Gwacheon seaweed soup restaurant for a sick child: Haenon Miyeok

With a sick child at home, I went looking for somewhere warm and nourishing to eat, and that's how I ended up at Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch.

When you're eating with a kid, you naturally look for something that isn't too spicy or heavy but still sits well in the stomach — and honestly, nothing beats seaweed soup (miyeokguk) for that.

First impressions of Haenon Miyeok in Gwacheon

Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch is a seaweed soup specialty restaurant at 67 Araetbaeraengi-ro, 1st floor, and the moment the door opened I was honestly stunned by the atmosphere. Soft lighting, a comfortable mood, and food that looked clean and neat at a glance — it just put me in a good mood right away!

True to being a seaweed soup specialist, the broth here is really rich and deep, satisfying from the very first spoonful. The seaweed was tender and the broth itself was clean yet hearty, which made it great to share with my child too.

The parking lot is really spacious too, which I love. Parking feels like the most important thing — it's the first thing I check when visiting with a kid.

The salad was tasty and the seasoned fish side dish was really good too! And such a neat plate of japchae. Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch is a great spot to bring guests, family, or friends too ^^

Best of all, I enjoyed it as an adult too, and my kid ate it without any fuss, which made me even happier. I was extra careful about the food since we were visiting with a sick child, and after finishing a warm bowl of seaweed soup, I felt oddly reassured myself.

Gallery-like interior and a warm welcome from the owner

Isn't the interior at Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch just gorgeous? I was genuinely surprised! The interior is such a hit~~!!

And it wasn't just the food — the owner was really kind too, which made for a pleasant meal. There's a lot to worry about when dining with a kid, so I was grateful for the warm treatment.

It really does feel like a great place to share a warm meal. Even though it's still pretty hot out, there were so many customers! ><

I snapped a photo the moment it arrived, bubbling away. Isn't the visual amazing? That milky-white broth with soft seaweed! Wow, I couldn't wait!!

Self-serve banchan bar and what comes with the set meal

At Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch, you can help yourself to more banchan (side dishes) near the entrance!

Since it's a full set meal, the banchan really came out generously. Kimchi, japchae, doraji-muchim, eggplant sweet-and-sour, mukmuchim — every single one was delicious~~!

I went in thinking it was just a regular seaweed soup place, but the interior turned out way more stylish and clean than expected. It felt like stepping into a small gallery, so there was fun in just looking around the space while eating.

My favorite banchan pick was the scallop salad... wow, the seasoning~~! I ate it happily while waiting for the seaweed soup~

Beef and flounder seaweed soup with 2 abalone added

Whoa... beef seaweed soup... can you see the beef!!! It's just seaweed soup but it's so good. Warm, savory, and such a generous portion...

And the beautifully served tot rice... wow, a place like this in Gwacheon... I've become a regular. I think I'll be coming back often!!!!

I added 2 pieces of abalone to the flounder seaweed soup. So glad I did~ The abalone was big and there was plenty of flounder in it too, so my son, who has a sore throat, ate it really well. Soft, warm, and delicious!!!

It was such a hearty, warm, and comforting meal, and I ate really well. Next time I come back, I think I'll get the beef seaweed soup and the flounder seaweed soup with abalone added again!!! It was so, so good ~ thumbs up!!

A word of caution about the hot stone pot

Please keep this in mind! There's a risk of burns, and soot can get on your hands or clothing, so never touch the hot stone pot while eating!!