Sinnonhyeon gukbap restaurant with mini jar kimchi: Geumnyeong Gomtang

Hi, this is Bakshuni!

It's that seasonal-change time of year when my body gets all shivery, so I went and checked out Geumnyeong Gomtang. It's super close to the station and there are plenty of cafés and second-place spots nearby, so it's great for a lunch or dinner visit!

Where is Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch, and how far is it from Sinnonhyeon Station?

Geumnyeong Gomtang is close to Exit 4 of Sinnonhyeon Station, and since both the Sinbundang Line and Line 9 run through it, it looked like a great spot for a meal on the commute too. It's only about a 2-minute walk from the station. Not hard to find, and it's on the 2nd floor of the building.

Geumnyeong Gomtang at 8pm on a weekday: the room and the solo tables

The interior at Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch is really clean and there was plenty of seating. I visited around 8pm on a weekday so it wasn't crowded. There are two-person tables for solo dining, so if you want a bowl of gukbap (soup with rice) and a solo drink after work, you can come comfortably.

Since there are a lot of offices nearby, it seems like it'd be packed with office workers on weekday lunches, but the interior is well-organized enough that even at busy times it probably wouldn't feel like a chaotic market.

How does the self-serve side dish bar work?

There's a self-serve bar on one side, so if there's a side dish you want, you just go grab it yourself. Kimchi gets brought to you when they set the table, so you only need to grab the other side dishes yourself.

The Geumnyeong Gomtang menu and ordering the minari gomtang

The menu is simple — gomtang, minari gomtang (water dropwort beef soup), rice noodles, pollock salad, and boiled pork — and the special size is +₩2,000. Since I love minari (water dropwort), I ordered the regular-size minari gomtang.

Kimchi served in a mini jar at the table

First, the kimchi they set on the table! The mini jar is packed full of well-fermented kimchi, and they give you scissors and tongs so you can portion out as much as you want onto your small plate *_* If you need other side dishes besides kimchi, just grab them from the self-serve bar I mentioned earlier!

Regular-size minari gomtang: is the portion big enough?

Then the minari gukbap arrived, and true to its name, it's so packed with minari that you can barely see the broth haha. Only chopsticks are self-serve at the table, and the spoon comes served together with the soup!

I figured a Korean beef gukbap wouldn't have much meat, but there's actually quite a lot of meat in it. Women should be fully satisfied with the regular size, and men would probably find the special size just right.

The Korean beef receipt posted at the entrance and free extra rice

If you look near the entrance, they post things like receipts for the Korean beef purchased that day. Because of that, you really get the sense that it's quality meat you can trust. It's not chewy at all, it's tender. Makes sense since it's made with 1++ grade beef ..☆

Oh, and if the rice isn't enough, you can just ask for more. If you love broth, too much rice can feel like a lot, but for me the amount was just right — and if you want more, rice refills are free haha.

Clear broth with the scent of minari: how did it taste?

Rice isn't served separately — it's already in the gukbap, and there was also rice cake in it, which I love. As you can see, the broth is on the clear side, and mixed with the scent of minari it really worked well together.

Coming from mostly having the white broth of pork gukbap, I wondered if a clear broth would lack depth — but even clear, it was packed with deep flavor!! Everyone should definitely try the minari version instead of the regular one ㅠㅠ The texture was great the whole way through, and the combo with the meat was so good.

An unstoppable combo of kimchi + rice + meat. The kimchi is just the right amount fermented, not too salty, and pairs perfectly with a mild dish like gukbap. The minari was finely chopped, so it came along in a good amount with every spoonful, making it easy to eat.

The broth's color is hard to see at first, covered by meat and minari haha. Good aroma, deep broth — I finished it as a full dinner. I usually leave some broth behind, but I ate it down to the last drop and it still felt clean and light, which I loved.

What kind of evening is Geumnyeong Gomtang best for?

If you're drinking or eating solo nearby, or if it gets colder going into fall and winter and you're craving a clean, warm gukbap, I recommend Geumnyeong Gomtang Sinnonhyeon branch =) The end!