Comparing mild and spicy galbitang bowls near Hoegi Station, Seoul

Today's post is about a meal at a restaurant near Hoegi Station, Hoegi Wang Galbitang 🍲

I ordered one mild, clear-broth galbitang and one spicy galbitang so I could compare the two!

Hoegi Wang Galbitang's location and hours

• Name: Hoegi Wang Galbitang
• Location: 54 Imun-ro, 1st floor, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (333m from Hoegi Station Exit 1)
• Hours: Daily 10:30–21:00 (last order 20:20)
• House rules: One order per person required / free rice refills at the self-service corner
• Takeout: Rice not included, broth doubled

Menu and prices

• Mild galbitang (원기회복 갈비탕) ₩16,000
• Spicy galbitang (얼큰 갈비탕) ₩17,000
• Energy-boosting special galbitang ₩18,000
• Arong sataeng galbitang (shank cut) ₩19,000

We ordered the mild galbitang and the spicy galbitang and paid ₩33,000 total.

Walking there from Hoegi Station, halfway between HUFS and Kyung Hee University

The restaurant is just a short walk from Hoegi Station, sitting right at the midpoint between Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Kyung Hee University!

What both bowls had in common: two rib bones and generous portions

First, the shared points. Both bowls arrived piping hot, and each came with two big rib bones. They give you tongs and scissors so you can cut the meat yourself, and it came off the bone easily, which I liked.

Since it's real short rib, there were no tough parts — it was soft and chewy. The portion was plenty for an adult woman, and a man could finish it satisfied too. If you eat a bit more than average, I'd recommend the special version with three rib bones.

1️⃣ Mild galbitang (₩16,000)

Even though the broth is clear, the meat flavor is deep. The seasoning was just right, and it honestly reminded me of eating gomguk (bone broth soup) haha.

It's not overpowering, so you keep spooning it up. If it's your first visit, I'd recommend this one.

2️⃣ Spicy galbitang (₩17,000)

The broth is much richer, but it's also a lot spicier than expected.

I struggled with the heat while eating it too haha. If you're weak to spice, I don't recommend this one!

Interestingly, the spicy version had bean sprouts in it! That might explain why it's ₩1,000 more expensive — it does feel more loaded.

3️⃣ Glass noodles & rice

There was a generous amount of glass noodles inside, which went well with the rice.

If you run low on rice, you can refill it yourself at the self-service corner. Just scoop it from the rice cooker — if you really love glass noodles, you might want to order extra though haha.

4️⃣ Side bar & dessert

Besides seokbakji (radish kimchi), you can also help yourself to napa cabbage kimchi and seasoned doraji (bellflower root) from the self-service bar.

They even had barley crackers and misugaru (roasted grain powder drink) for dessert, which made me think they'd put thought into every detail from start to finish.

⚠️ The spicy galbitang is much spicier than you'd expect. If you can't handle spicy food well, it's safer to go with the mild galbitang!

Final thoughts

Something written in the restaurant's introduction stuck with me.

• They soak and clean 120kg of ribs daily for 12 hours to remove blood
• Then a 1-hour first boil with various ingredients added
• Over 60 hours spent trimming and removing fat
• Simmered another 2 hours after seasoning
• Even the seokbakji is made in-house rather than bought

If you find yourself near Hoegi Station, this is a good place to grab a meal. Overall, it was well-balanced with nothing off, and the food tasted great.

The one downside was that the spicy version was a lot spicier than expected. I'd love to come back again!

Would revisit: ⭕