Level-2 spicy galbitang in Seomyeon, hand cream gift: Gang Galbitang

I visited Gang Galbitang (강갈비탕), a solo-dining favorite in Seomyeon, Busan. It's my Nth real-local go-to restaurant, and I promise you'll fall for the rich broth.

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon: location, hours and parking

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon is at 33 Saessak-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 1st floor, by the bus stop at the Bujeon Market entrance. It's open daily from 09:20 to 21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 16:00 and last order at 20:20.

If you drive, use the Blue parking lot (399-8 Bujeon-dong, Busanjin-gu). Spend ₩20,000 or more and they cover 30 minutes of parking.

Gang Galbitang menu and prices

• Galbi noodles ₩13,500
• Gang galbitang ₩14,000
• Spicy gang galbitang ₩15,000
• Galbi gukbap (rice soup) ₩9,500
• Spicy galbi gukbap ₩10,500
• Extra rice ₩1,000

You order easily at the kiosk.

There are cold drinks too, like non-alcoholic beer, iced oolong tea and iced matcha.

From soju and beer to Hwayo 25, Hwayo 17 and Dokdo Soju! A neat glass of Hwayo (premium soju) seemed like it would go well with the galbitang broth.

They also sell a Gang Galbitang meal kit, and if you buy one after eating, you get a discount, so keep that in mind!

Is Gang Galbitang Seomyeon good for eating alone?

True to its name as a Seomyeon solo-dining favorite, it has seats where you can face the wall and eat in peace. There are also big tables for families or dates.

I don't know how they find it, but lots of foreign visitors come here too, and everyone cleans their bowl. I didn't even make it, yet I feel weirdly proud, haha. There's a photo review event going on, so definitely take part.

Spicy galbitang: which spice level is best?

At Gang Galbitang you can choose the spice level of the spicy galbitang. Level 1 is slightly spicy, level 2 is spicy, and level 3 is very spicy.

Even for me, someone who eats Shin Ramyun Red, level 3 felt really hot, so I prefer level 2, where you get a light sweat and a slightly runny nose.

The braised beef shank (arongsatae suyuk) is great with a drink, and there are add-ons like glass noodles, a larger portion or a double portion, so add them depending on how hungry you are.

Self-serve water and side dishes, and the photo review event

The first round of side dishes comes to your seat, and if you need more water or side dishes, you just help yourself.

I wrote a photo review and got a Korean-made hand cream. The weather is getting dry and cold, so hand cream is a bag essential, and I got it just as mine was running out. A tasty meal and a good mood, two birds with one stone.

Every seat has pepper, chili powder and salt, and I also had a quick, sneaky look around the self-serve bar.

My husband's galbitang with extra medium noodles

My husband had the galbitang with extra medium noodles. The galbitang comes with glass noodles (dangmyeon) as standard, topped with the medium noodles and chopped scallions.

The broth is rich and refreshing, and once you try it you'll fall under the spell of wanting only Gang Galbitang... which is exactly what happened to me.

For side dishes there's chorogi (Chinese artichoke), which looks like a caterpillar and is said to be really good for your health. There's also kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) with chili and garlic, and a dipping sauce for the ribs, cutely topped with a lemon.

I'm a glass noodle lover, but the medium noodles were so delicious too, so noodle lovers, I recommend adding them.

Level-2 spicy galbitang: flavor and how many ribs?

My order was the level-2 spicy galbitang. I stole some of my husband's medium noodles and plopped them into mine, hahaha.

When I opened the lid of the fluffy bowl of rice, I realized happiness isn't so far away after all.

Level 2 is about as hot as Shin Ramyun, so you can enjoy it deliciously spicy. The ribs are huge, and just looking at them fills you up.

Three giant ribs come in the bowl, and you just cut them up with the tongs and scissors to make them easy to eat, then dig in.

The ribs are packed with meat on both sides. Gang Galbitang is a no-fail meal whenever you go.

Take a bite of the neatly cut meat, then slurp the noodles! Even while eating I'm already thinking, "When can I come back to Gang Galbitang?"

It's getting chilly now, and whenever you crave a hot, kicking broth or a refreshing, deep one, Gang Galbitang is the answer, no question.