prefer.
The M and XL trays sit next to each other in the display case, so you can see exactly how much bigger the XL is before you commit. Prices sorted — now comes the part most people hesitate over: ordering.
How do you order at this Myeongdong chicken skewer stall?
Above the stall hangs an English sign reading "Dakkochi - best ways to eat it." The stall has written out the ordering process in two steps itself, which is a thoughtful touch on the vendor's part.
Step one is choosing the base grill flavour. You pick from Salted, Sweet, or Spicy. Step two is choosing the sauce that goes on the grilled skewer.
The sign includes a tip as well: adding cream sauce and garlic mayo makes it even better. It's a combination the person selling the food wrote down themselves, and the vendor recommends it actively, so it's worth trying.
If saying the menu name feels like too much, just point at the skewer models on the counter. So what sauces are on offer?
How many sauces are there, and how spicy do they get?
There are seven sauces in total: salt-grilled, teriyaki, yangnyeom galbi (Korean marinated rib sauce), B.B.Q., chilli, atomic bomb, and hydrogen bomb.
Each bottle has its own flavour-name sticker, so there's no guessing which bottle is which. The signs carry explanations in several languages besides Korean and English.
The heat comes in three levels. Here they are with reference points you can actually judge against.
| Sauce | Heat level | Reference point |
|---|---|---|
| Chilli | Level 1 | About as hot as the chilli sauce it's named after |
| Atomic bomb | Level 2 | About as hot as Korean Shin Ramyun |
| Hydrogen bomb | Level 3 | The hottest level — even Koreans who like spicy food call this one hot |
The vendor doesn't apply the sauce for you. You pour on as much as you want yourself, and it doesn't cost extra. Nobody's watching how heavy-handed you are. If spice isn't your thing, start with the salt-grilled or teriyaki sauce.
Can you pay by card at this Myeongdong stall?
Dak-i Kkochine takes cash, credit cards, and Alipay. Payment method stickers are posted on the pillar beside the stall.
There's also something specific to this stall: a taxi coupon QR code posted right next to it. Scanning the code lets you call a taxi and gives you a coupon you can use on the ride.
If you're planning to head to another part of Seoul after Myeongdong, that QR code is worth a look. But first — where do you put the skewer and tray once you've finished?
Where do you throw away the used skewer and tray?
Myeongdong street vendors run a campaign to dispose of tourists' rubbish for them. This stall's price board carries the line "쓰레기 버려드립니다 / You can leave your garbage with us" in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.
There's a separate sign at the front of the stall too, reading "쓰레기 주세요 / Give me the trash."
So once you've finished eating, hand the skewer and tray straight back to the vendor. It isn't an imposition — they've asked for it in writing. Next question: when is the stall actually open?
What time does Dak-i Kkochine open?
| Days | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 4:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Weekends | 2:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
If you arrive in Myeongdong during a weekday afternoon, you'll need to come back after 4 PM. Weekends open two hours earlier and close an hour later, which leaves a lot more room if you're wandering through during the day.
What was it like to actually eat?
I got curious while taking photos, so once the customer next to me finished ordering, I paid ₩6,000 and got a boneless skewer in M size.
The skewers are grilled to order right there. After that, the vendor runs a hand torch over them for a bit of char and smoke.
I started with the yangnyeom galbi sauce, one of the signature flavours in Korean food. Sweet, with a mix of seasonings running through it — very good.
Then I tried the B.B.Q. sauce. That sweet-salty barbecue profile with a little smokiness coming through underneath, easy enough that a visitor eating Korean food for the first time can enjoy it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dak-i Kkochine in Myeongdong halal certified?
Yes. A HALAL certification mark is posted beside the signboard, and the actual halal certificate is displayed at the stall below it. You can check the certificate yourself before ordering.
How hot is the spiciest sauce?
The hottest is the hydrogen bomb sauce — hot enough that Koreans who enjoy spicy food call it hot. The middle level, atomic bomb, sits around Shin Ramyun heat. If you're unsure, start with chilli or the salt-grilled sauce.
Does the vendor put the sauce on for you?
No, you apply it yourself. Seven sauce bottles are lined up along the front of the counter, each with a flavour-name sticker. Use as much as you like, and split your skewer across several flavours if you want.
Can I pay by card?
Yes — cash, credit cards and Alipay are all accepted, with payment stickers posted on the pillar beside the stall. Prices are ₩6,000 for M and ₩10,000 for XL, exactly as shown on the price board.
What do I do with the used skewer?
Hand it back to the vendor. Myeongdong stalls run a campaign to dispose of tourists' rubbish, and this stall has "You can leave your garbage with us" posted in several languages.
Where to eat next along the Myeongdong food street?
Dak-i Kkochine posts its prices, lets you choose your own sauce, and takes your rubbish back. If it's your first Myeongdong stall, it's a reasonable place to start.
There are plenty of other stalls along the street worth checking before you order. Want to see the prices and ordering steps for more Myeongdong street food next?
