Geomdan, Incheon gamjatang lunch tips and meal-kit size-up: Monyeojin

What is Geomdan Monyeojin Gamjatang like?

Geomdan Monyeojin Gamjatang (검단 모녀진 감자탕) is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) place on the first floor of Ilbeonji Plaza in Bullo-dong, Geomdan New Town. My husband and I had stopped by Geomdan to sort out joint ownership of an apartment we'd won in the subscription lottery, and he said he wanted gamjatang, so we went to Monyeojin for lunch. It's a Geomdan favorite where you can eat plenty for not much money, and the value is just fantastic.

Where do you park at Monyeojin Gamjatang?

You can use the underground parking lot of the Ilbeonji Plaza building. At lunchtime, though, it may be full. I drove in, found it full, and came back out, then took a free spot somewhere in the nearby alleys. At lunchtime a lot of people seemed to park along the roadside too.

What time should you go to avoid a wait at lunch?

If you arrive before 12:00, there's a bit more room at the tables. So if you want a relaxed lunch, I'd recommend getting to this Geomdan gamjatang spot before noon. After 12:00 it gets really crowded. There was even a bit of a wait.

I had no idea it was such a popular place when I walked in, and then it hit me: this is a seriously good restaurant.

Monyeojin Gamjatang menu and the meal-kit takeout perk

The only menu item at Monyeojin Gamjatang in Geomdan New Town is gamjatang, sold in couple, small and medium sizes. If you get it as a meal-kit takeout, they pack it one size up: buy the couple size and you get small, buy small and you get medium. A great-value takeout spot in Geomdan.

The side dishes were simple: radish kimchi, napa cabbage kimchi and macaroni. You can also dip chili peppers in ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste).

What can you eat for free at Monyeojin Gamjatang?

Secret to its popularity #1: the fried egg self-serve bar

Monyeojin has a self-serve bar where you fry your own eggs. Even if you hardly ever make fried eggs at home, it's human nature that when you see a fried egg bar out and about, you just have to make one. My husband and I each fried one for ourselves.

Secret to its popularity #2: unlimited rice

Monyeojin is a Geomdan New Town restaurant that serves rice without limit, so anyone who eats a lot of rice is going to love it.

Secret to its popularity #3: unlimited ramen noodles

If you want gamjatang in Geomdan, you should come to Monyeojin. You even add the ramen noodles (ramyeon sari) yourself. Come as a pair, order the couple-size gamjatang for ₩25,000, and you get unlimited rice, ramen noodles and fried eggs for free.

Is the couple-size gamjatang (₩25,000) right for two?

The couple size at Monyeojin was just the right amount for two. Whenever we go to a gamjatang place as a pair, we can't order gamjatang and end up with haejangguk (hangover soup) instead, because a small pot for two is too much and it's a waste to leave food behind.

But Geomdan Monyeojin Gamjatang has a couple size, which is just the right amount for two. Such a thoughtful restaurant.

It came almost ready to eat, needing only a brief simmer.

Is the meat at Monyeojin Gamjatang easy to pull off the bone?

The meat is so well cooked that it slides right off the bone. My husband loved how well done the meat was and how easily it came off. He was thrilled the bones just slip out, because he finds picking meat off bones kind of a chore. (And yet this guy who finds it a chore really loves gamjatang;;)

There was a lot of meat, and it was cooked so tender that it fell right off the bone. That made it really easy to eat at this Geomdan gamjatang spot.

There's plenty of meat clinging to the bones, so even one bone is a decent bite. I liked that it's the perfect amount for two and yet surprisingly meaty.

I figured a hearty gamjatang for two would cost at least ₩30,000, but it was ₩25,000 with no charge for rice, so I was very happy. Great value in Geomdan.

How were the broth and the napa cabbage greens?

The broth tasted like classic gamjatang broth. My husband really likes this kind of broth, so he ate more of it than usual during the meal.

Top the tender meat with enoki mushrooms and ugeoji (cooked napa cabbage greens), dip it in the sauce, and it's delicious.

On top of that, there was really a lot of ugeoji. The pieces were big, so we cut them with scissors. I like ugeoji even more than meat, and there was still some left over.

Overall verdict

Geomdan New Town's Monyeojin Gamjatang is amazing value. And of course it tastes good too, so it's a Geomdan spot for a delicious, hearty meal.