Half chicken hot pot and yukhoe tangtangi in Dongdaemun: Sunhuine

I'm working three shifts and my husband gets off work late, so my mom's been babysitting for us. She'd only ever seen Gwangjang Market on TV and never been in person, so once the heat broke after the start of fall, I asked her out on a little Seoul date haha 😆

How to find Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari in Dongdaemun Market

Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun is tucked in a Dongdaemun Market alley, upstairs next to the Gongneung dak hanmari place, marked by a red sign. Whether you walk in from the main street or enter through Dongdaemun Market, you'll pass a row of health-food restaurants on the way.

Apparently dak hanmari's clean flavor won over Japanese diners' taste buds — I guess that's why Sunhuine showed up on Japanese TV.

Inside the two floors: is Sunhuine good for groups?

The 1st floor at Sunhuine was spacious, and after climbing the stairs by the kitchen, the 2nd floor turned out to be quite roomy too. There's a separate restroom on the 2nd floor, and looking at the table layout, it seemed perfect for company dinners or group gatherings.

Sunhuine menu and the set discount for four

The great thing about Sunhuine is that they don't just serve dak hanmari — they also do bindaetteok, yukhoe, and yukhoe tangtangi, so you can try both Dongdaemun chicken hot pot and Gwangjang Market food in one place. So efficient! If you come as a family of four or a group of four, you can order the set menu for a discounted price 👏

On top of that, if you write a review they'll give you alcohol or a drink, and there's even Toss Pay for earning points.

I wondered if Sunhuine actually makes their own makgeolli — there was a 'Sunhui' brand makgeolli on the menu — but since my mom doesn't drink, I'd have had to finish the whole bottle myself, so I passed haha.

Side dishes and table setting at Sunhuine

The banchan (side dishes) were cucumber kimchi, kimchi, cabbage, and pickled onion. That cucumber kimchi had a surprisingly strong pepper flavor — I'd never tasted anything like it before, so interesting. The kimchi was nice and tangy~~

We sat at a table against the wall. The tabletop was marble, so no stickiness, and the drawer had spoons, chopsticks, napkins, and a bottle opener.

Mom and I ordered yukhoe tangtangi and half a chicken hot pot!! I wanted bindaetteok too, but there were only two of us 😭

Yukhoe tangtangi, 38,000 won: plump octopus with raw beef

The yukhoe tangtangi at Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dongdaemun is 38,000 won, and it comes with an egg yolk and gim (seaweed) on the side. I set the yolk on top carefully for a photo without breaking it, then popped it with my chopsticks and mixed everything together — the octopus pieces practically clung to the chopsticks, not wanting to let go haha.

It's already seasoned with sauce so it's tasty on its own, but dipping it in sesame oil makes it nuttier, and wrapping it in gim doubles the flavor with none of the fishy taste. The octopus wasn't thin — it was plump, so the texture was great. My mom, who'd just toured Gwangjang Market, said this looked like the freshest yukhoe around. I was worried since she's not usually into yukhoe, but she ate more of it than ever before — enough that my dad would've been shocked if he'd seen. I'm getting hungry again just writing this~~

Half chicken hot pot, 17,000 won: enough for two

Next up, not a whole chicken hot pot but a half — 17,000 won!! The staff cut it up into easy-to-eat pieces before bringing it out.

There are instructions for making the dipping sauce, but no exact measurements — just adjust it to your taste. The dadaegi (spicy chili paste mix) is quite spicy, and the raw garlic has a sharp kick too, so taste as you go and adjust little by little.

It's technically finished once you add the cabbage, but a splash of broth makes it juicier and even tastier.

Once it's bubbling away, the rice cake sticks (tteoksari) float up — people say you eat dak hanmari just for these, and as the photo shows, they're incredibly soft and chewy!!

The broth is so refreshing and clean thanks to the cabbage and green onion!! It even has a shabu-shabu kind of feel~~ Mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes are in there too, doubling up the savory depth! The potatoes were fluffy and delicious. It's very hot, so let it cool a bit before eating~~

They must use a size 7 chicken, because each piece was big and meaty — even as a half chicken, the portion was surprisingly generous!

First time eating dak hanmari? How to mix the dadaegi sauce

Even if you like it spicy, never dump the dadaegi straight into the pot!! Scoop some into a separate bowl and taste as you build it up~~ If you get it wrong, the whole broth ends up tasting off, neither here nor there 🤗

Coffee and restrooms after the meal

There's a coffee machine and instant coffee packets thoughtfully set out — nailing it right down to the finish!!

The restroom is single-occupancy, with separate ones for men and women, so it felt safe and clean 👍

With the whole Gwangjang Market menu available, Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun is a Korean restaurant I'd recommend to anyone around the world looking for good food in Dongdaemun Market 👍