Post-workout beef rib soup near Busan Citizens Park: Gang Galbitang

Where is Gang Galbitang Seomyeon?

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon (강갈비탕) is about a 5-minute walk from Seomyeon Station Exit 11. It sits between Busan Citizens Park and Exit 11! Check Naver Maps for directions~!

For parking, use the Blue parking lot (399-8 Bujeon-dong), and 30 minutes is covered if you spend ₩20,000 or more. Hours are 09:20–21:00 every day with no days off. Break time is 15:00–16:00, and last order is 20:20.

Why I came back to Gang Galbitang for lunch after a Citizens Park workout

I did some fasted cardio at Busan Citizens Park, then wondered what to have for lunch. I remembered the galbitang at Gang Galbitang being amazing, so I walked about 5 minutes and arrived! This is my second visit.

Gang Galbitang is a galbitang specialist that says it prepares everything by hand, starting with the broth!

Is Gang Galbitang Seomyeon good for solo meals or family dining?

Inside there are 4-person tables and bar-style counter tables, so it works for families and for eating alone!! I went at Sunday lunchtime and it was packed!!

They sell not just galbitang but also suyuk (boiled sliced meat) and gukbap (rice soup), so there were people having daytime drinks too!

You can really see Gang Galbitang's pride on the wall, haha! And honestly, it's a place that has earned that pride!

Gang Galbitang menu and prices: what did we order?

The menu has more than galbitang: beef shank suyuk (aroni-sagyesuyuk), galbi noodles, galbi gukbap, spicy galbitang and more! They also sell alcohol, so it's a good spot for a solo drink! And there's ice-cold iced oolong tea and iced matcha too!!

Here's what we ordered!

• Gang Galbitang ₩14,000 x 2
• Medium noodle add-on ₩2,500
• Iced oolong tea ₩3,000

The table comes with salt, pepper and chili powder, so season to your taste!

Iced oolong tea after the workout

The iced oolong tea came out first..!! We'd come straight from fasted cardio at the park and were craving something ice cold, and one big gulp, ahhh~~~ so refreshing and good!!! I recommend ordering an iced oolong tea in summer!

There's a menu on the wall too! I always end up eating galbitang whenever I come, but next time I'll try other dishes...! They all look good!

Our galbitang has arrived!

Gang Galbitang side dishes: how are the kkakdugi and mustard leaf pickles?

The basic sides are gat-jeolim (pickled mustard leaves), kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and the galbitang dipping sauce. They make the sides themselves too, and they come out neat and tidy! From the mustard leaf pickles and kkakdugi to the galbitang sauce, everything is seriously delicious...!!!

You know the saying that to tell if a place is good, you try its kimchi first? Try the kkakdugi instead, haha, and this place is just a great restaurant, hehe.

What's it like adding medium noodles to Gang Galbitang?

If you add medium noodles (₩2,500) to the galbitang, you get both galbitang and galbi noodles in one bowl. My boyfriend added Jeju medium noodles to his galbitang!

With the medium noodles you get both galbitang and galbi noodles, haha! And the portion of noodles is huge!! I recommend the noodle add-on for guys or anyone with a big appetite!

How much rib is in Gang Galbitang, and how's the texture?

This is the galbitang I ordered! The standard Gang Galbitang comes with several big ribs, and glass noodles (dangmyeon) are included by default.

I didn't add noodles, so you can see the ribs right away! There's plenty of rib!! Pretty hefty, right~?

Look at these big ribs! The ribs are tender and come off the bone really easily! There's lots of meat, so just cut it with the scissors. We took the bones out and cut the meat up for easy eating, which makes it look like even more rib!!

Even without the noodle add-on, glass noodles are in there by default!

Dipping the ribs in the soy sauce

First I dipped a rib in the soy sauce and took a bite, and wow... yes, this is it~~~ absolutely delicious...!! Still great after a long time away~! And this soy sauce is the kicker too..!! Sometimes the sauce itself is bad at places, but at Gang Galbitang even the soy sauce alone is amazing, haha.

My boyfriend says slurping the ribs, rice and noodles together is the best~!

I soaked my rice in the broth and ate it with the meat and kkakdugi, and ahhh~ why is it so good...!! The broth alone is addictive. I can't stop eating.

Galbitang topped with mustard leaf pickles

And the mustard leaf pickles!!!! They look kind of weird, but they're absolutely delicious!! Dip them lightly in the soup, then put them on top of the meat and rice and it's amazing!!!! All the side dishes are good and the broth is seasoned just right, so it tastes great however you eat it!

At Gang Galbitang Seomyeon you can easily refill side dishes at the self-service corner! We went back for more mustard leaf pickles and such!! We'd just worked out and meant to hold back a bit, haha, but it was so good that we polished off the whole meal!

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon, second visit: overall verdict

This was my second visit to Gang Galbitang Seomyeon, and every time I can see why people come. True to its name, the galbitang is really good: the tender rib meat melts in your mouth with no tough bits, and the generous portion was satisfying too!

The broth especially stood out. Not too salty, not too bland, just right, with a deep rich flavor, and from the first bite you can't help saying "Wow, delicious!" They also say everything is made by hand, and you can really taste the care and something special!!

I've been so satisfied that I've only ever ordered galbitang on my visits, but next time I definitely want to try other dishes like the beef shank suyuk or the spicy galbitang! If you're looking for a meal near Busan Citizens Park or a good restaurant near Bujeon Market, I confidently recommend Gang Galbitang Seomyeon for a filling, delicious meal.