Jongno Korean restaurant lunch with gomtang: Wolhadong

I recently took a little outing to Insadong with a friend for the first time in ages. Insadong is such a nice neighborhood for a casual meet-up with a friend, with little alleys to explore, exhibitions, gift shops, and cafés. As we wandered around here and there, it was suddenly lunchtime! We wondered what to eat, then thought that since we had come all the way to Insadong, we should find a Korean restaurant with a warm, traditional feel—and that brought us to Wolhadong (월하동) for gomtang (Korean beef soup). With its neat hanok-inspired atmosphere and a steaming bowl of gomtang, it felt like a great choice for lunch in Insadong with a friend.

Wolhadong’s hanok atmosphere in an Insadong alley

Wolhadong is on Insadong 8-gil in Jongno-gu, Seoul, making it an easy place to stop for a meal while sightseeing around Insadong.

It has a hanok feel that suits Insadong perfectly, while the interior is clean and polished, so I liked it from the first impression.

In particular, when you enter, a display of moon jars catches your eye and adds even more Korean character to the space. It is not overly decorated in a trendy way; the distinctive atmosphere of a hanok and the moon jars blend naturally together. I thought it would be a lovely place to bring an overseas friend, too. It really creates the feeling of having Korean food in Insadong.

A neat restaurant that also works well for solo dining

Along with standard tables, there was a long counter-style table facing the kitchen.

It is nice for visiting with a friend or partner, but it also seemed easy enough to drop in for lunch alone after coming out to Insadong.

Gomtang itself is such an easy dish to eat alone, after all. It is not something you need a group to share: everyone can simply enjoy a warm bowl of gomtang. I think it would suit anyone looking for lunch in Insadong or a place for solo dining there.

Ordering is simple, too. You can order straight away using the QR code attached to the table. It was convenient to browse the menu at our own pace and order from our seats.

Wolha Gomtang for ₩12,000: two servings with a friend

For lunch that day, we chose the most basic menu item, Wolha Gomtang. It was ₩12,000 per serving, and my friend and I ordered two servings.

The basic side dishes were very simple, too. Cubed radish kimchi and napa cabbage kimchi came together in one bowl, along with a dipping sauce for the meat in the gomtang.

The taste of the kimchi is quietly important when you are eating gomtang, isn’t it?

A spoonful of broth, then some rice and meat, with cubed radish kimchi or napa cabbage kimchi in between—it all went together really well.

Salt and pepper were set out on the table, so you can adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Rather than adding everything from the start, I would recommend tasting the broth as it is first, then adding salt or pepper if you feel it needs it.

A clean bowl of gomtang served in white ceramic

After a short wait, our Wolha Gomtang arrived, and even its appearance suited Wolhadong’s atmosphere so well. The gomtang came in a clean white ceramic bowl that reminded me of the moon jars I had noticed in the restaurant.

A hanok, moon jars, white ceramics, and hot gomtang! Each element is simple on its own, but together they created a naturally connected Korean atmosphere.

The broth was not overly oily or strongly seasoned, so it was easy to enjoy. Dipping the meat lightly in the sauce that came with it gave it another layer of flavor.

As my friend and I chatted and ate spoonfuls of rice with the warm broth, it became a filling meal that still felt easy on the stomach. I think I will remember it on days when I want comforting, satisfying gomtang in Insadong rather than something heavily seasoned.

A satisfying Insadong lunch with a friend

There are so many restaurants in Insadong that choosing lunch can actually be difficult. But Wolhadong, which I visited with my friend this time, was satisfying because we could enjoy Insadong’s distinctive atmosphere while having a neat Korean meal.

The hanok-inspired space and moon-jar décor were beautiful, and the food was served so neatly in white ceramic bowls that the whole setting came together wonderfully throughout the meal. At ₩12,000, Wolha Gomtang did not feel burdensome for a filling lunch with a friend in Insadong, either. If you are out exploring Insadong and craving hot broth, and want clean, mild Korean gomtang, a bowl of Wolha Gomtang at Wolhadong could be a nice choice. We explored Insadong, then warmed up and filled our stomachs—such a satisfying, tidy lunch :)