Looking for Sam-Gye-tang - Korean Chicken Ginseng Soup

My boyfriend has been craving this Korean chicken soup -- a whole cornish game hen stuffed with sweet rice, ginseng root, and dates in a fairly light but deeply flavorful broth. We're more than willing to drive out to the suburbs if it's good. A few weeks ago, we drove out to Willow Tree Korean Restaurant on Dempster (in Niles) which seemed to feature it as a house specialty -- first item on the menu, and five dollars more than anything else ($11.95). It was such a Korean home cooking type place that we were sure we had nailed it and we were really excited. Unfortunately, the soup was a little bland and not nearly as good as he remembered although it did successfully curb the cravings for now. On another note, this place served the best kamja-tang that we'd ever had -- a spicy potato and pork bone soup that was incredible. The deep, spicy broth is made quite substantial by the potatos (although lighter than jigae) with big knotted chunks of pork bone with pockets of flavorful meat that you struggle to eat clean for the entirety of the meal. They bring you a small empty plate so you can discard the bones as you eat. Pretty good number of panchan dishes for this type of place -- I think I counted seven, including the little dried fish that many of you appreciate. Large platter of kimchee to go along with all this, and finished with an excellent palate-cleansing cold cider that reminded me of something I was served at TRU. A great little place, we returned a week later for another kamja tang and a soon-dae tang -- a non-spicy soup with blood sausage and lots of intestine. The soon-dae tang was pretty good -- very smooth, silky broth --although I kept eating out of my boyfriend's bowl. I'm actually more partial to Menudo when I'm in the mood for tripe. Next time, I'm ordering kamja tang for myself and I'll resist the impulse to try something new on the menu. Both times we were there (weekday late afternoon, early evening Sunday) there were only other Korean patrons but much of the menu is in English and the waitress didn't seem disdainful that we were ordering in English since our Korean sucks. (the looks of scorn at San Soo Gap San are quite legendary)

Anyway, I've gone way off topic -- any great samgyetang recs would be much appreciated.

Willow Tree Korean
6032 Dempster
Morton Grove (not in Niles, my mistake)
great hours: open at 8:30 am through 11 or midnight.

Doesn't sound like this is exactly what you are looking for, but this might be worth checking out. I've been meaning to go for ages.

I've been to Willow Tree, and I was impressed. Looks like some sort of old pancake house from the outside. There seem to be a lot of Korean places along that stretch of Dempster - any have opinions about the others?

this Ssyal link is great -- I'll definitely check this place out, maybe tonight. This is the very thing I'm looking for although this place clearly takes its ginseng very seriously and I'm anticipating that the broth tastes a little too medicincal. I tried a search before posting but didn't think to use ginseng as a key word.

Also, there were 2-3 other small non-bbq Korean restuarants on Dempster when we were making our way back to the fwy -- is there anything particularly good to try? I know I should just go out and try them myself but I find it really difficult to drive past a sure thing after a 30 minute drive in traffic. Generally, we just drive down the street several times a month to cheerfully suffer our abuse at San Soo Gap San. But when I drive out of the city to eat, nothing is worse than driving back full of lament and regret...

so weird!!! i just had this last nite. gf made it.. 2 cornish hens...

it's EXTREMELY easy to make. and no, i didn't take pictures.. tho i will take one of the HALF eaten chicken later tonite

Well, she's a much better GF than I am -- I really prefer to see food in its already cooked form. But glad you enjoyed it -- I think it's the cold weather and a weak immune system that's producing the cravings.