Seongsu mall pop-up for pork gomtang, no wait: Dwaeji Gomtang House

The Seongsu-dong café street is always packed with people and hot new spots, isn't it! Among them, I heard that the currently trending Seongsu Korean restaurant 'Dwaeji Gomtang House' opened a pop-up store inside Musinsa Mega Store, so I rushed over.

How to walk into the Dwaeji Gomtang House pop-up in Seongsu with no wait

If you go right at opening time to Dwaeji Gomtang House Musinsa Mega Store Branch, you can sit down with no wait at all. I'd actually visited the Dwaeji Gomtang House flagship store in Seongsu before, and back then the huge waiting line completely wore me out. This time, visiting the Musinsa Mega Store pop-up right at opening hour, I was able to get in so much more comfortably and easily. If the flagship store's long, long line has ever put you off, I highly recommend an opening-time visit during the pop-up period!

It's located on the 4th floor food garden of Musinsa! Note it's not 'gomtang' but 'gongtang house' haha.

The 4th floor is where the dessert and food spots gather, and true to being called a 'garden,' it was decorated so prettily :) So green and lush it made my eyes feel refreshed!!

The interior was spacious too, so we could eat comfortably!

Clear gomtang or spicy gomtang: which broth should you order?

The two of us ordered one each of the signature menu items — the regular pork gomtang and the spicy version. Deep, heavy broth flavor! Here's my comparison of clear gomtang and spicy gomtang.

There aren't many Korean menu options here, so this special pop-up is a great chance for Korean food lovers haha. They also have minari tot mandu and cold jegyuk, which seem great as side dishes.

Once the food arrived, I took a spoonful of the broth first, and honestly the words 'this broth is insane' just came out of my mouth.

Regular clear gomtang: a rich, deep pork broth that you can feel was simmered carefully and patiently for a long time. There's no gamy smell or off-flavor at all — a heavy yet clean savoriness fills your whole mouth, and it was excellent. There's also tot (seaweed) sprinkled on top, so it tastes totally healthy too haha!!

Spicy gomtang: the spicy, hot broth instantly perks up your appetite. The spiciness isn't overdone and blends well with the deep flavor of the broth — great for a hangover cure, and perfect for anyone who loves a spicy, hot soup dish.

How much pork you get, and the best way to eat it

The amount of meat in Dwaeji Gomtang House's gomtang was truly generous. Thinly sliced pork is piled thick and full across the bowl, and you could feel the tenderness just by picking it up with your chopsticks. Taking a bite, I was amazed how soft it was — it practically melted in my mouth. The meat that melts in your mouth paired with the seasoning that adds umami is the highlight.

There's a tip for enjoying it even more deliciously here!

• Chili sauce: it boosts the umami significantly, but it's spicier than you'd expect, so I gently recommend adding it little by little.
• Salted shrimp combo: put a bit of salted shrimp on top of the soft meat, and a salty yet savory umami explosion hits you.

Side dishes, kimchi refills and an orange for dessert

At a gomtang place, kimchi matters just as much as the broth, right? Dwaeji Gomtang House nailed the side dishes too. In particular, the kimchi and kkakdugi were perfectly ripened, with a tangy-sweet flavor that paired beautifully with the gomtang. It cleanly cut through what could otherwise feel like a heavy broth, so I couldn't help but ask for a refill.

After finishing the meal, they thoughtfully brought out a refreshing orange for dessert! It cleaned up the greasiness in my mouth with a burst of freshness, making it a fully satisfying meal from start to finish.

If you're out exploring the Seongsu-dong café street and craving a hearty, deep-flavored soup dish, be sure to visit the Dwaeji Gomtang House Musinsa Mega Store pop-up before it's gone! Go right at opening time and you can enjoy the pork gomtang of a lifetime with zero worry about waiting.