Yangjae gamjatang restaurant with a fried rice finish: Chomu Gamjatang

Today I visited Chomu Gamjatang, known as one of Yangjae's go-to restaurants! There are plenty of pretty, hip places to eat around Yangjae, but somewhere the whole family can sit down comfortably for a filling meal is actually pretty rare. So today I'm sharing a story about Chomu Gamjatang, a great spot for a family meal :)

Where is Chomu Gamjatang, and what are its hours?

Chomu Gamjatang is on Nonhyeon-ro 59beon-gil in Seocho-gu, open 11:00–22:00. It's near Yangjae Citizen's Forest, in the Poi-dong neighborhood, so it was easy to reach by car or on foot.

Hanok tile-roof exterior and parking at Chomu Gamjatang

The exterior of Chomu Gamjatang is decorated with hanok roof tiles under a fancy glass ceiling. The stylish roof, blending modern and traditional touches, already gave off the scent of a good restaurant.

As shown here, the signature dishes are gamjatang, ppyeojjim (steamed pork bones), and pork cutlet. There's parking in front for about 5 cars, so it's easy for anyone driving to visit too.

What the restaurant is like at noon, and the seating

I visited around noon. The place was nearly full at lunchtime—definitely a Poi-dong favorite⭐️ The seating included the table for two I sat at, tables for four, and larger tables for group diners.

What is on the menu at Chomu Gamjatang?

The wooden menu board gave it a rustic yet tidy feel, making the menu easy to browse at a glance. Along with the main dishes gamjatang and ppyeojjim, there were solo-dining options like ppyeohaejangguk (bone soup) and pork cutlet, so there was a wide range to choose from. I went all in and ordered a small gamjatang with two bowls of rice, plus fried rice to finish.

Side dishes served with the meal

The side dishes were kimchi and kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi)—simple, but a perfect match for gamjatang. Since they were house-made rather than store-bought, you could really taste the depth of homemade flavor ☺️

Small gamjatang: how were the pork bones and broth?

The gamjatang finally arrived. The sight of perilla leaves and scallions on top, with big bones hidden underneath, was mouthwatering just to look at 🤤

Can you see these big bones? Meaty and mouthwatering just to look at.

Gamjatang places usually take a while to cook the stew, but Chomu's comes already simmered thoroughly, so I could dig in right away without waiting.

I pulled off a piece of meat and it was tender, coming away cleanly along the grain—genuinely fun to pick apart.

I tried the broth too, and it was among the spiciest, richest gamjatang broths I've had.

You can't have gamjatang without potatoes. They were moist all the way through, with that signature crumbly texture.

Ugeoji greens grown by the owner

But it wasn't just about the meat and potatoes—the perilla leaves and ugeoji (dried napa cabbage leaves) on top kept dancing on my tongue. Especially the ugeoji, which I heard the owner grew himself, which made it feel even more heartfelt and trustworthy. I thought the potatoes and meat were the stars, but the vegetables held their own too—an impressive balance at Chomu Gamjatang.

Finishing the gamjatang with fried rice

It would be a shame to stop there. So I made the bold decision to order the fried rice!

The broth was delicious even before frying, but fried rice at a gamjatang place has a charm you just can't replicate at home.

With the rich meat broth, scallions, seaweed, and a special sauce all coming together, I finished every last spoonful without a hint of regret.

Verdict: is Chomu Gamjatang good for a family meal?

For anyone looking for a good restaurant in Seocho-gu or a family dining spot, or wanting a satisfying, affordable meal, Chomu Gamjatang seems like a great choice.

From the meat and potatoes to the homegrown ugeoji, every bowl felt made with care—great to bring elders to, and with pork cutlet on the menu and a mild spice level, great to bring kids too. I'd happily recommend "Chomu Gamjatang" to anyone :)