Times Square Seoul food court: squid set and gopchang noodles, Gangmun

I went looking for a place to eat with a friend at Times Square, and that's how I found Gangmun Times Square Branch. It was one of those days I wanted to shop, chat, and eat something good — so picking the right menu really mattered. This time I was after somewhere comfortable to sit down with my best friend and talk over food.

Gangmun Times Square Branch / Daily 11:30 - 21:30

Apparently the name Gangmun carries the meaning of "a space facing the flow." Let me walk you through what kind of space it actually is, and how the food was.

Where is Gangmun Times Square Branch? Food Square on basement level 1

Gangmun Times Square Branch sits in the basement 1 Food Square of Times Square. When you think of restaurants in Times Square, you usually picture the bustling food-court atmosphere, but Gangmun felt different from first impression.

The interior is modern, the space is fairly wide, and the seats are spaced generously so you can sit and eat without feeling cramped. Honestly, that relaxed atmosphere matters a lot when you're meeting a friend after a while and want to actually talk. Being able to chat over good food in front of you — perfect spot to catch up with a close friend. 👍

Inside Gangmun: a clean, modern room with more space than expected

Overall, Gangmun's space feels clean and polished. Rather than an elaborately decorated interior, what stood out was the modern design and the generous seating layout.

It's a good place to stop by for a quick meal while shopping, but also fine for a leisurely meal with a friend by appointment, like I did. I especially liked that the tables and seats weren't packed too tight.

What comes in the knife-cut squid solo set at Gangmun?

The menu I (Ella) chose that day was Gangmun Times Square Branch's knife-cut squid solo set. The solo set comes with the knife-cut squid plus a tuna rice ball and beef soup, so it made for a pretty solid single meal.

The squid broth in particular was impressive — the deep flavor from the squid made the broth rich and thick, and it grabbed my appetite from the very first spoonful.

The chewy texture of the knife-cut squid with that rich broth practically demanded rice on the side! The tuna rice ball also paired well with the spicy broth, and with the beef soup added in, it was a filling, satisfying meal.

Spicy gopchang noodles: bouncy beef intestine in a chilli broth

My friend ordered the spicy gopchang (beef intestine) noodles. The name alone hints at a bit of spice, and the noodles came loaded with a generous amount of gopchang.

The signature bouncy, chewy texture of gopchang really came through, so it's a dish that would catch the eye of anyone who loves gopchang. Eating the noodles and gopchang together in the spicy broth had its own kind of appeal. Splitting two menus between us made it more fun to compare the different styles of flavor.

Squid set vs spicy gopchang noodles: which dish won?

So between the two, which did I pick? The squid, hands down! 😆 The spicy gopchang noodles were delicious too, but what really won me over that day was the knife-cut squid. The rich, deep broth flavor in particular stuck with me.

Eating the chewy squid together with the thick broth, plus the tuna rice ball on the side, made for a filling meal. But more than anything, I loved the time spent sitting across from my best friend, eating good food and chatting to our hearts' content.

If you're looking for a comfortable meal at Times Square, Gangmun Times Square Branch works both for a quick bite while shopping and for a leisurely meal with a friend by appointment. It's easy to find among the restaurants in the basement 1 Food Square, and I liked that the modern interior and wide seating made for a fairly comfortable meal.

Pick whichever menu suits your taste, but for me — someone who loves a rich, thick broth — the squid was the clear winner that day! 🦑 Shopping, good food, chatting with a best friend... days like this really are the best. A satisfying meal and a great conversation, that was Gangmun Times Square Branch.