Beef rib soup in Seomyeon with a self-bar ice maker: Gang Galbitang

A chilly day: galbitang at Gang Galbitang Seomyeon instead of pork gukbap

On a chilly day after the rain, I went to Gang Galbitang Seomyeon (강갈비탕 서면) in Seomyeon, Busan, for a bowl of galbitang (beef short rib soup). The weather is getting a little colder every day, and it feels even colder since the rain. Maybe that's why I keep craving something warm? On days like this, you just have to have a steaming hot soup.

At first I was debating pork gukbap (pork and rice soup), but I suddenly wanted galbitang, so galbitang it was! And that's how I ended up at "Gang Galbitang Seomyeon." One bowl of hot galbitang on a chilly day warms you from the inside, and you can't even imagine how filling that is.

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon location, hours and parking

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon is at 33 Saessak-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan (1st floor), and it is open every day from 09:20 to 21:00 all year round. Break time is 15:00–16:00, and Dongbaek Pay (Busan's local currency card) works here too.

• Address: 33 Saessak-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 1st floor, Gang Galbitang Seomyeon
• Hours: daily 09:20–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–16:00
• Open year-round
• Parking: blue parking lot at 399-8 Bujeon-dong, Busanjin-gu (30 minutes of parking covered for meals of ₩20,000 or more)
• Dongbaek Pay accepted!!

Is Gang Galbitang Seomyeon good for eating alone?

The restaurant is bigger than I expected, with quite a lot of seats and even bar seats (dajjiseok), so it's comfortable to go alone. The inside is bigger than you'd think and there are plenty of seats. On top of that, there are bar seats, so I think you could visit solo and eat without any pressure.

Kiosk ordering: galbitang and spicy galbitang with extra noodles

You order at Gang Galbitang Seomyeon by kiosk, and besides the basic galbitang there is a spicy galbitang and meal kits. This day I ordered one galbitang and one spicy galbitang with extra thin wheat noodles (somyeon).

You order at the kiosk, and unusually, there's a spicy galbitang too. They sell it as a meal kit as well, so buying one to try at home seems like a good idea. I ordered the galbitang and the spicy galbitang, with extra noodles added to the spicy one! There are also full-topping options with extra meat and noodles, so I'd recommend the full topping if you can manage it!! (only if you say you eat a LOT)

Here come the galbitang and the spicy galbitang. Steam is rising from the earthenware bowls, and it feels like my insides will warm up the second I eat. The meat looks substantial too.. The side dishes come out neatly. The chili peppers are very spicy. Let's look at the galbitang first.

How does the basic galbitang taste, and how much meat is there?

The basic galbitang at Gang Galbitang Seomyeon has tender, really plentiful meat, and the flavor is the galbitang you know but deeper and richer than I expected. There are glass noodles (dangmyeon) in it too, so adding rice makes it very filling.

The meat looks tender, which is a given, and there is honestly a ton of it. It tastes like the galbitang we all picture, but it felt deeper and richer than I expected.

I cut the meat off the bones and look how much there is. With this much meat, you can tell how deep the broth must be without even tasting it. There are glass noodles too, so if you add rice, it's an incredibly filling meal.

Self-bar side dish refills and a mini ice maker

At Gang Galbitang Seomyeon, if you run short of side dishes you can grab more at the self-bar, and the self-bar has a mini ice maker so you can put ice in your water or coffee. What surprised me was that the self-bar has a mini ice maker(?), so you can have your water or coffee nice and cold with ice!! You can see the owner's little touches of thoughtfulness everywhere.

With the noodles added it's just so generous.. unless you really eat a lot, I don't think you could finish the rice too..?

Anyway, the meat at Gang Galbitang is insanely tender!! The portion is huge, as you can see, with meat that slides right off the bone, and a truly generous bowl..

What does the spicy galbitang at Gang Galbitang taste like?

The spicy galbitang at Gang Galbitang Seomyeon feels similar to the basic galbitang, with bean sprouts and radish added, and it tasted clean, spicy and refreshing. I could see why the shop labels it as a hangover soup.

I usually eat plain galbitang all the time, but this was my first time trying the spicy one, so I was curious. It feels similar to the basic galbitang, but maybe because of the bean sprouts and radish? It felt clean, spicy and refreshing. No wonder they wrote that it's for hangovers.. plus the heat and the kick.

These are the bones left over from both galbitang after the meat was gone, and like I keep saying in this post, the amount is ridiculous. I'm going to burst.

Parking support and a review hand cream in Seomyeon

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon covers 30 minutes of parking if you spend ₩20,000 or more, and gives you a hand cream if you leave a review. Plenty of places don't offer parking support, but here they do!! In Seomyeon, where there's nowhere to park.. what a relief.

Best of all, strangely, they give you a hand cream if you leave a review!? The scent wasn't bad at all,, and it's even made in Korea, a nice little detail. It was nice enough that I just put it on right away.

Who is Gang Galbitang Seomyeon good for?

With its generous portions and piping hot broth, Gang Galbitang Seomyeon is recommended for anyone in Seomyeon, Busan, looking for a solo meal or a restorative galbitang or gukbap place. Gukbap season is coming, and after eating here I can see why the owner takes such pride in it, and why they hang that sign so confidently. Generous portions are a given, and your insides feel hot the moment you eat. You can eat alone without feeling self-conscious, so if you're looking for a great solo meal or a galbitang and gukbap spot in Seomyeon, Busan, stop by "Gang Galbitang Seomyeon" and enjoy something warm now that it's getting cold, to restore your strength!!