96-minute Sunday wait at Paldam Sundae, a Gimpo sundae-guk spot

I wanted to eat somewhere in Gimpo on a Sunday for lunch, so I headed to Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch. I'd heard it was popular, but once I actually checked Catch Table, the wait turned out to be pretty long.

So instead of just showing up, I joined the waitlist from home first and then headed out. Even so, the final wait ended up being a whopping 96 minutes. Haha. I kept wondering if waiting this long for a bowl of sundae-guk really made sense, but once I finished eating, I thought — yeah, that was worth it. I get why it keeps coming up as a Gimpo restaurant, a Janggi-dong restaurant, a Seongmo-ri restaurant.

Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch hours and closed days

• Store: Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch
• Reservations: Remote Catch Table waitlist opens at 9:30am
• Closed: Thursdays
• Hours: 10am–3pm (last order 2:30pm)
• Menu: Omakase set, clear sundae-guk, spicy sundae-guk, and more
• Weekend visits: Catch Table waitlist essential
• Parking: 5–6 spots available beside the store
• Takeout available

How long is the wait for Sunday lunch?

For us, on a Sunday lunch, the wait was 96 minutes. Just looking at that number, it's honestly long — especially with kids, standing outside the store from the start would be tough. Instead, Paldam Sundae lets you join the Catch Table waitlist from home, and I'd really recommend using that. We registered our spot at home first and then left to arrive right on time.

How much parking is there?

Some people park along the street, but I'm not sure whether that's actually enforced.

There's a space like this next to the store where about 5–6 cars can park. Since double parking is unavoidable, you may need to move your car during your meal.

If you arrive earlier than your Catch Table entry time, you can wait in the waiting area, which has chairs and a fan.

Hanwoo and pork bone broth, plus the self-serve organ bar

I was already excited reading this. A broth simmered from both hanwoo (Korean beef) bones and pork bones sounded like it would be extra savory.

Another distinctive feature of the store is the separate self-serve organ meat bar. If you're someone who loves offal alongside your sundae-guk, this will be a welcome addition. With this kind of setup, it felt less like just eating a bowl of sundae-guk and more like a proper full meal.

The sundae omakase set — good for a first visit

The omakase set is worth trying if you like sundae (Korean blood sausage). We ordered two portions of the omakase set along with one clear sundae-guk and one spicy sundae-guk.

There's dadaegi (chili paste condiment), salted shrimp, and perilla powder on the table.

Paldam Sundae's omakase lets you try a variety of the day's handmade sundae and boiled pork all at once, so if it's your first visit, this is the way to go. On the day I went, I got cheongyang chili sundae, blood sundae, and nut sundae! What I liked most was that there was almost no off-putting odor. With sundae and offal, even a slight smell can be off-putting right away, but everything was clean overall. The boiled pork was tender too, and each type of sundae had a different texture, which made it fun to pick through one by one. So if you're searching for a Gimpo restaurant and visiting for the first time, I'd recommend pairing the omakase set together rather than just ordering sundae-guk alone.

Clear sundae-guk vs. spicy sundae-guk — which to pick

Clear sundae-guk and spicy sundae-guk really come down to personal taste. For our meal we ordered one of each. The clear sundae-guk lives up to its name — the broth is clean. It's said to be a broth long-simmered from hanwoo and pork bones, and it was light without any heavy or gamey taste, so the flavor of the sundae and organ meat came through clearly. The spicy sundae-guk, on the other hand, is quite spicy. But it's not the muddy kind of spicy where only the chili powder lingers — the broth is sharp and clean-tasting.

What I kept thinking while eating was—

This would be perfect if I'd been drinking the night before. Haha.

If you're into hangover food, I'd vote for the spicy sundae-guk.

Apparently the spicy sundae-guk uses a special dadaegi developed with consulting from chef Lee Won-il, making it spicier and deeper in flavor than the dadaegi on the table. There's also a lot of ingredients in it, and with unlimited rice refills, this place felt genuinely generous.

Was the 96-minute wait worth it?

In the end, if you're looking for a Janggi-dong restaurant or a Seongmo-ri restaurant, this is a place worth waiting for. Just seeing the number 96 minutes makes you hesitate to wait again, but you can just join the Catch Table waitlist from home and time your arrival. Judging by the food alone, the wait was justified. Especially with the odor-free sundae and boiled pork, the clean broth, and the self-serve organ bar, sundae lovers should be pretty satisfied. Next time, I'll probably go for the omakase and spicy sundae-guk combo again. What about you — could you handle a 96-minute wait for sundae-guk?