Minari gomtang near Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul: Geumnyeong

Weirdly, whenever the weather turns even a little chilly, or I just crave a hot bowl of soup, gomtang (Korean beef bone soup) is what I want. I visited Geumnyeong Gomtang today after an appointment at Hanyang University Hospital. I'd been fasting for tests and had zero energy left.

I came out feeling truly restored, like I'd had a gomtang made with medicinal herbs!! A regular gomtang is already great, but one piled high with minari (water dropwort)? That combination was so good.

Where is Geumnyeong Gomtang's Wangsimni flagship, and what is it like inside?

Located on the shopping street of Doseon-dong in Wangsimni, Geumnyeong Gomtang's Wangsimni flagship had a cozy, warm feel.

You know that feeling like your grandmother is about to welcome you in???!! Maybe that's why the staff were all so friendly too~~ :)

Geumnyeong Gomtang menu and prices

• Gomtang ₩13,000 / XL ₩15,000
• Minari gomtang ₩14,000 / XL ₩16,000
• Rice noodle soup ₩13,000 / XL ₩15,000
• Minari rice noodle soup ₩14,000 / XL ₩16,000
• Pollack salad ₩14,000
• Boiled beef platter 2 people ₩39,000 / 3 people ₩57,000 / 4 people ₩73,000

It really was Korean beef, confirmed!!

The restaurant was clean, with groups dining together as well as people eating solo — a comfortable, tidy atmosphere!!! And the food came out fast after ordering, which I appreciated.

What does the minari gomtang taste like?

When the minari gomtang I ordered arrived, the first thing I noticed was how loaded it was with minari.

Finely chopped minari sat on top in bright green, giving it a different look from a regular gomtang right from the start.

The basic side dishes were napa-radish kimchi and dried radish strips — the kimchi was refreshing and clean-tasting..!! The dried radish strips were crunchy and sweet too.

The water bottle turned out to be one of those nostalgic old juice bottles~~ I was so happy to see it!!

The meat was thinly sliced beef shank sitting together with the rice.

Scooping up a spoonful of rice from the hot broth with the meat, then adding a bit of the minari on top, brought everything together in one bite — delicious.

Because the minari was so finely chopped, it was easy to mix a little into the broth at a time. Its distinctive fragrant flavor combined with the gomtang broth made it taste clean, not greasy at all. When I eat gomtang, just meat and rice over and over can get a little dull, but with all that minari mixed in, I got fragrant little bursts throughout — I loved that.

The dried radish strips were delicious!! You could really taste the skill behind such a simple side dish.

Best of all, since the rice was already mixed into the bowl, scooping a spoonful of broth along with the meat and rice cake made for a hearty, filling meal.

The rice cake had a nice chewy bite, and the thinly sliced beef shank went well with the rice too.

I kept enjoying the minari and eating my way through it, and once the broth became visible, its color was... a work of art. That rich broth really felt like it was warming both body and soul.

Is Geumnyeong Gomtang a good meal near Hanyang University Hospital?

I'd call it a certified Hanyang University Hospital spot too!! Since the hospital shuttle drops off at Wangsimni Station, it's perfect for stopping by for a quick recovery meal. If you like minari, I'd say this minari gomtang is worth trying at least once over the regular version.

If you're in Wangsimni craving a hot bowl of soup and want a hearty, filling meal with rice included, go, go~~ to Geumnyeong Gomtang's Wangsimni branch.