Gangnam Station Chinese spot with a bar-like upstairs: Namsogwan

What kind of Chinese restaurant is Namsogwan near Gangnam Station?

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon (남소관 우육도삭면) is an unusual Chinese restaurant near Gangnam Station serving authentic Taiwanese-style beef knife-cut noodles and handmade dim sum. Some days you just crave Chinese food: spicy broth, chewy noodles, and dim sum on top. It's near my office and I'd only ever eyed it from outside, so today I finally went after work with my husband. If you want something a bit different around Gangnam Station, this is the place I'd pick. Here's my visit!

Namsogwan basic info

• Location: 3-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11 (Yeoksam-dong)
• Address: 19 Teheran-ro 1-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, floors 1-2
• Hours: daily 11:00-22:20, last order 22:00
• Parking: not available (nearby paid parking recommended)
• Features: authentic Taiwanese beef knife-cut noodles, handmade dim sum, open kitchen, large 2-floor space, exotic bar-like mood on the 2nd floor, recommended for group gatherings, lunch menu available

Getting to Namsogwan from Gangnam Station Exit 11

Namsogwan is about a 3-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11, just inside the main street. You can see people shaping dim sum by hand right at the window from outside, so you can't just walk past.

Through the glass you can see hands folding dumpling wrappers, and that alone made my mouth water~~ Finding such an authentic Taiwanese restaurant in the middle of Gangnam even felt a little exotic.

What are the 1st and 2nd floors of Namsogwan like?

The 1st floor has a lively feel with the open kitchen in plain view, and there aren't a huge number of seats. I went up to the 2nd floor too.

The wood tones and lighting create an exotic mood.

Going up to the 2nd floor~~

With soft lighting and a bar-like mood, the atmosphere really comes alive, to the point where I wondered if this was really Gangnam.

The seats are roomy and comfortable, so it's good for sitting and talking for a long time. It was a weekday evening and still quite busy, and I hear it's always crowded at lunch too.

With so many offices in the area, it'd be perfect for lunch too!

Tables are well spaced and the chairs are soft and comfy, which made it nice for the two of us to chat.

A Chinese restaurant in Gangnam Station with a great mood~~

Namsogwan menu and prices

• Noodles: beef knife-cut noodles ₩11,000, yubal noodles ₩11,000
• Handmade dim sum: shaomai ₩9,000, crystal shrimp dumplings ₩9,800, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) ₩9,800
• Rice and rice bowls: beef fried rice ₩10,500, shrimp fried rice ₩10,500, yuxiang eggplant rice bowl ₩10,800, yuxiang shredded pork rice bowl ₩10,800
• Dishes: guobaorou (sweet and sour crispy pork) ₩19,000, laziji (spicy fried chicken) ₩18,800, cream shrimp ₩19,900, yuringi (crispy chicken with soy dressing) ₩19,900, tiger stir-fry ₩18,800, jingjiang shredded pork ₩18,800, Sichuan-style chicken ₩15,000, fried eggplant ₩15,000, mapo tofu ₩10,800, tomato egg stir-fry ₩10,800, suzhou-style pork slices ₩22,000
• Sides: refreshing cold appetizer ₩9,800

The two of us picked Sichuan-style beef noodles, crystal shrimp dumplings, and beef fried rice!

How does the Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodle (₩11,000) taste?

The Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles cost ₩11,000 and are said to be Namsogwan's signature authentic Taiwanese beef noodles. The menu says the broth is made from beef bones and the shank is boiled in-house.

The glossy red-oil broth alone will make any mala lover's heart race. The aroma hits you spicy and tingly right away. From the first bite I thought, yep, this is aimed straight at people who love malatang (spicy Sichuan hot pot soup).

And above all, the knife-cut noodles! They're sliced off the dough block with a knife, so they're super chewy and hearty, and really fun to bite into. Spicy, distinctive noodles with a slightly mala-like kick! If you like that, it's definitely worth trying.

How is the beef fried rice (₩10,500)?

Namsogwan's beef fried rice costs ₩10,500, and the fluffy, glossy rice looks delicious at a glance. It's stir-fried quickly with soy sauce, so it has a nutty aroma a bit like jjajang rice (black bean sauce rice), and it goes so well with the other dishes.

If you like meat and rice, you'll definitely like this. Eating all three together covered spicy, mild and nutty, so the combination was perfect.

Why I recommend the handmade crystal shrimp dumplings (₩9,800)

The crystal shrimp dumplings are Namsogwan's handmade dim sum at ₩9,800. The menu says they contain whole shrimp for a plump texture, with chives cutting the richness.

The wrapper is so thin it's translucent, yet the dumplings are plump, so they already look delicious. Bite in and you get a whole shrimp, with a faint chive aroma, so it's light with no greasiness at all.

The wrapper texture is a real surprise: chewy and springy like potato rice cake, so you keep reaching for more. People who like shrimp, people who like light food, everyone will love it! If you eat only one dim sum here, I strongly recommend this.

Who is Namsogwan good for?

On days when you want something a little exotic rather than the usual Chinese food in Gangnam, Namsogwan is just right. With the big 2-floor space and the 2nd-floor bar mood, it works great for dates, company dinners and group lunches! There's a lunch menu too, so if it were near my office I'd come often. ♥︎