Byeollae kalguksu spot, date lunch: seaweed-wrapped cuttlefish, Gojip

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu Byeollae Byeolgaram Station Branch: the basics

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu Byeollae Byeolgaram Station Branch (고집통문어칼국수 별내별가람역점) is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a break from 3 to 5 p.m. Last orders are listed as 13:55 and 19:55. It's closed every Wednesday, and you park in the lot behind the building.

We were out on a date in Namyangju and stopped by Gojip, famous for its long waits! We arrived right at opening and there were already customers, and the place was full within 30 minutes. I'd been curious why it's this popular, and after eating here I get why people come, haha.

Where is Gojip, and where do you park?

Gojip is at 450-31 Sunhwagung-ro, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the basement level (B1). We parked behind the restaurant and came down the iron staircase! There are other restaurants in the same building, so on a first visit, check carefully for the kalguksu sign.

Gojip waiting times: when should you go to wait less?

We came at the 11 a.m. opening, and wow, there were already customers! I figured some people just show up right at opening, but by around 11:30 the whole restaurant was full! The talk about long waits is clearly not for nothing.

Reservations aren't possible; they seat people in order of arrival, and I hear the waits are shorter at 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. On weekends, the time limit is 1 hour including ordering, and if the line is long they can close early!!!

The restroom is outside the restaurant, next to the entrance near the fish tank, by the black brick wall, in case that's useful.

Inside Gojip: atmosphere

The whole place felt clean and well kept. There's a separate handwashing area, which is handy after eating seafood. They also have baby chairs, so it works for a family Korean meal too, haha.

Gojip menu and prices

The signature whole octopus seafood kalguksu is ₩43,000 (small), ₩58,000 (medium) and ₩72,000 (large). Cuttlefish bulgogi starts at ₩37,000 for small, and the lunch special is ₩14,000 per person, available for orders of 2 or more!

We ordered the cuttlefish bulgogi lunch special and one serving of surf clam kalguksu (₩9,000).

Cuttlefish bulgogi lunch special: the seaweed wrap is the best

The cuttlefish bulgogi lunch special had springy yet tender cuttlefish, a light smoky grill flavor, and a mild, not-too-aggressive spicy sauce. After we ordered, seaweed soup and side dishes came out first, and then the cuttlefish bulgogi arrived, and wow, what a sight! The portion was generous and it looked so appetizing!

On the first bite, the springy-but-tender texture of the cuttlefish was really good. The light smoky flavor and spicy sauce went together well, and above all the sauce wasn't harsh. Strong sauces sometimes make me tire of a dish quickly, but this one had a savory depth that kept me reaching for more, haha.

Especially wrapped in seaweed (gim) with rice, bean sprouts and cuttlefish, it was seriously delicious! The nutty seaweed plus crunchy bean sprouts made that my favorite way to eat it, haha.

Surf clam kalguksu for one: how big is the portion?

Even as a one-person serving (₩9,000), the surf clam kalguksu was so big I thought it had been brought out by mistake. When it arrived we were surprised again!!! I'd definitely ordered one serving, but there was so much. When I asked the staff, they said they always give a lot.

I tried the broth first and it was really cool-tasting and clean. They say they finish the seasoning with dongjuk clams (surf clams), and the savory flavor from the clams soaked well into the broth. I already like these clams, and with the chewy noodles it was even better, haha. Going from the spicy cuttlefish bulgogi to the refreshing kalguksu broth was a great combination too!

Gojip as a date lunch in Byeollae, Namyangju: our verdict

We visited Gojip during a date in Namyangju and it was tastier than I'd expected, haha. The cuttlefish bulgogi was best wrapped in seaweed, and what I remember about the kalguksu is the generous portion and cool broth. The restaurant is tidy and even has a handwashing area, so the meal felt comfortable!

If you're looking for a lunch spot in Byeollae, or you're craving a hearty Korean meal in Namyangju, it's worth a visit! Next time I want to try the whole octopus seafood kalguksu, haha.