Garak-dong kalguksu spot with kimchi self-bar: Hanyang Dak Kalguksu

I don't know what's going on with the weather lately haha. Hot, then rainy, then humid... but doesn't it always feel like rainy days call for something hot and brothy?? That's exactly what happened to me — it was drizzling and I suddenly craved dak kalguksu (chicken noodle soup) so badly. So I headed to a Garak-dong favorite, Hanyang Dak Kalguksu, for a bowl.

Honestly I thought dak kalguksu would taste pretty similar wherever you go, but once I actually tried it, the broth and chicken were noticeably different from what I expected. Also, apparently this place appeared in a Running Man mission once haha. Oh wow, I always wondered about those restaurants I see on TV, so it was fun to realize I'd randomly walked into a Garak-dong spot that's been on air 😆

Can you park right in front of Hanyang Dak Kalguksu?

Hanyang Dak Kalguksu has street parking available right in front of the restaurant, so driving there wasn't a hassle at all. Tight underground lots or mechanical parking can be stressful, and these days a lot of restaurants don't have parking at all.

Since I'm out and about with a baby these days, easy parking automatically scores points with me haha. Hanyang Dak Kalguksu definitely earns its spot as a Garak-dong favorite for convenient parking!

Air conditioning strong enough for a hot bowl of soup

Walking into Hanyang Dak Kalguksu, the air conditioning was blasting, so I didn't have to sweat buckets while eating hot broth.

How are the broth and noodles in the dak kalguksu?

We ordered the dak kalguksu, and the food came out faster than expected, so it seemed like a good spot for a solo lunch too. And just look at the broth — it looks rich even before you take a bite.

There was a generous amount of chicken, topped with scallions, and one sip of the broth gave that savory, deep flavor right away. Even though it's chicken noodle soup, there was hardly any of that distinct chicken smell, which I appreciated, and the noodles were soft yet had a nice chew, perfect for slurping down with the broth.

Normally when I eat kalguksu I just eat the noodles and leave the broth, but this broth was so good I kept spooning it up haha. Maybe because it was raining, the hot broth tasted even better than usual. There was also warm naengmyeon broth available in between, which was nice to sip too.

Steamed dumplings, the perfect partner to kalguksu

Can't skip the steamed dumplings either. The perfect sidekick to kalguksu.

Fresh kimchi made daily, spicy and mild

Another thing I loved: the kimchi! Hanyang Dak Kalguksu makes fresh kimchi (geotjeori) daily, and there were two kinds — spicy and mild. At a kalguksu place, kimchi is basically 80%, no, honestly almost the whole experience, right?

I'm a total spice wimp so I went with the mild kimchi — it wasn't harsh but had great umami, and it paired really well with the kalguksu. I heard the spicy kimchi is popular too, so maybe I'll try it next time haha. But since I'm a spice wimp, I'm voting for mild kimchi for now…

Kimchi and pickled radish are at a self-serve bar, so you can help yourself to as much as you need without feeling awkward about asking for a refill.

Is Hanyang Dak Kalguksu good for eating alone?

The portion of dak kalguksu was pretty filling. With that much chicken in there, one bowl left me properly full. Lately the weather's hot and my appetite's all over the place, but after this hot bowl of dak kalguksu, I felt completely satisfied.

Most of all, the food comes out quickly and the vibe is relaxed enough to eat alone, so it seemed like a solid choice for people coming in solo for lunch.

Nothing beats a hot bowl of soup on a rainy day ☔️🍜

If you're in Garak-dong craving something hot and brothy, Hanyang Dak Kalguksu is worth trying as a local favorite. Especially recommended on rainy days haha. After eating here that day, I totally understood why I was craving dak kalguksu in the rain. Parking right in front of the restaurant made it easy to drive there too — a solid Garak-dong spot. I think I'll be back next time it rains. And next time, I'm definitely trying the spicy kimchi~~