Seolleung Station hangover breakfast gamjatang: Haeseonok

Why we went to Haeseonok Seolleung first thing in the morning

I'd had way too much to drink the night before and needed a hot, clean broth to fix me up. So my boyfriend and I headed to Haeseonok in Seolleung, famous for its spicy-but-clean broth 🙌 It's close to the station, so it's easy to get to, and it opens early in the morning, which also makes it perfect for lunch.

What Haeseonok Seolleung looks like inside and out

The place felt clean but still carried that 40-year-old traditional atmosphere. There were notes posted around the walls about the health benefits of the ingredients, which were fun to read while waiting for the food — it made me feel like I was eating something genuinely healthy 🎶

And Haeseonok Seolleung takes both Naver reservations and phone reservations, which was such a plus since I could eat at the time I wanted without waiting. It's a great Seolleung restaurant for a last-minute team dinner or a tight lunch hour.

Haeseonok Seolleung Branch menu

The menu is broadly gamja jeongol, ppyeo jjim (steamed pork bone), flower crab stew, and flower crab steam. Since it's also known as a Seolleung Station lunch spot, there are plenty of solo-dining options too. The flower crab stew, said to use only A+ grade crab, was the dish I was most curious about.

What got me most excited before ordering was how many reviews said the broth isn't harsh — it's savory but easy on the stomach. Located in the food alley near Josun Palace, it's always busy: an office lunch spot by day, a Seolleung team-dinner venue by night. Delivery orders kept coming in nonstop while we ate! You could really feel that this is a steadily beloved gamjatang restaurant near Seolleung Station.

How does the small gamja jeongol broth taste?

We ordered the gamja jeongol small, and the owner kindly explained how to eat it. Once it starts boiling, you just dig in! It was loaded with vegetables, and the aroma was amazing. Thanks to the generous vegetables, the broth had an even deeper flavor.

It came to a boil quickly, so we didn't have to wait long before eating. The first spoonful told me exactly why this place has 40 years behind it — nutty, savory, and genuinely hangover-curing. Sometimes this kind of broth can end up too heavy, but Haeseonok's version was spicy yet clean, deep and clear without any murkiness — I think it'd please pretty much anyone 🫶 It tasted like a properly made gamjatang, with no artificial sweetener flavor.

The pork: texture and how much you get

The meat came out fully braised so it fell off the bone easily, and it was thick enough to give a really satisfying bite. Light but chunky, the texture was fantastic — that classic, proper way of eating meat off the bone. The broth was great, but the generous meat made it even more satisfying.

The broth got richer the longer it simmered, which was perfect for curing a hangover, and the small size was a generous enough portion for two of us to eat well. My boyfriend, who loves gamjatang, was so satisfied he finished a full bowl of rice! We wanted to add fried rice and instant noodles too, but since it was morning we filled up too fast to manage it — with a broth this good, though, I'd love to come back and try it.

Is Haeseonok worth it for a hangover breakfast?

I'd recommend Haeseonok to office workers who want a healthy, filling meal, to anyone who wants to cure a hangover right after drinking, or to anyone who needs a spicy-but-clean broth the morning after.

If you're looking for a gamjatang restaurant around Seolleung or Yeoksam that's clean-tasting and really hits the spot for a hangover, I highly recommend Haeseonok Seolleung 👍👍 The owner was also so kind that it made the meal even more pleasant.