Seoul gomtang restaurant near Gunja Station: 12-hour broth, Dimideun

A bowl of gomtang as rich and creamy as milk! A solid meal or an evening with traditional rice wine — this Junggok-dong restaurant does both. Dimideun Gunja

Koreans really do love a good broth. Rich, savory soup with rice and kimchi can feel like a feast fit for kings. There are so many types of guk-bap (soup with rice) depending on the region, and I like them all, but I especially love gomtang with that milky, super-rich, pale broth. Once you fall for that distinctive savory richness, there's no going back. Today I'm introducing Dimideun, a Junggok-dong restaurant that doubles as a gomtang spot and a bar.

What kind of place is Dimideun Gunja? Lunchtime gomtang to evening drinks

Dimideun is a recently opened restaurant in Junggok-dong. It opens at 11:30 AM, so it works for everything from lunch to an evening drinking gathering.

Corkage has no restriction on what alcohol you bring, and is charged per bottle, so keep that in mind if you're planning a get-together.

Inside Dimideun Gunja: atmosphere and window seats

Here's what the inside of Dimideun looks like. A cozy space filled with sunlight

The interior has a calm, comfortable feel. I went right when it opened, and the morning sunlight pouring into the space was so pretty and nice. The table seats are good too, but the sunlight was so lovely that I sat by the window. Enjoying a hearty meal while taking in the view outside! Great for groups, and also a great Junggok-dong spot for eating solo.

Dimideun Gunja menu: gomtang and dishes to drink with

Checking out the menu This works as a Junggok-dong bar too.

This is Dimideun's menu. The rich gomtang is Dimideun's signature dish. If you're having an evening drinking session, you can enjoy spicy stir-fried pork, beef brisket & river shrimp hot pot, spicy hangover soup, boiled pork slices, and various alcohols. From distilled soju to beer, makgeolli, yakju, and cheongju, they've got a wide range ready — perfect spot for a drinking gathering.

A weekend afternoon drink: Neurin Maeul makgeolli

I don't usually drink during the day, but with this atmosphere I couldn't resist ordering a bottle of makgeolli. This is Neurin Maeul makgeolli. Good makgeolli pairs perfectly even with just well-fermented kimchi. There are three types of makgeolli available in total.

• Neurin Maeul makgeolli
• Damdo makgeolli White and Black
• Boksundoga hand-brewed makgeolli

We went with the most classic choice, Neurin Maeul makgeolli.

Sitting by the sunlit window, enjoying a cool glass of makgeolli on a weekend afternoon! It really goes well with a bite of rich gomtang followed by a cool sip. If you're coming on a relaxed weekend afternoon, try just one or two glasses. It'll turn into a memorable little detour.

How do the minari beef gomtang and rich Dimideun gomtang taste?

Today's lunch menu. Minari beef gomtang Rich Dimideun gomtang

If you love minari (water dropwort), you have to try this. It's a unique gomtang loaded with both chopped and fresh minari.

Honestly, I have kid-level taste buds, so I'm not a huge minari fan. But! The fragrant minari aroma in the rich gomtang turned out to be surprisingly charming. It was unusual to taste fragrance in a gomtang at all, and more than that, the flavor was more harmonious and addictive than I expected. And the meat — completely loaded! My husband took one bite of the minari beef gomtang and immediately put the lid back on his rice bowl. He said the meat portion was so generous and the broth itself so hearty and filling that he didn't even need rice.

Rich Dimideun gomtang, simmered for more than 12 hours

This is the rich Dimideun gomtang I ordered. They say it's simmered with beef bones and sagol (leg bones) for over 12 hours. It's an incredibly rich gomtang made with both beef and pork, and one bite tells you immediately it's completely different from an ordinary gomtang.

The broth is like milk simmered down into a cream. It's already fully seasoned, so there's no need to add anything extra. You know that kind of rich gomtang where your lips feel slightly sticky after eating? Dimideun's gomtang is exactly that. The meat portion is truly generous too — I shredded some with my chopsticks, mixed it straight into the rice, and topped it with diced radish kimchi.

This kimchi is also perfect with the rich milky gomtang. The fresh geotjeori (unfermented kimchi) is tasty, but a slightly sour, well-fermented kimchi is the real match for that pale broth. I've been craving this kind of rich broth lately, and I ate very well. There's so much meat that we had a satisfying, hearty meal, but if you want an even bigger portion, you can order the large size. Extra boiled pork tasting portions are also available, so keep that in mind if you eat a lot. After finishing the Dimideun gomtang broth, I feel like their hot pot or hangover soup would be amazing too. I'll have to come back for a hot pot with traditional rice wine.

Final verdict on Dimideun Gunja, a Junggok-dong restaurant and bar

• Clean, well-kept space — both the dining area and restrooms are well maintained. Note that the men's restroom is around the side of the building, while the women's restroom is inside the store.
• Incredibly rich gomtang broth! This is really Dimideun's own signature. That milky broth that fills your mouth thick and heavy is genuinely delicious.
• Generous meat filling the bowl
• Tangy kimchi that pairs perfectly with the milky gomtang
• Various anju to enjoy alongside traditional rice wine
• The staff were friendly too, so I had a comfortable, satisfying meal.