Anguk Station Korean restaurant: makguksu bossam set at Goshine

I was looking for a good Korean restaurant near Anguk Station and ended up at Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch. From makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) to bossam (boiled pork), galbitang, and stone pot bibimbap, the menu was varied enough to make for a really satisfying meal!

How to get to Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, and opening hours

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is about a 4–5 minute walk from Anguk Station Exit 6, making it easy to reach by public transport. It's open daily 11:00–21:30, last order 21:00, with a break time of 16:00–17:00.

It's also close to Insa-dong's Culture Street and Ssamziegil, so it's a good stop for a meal during an Insa-dong or Anguk date.

A hanok exterior with a bright, tidy interior

The exterior of Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch has a hanok (traditional Korean house) feel, but once you step inside, it's clean and pleasant. The tables aren't cramped, and there are seats for larger groups too, so it seemed like a good spot not just for dates but for family meals or gatherings.

When you think of a makguksu restaurant, you might picture a slightly rustic vibe, but this place was neatly put together overall, making it a nice stop during an Insa-dong outing.

There were mask dolls in hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) decorating the interior here and there, which was fun to look at. There was also a separate Gangwon-do gift corner on one side, selling not just packaged buckwheat gimbap but also regional products like honey, Bongpyeong buckwheat noodles, and Yangyang sesame oil.

There's a self-serve bar on one side of the restaurant where you can freely grab any banchan (side dishes) you're missing. It was convenient to portion out just what you needed, and everything was kept neat and clean overall.

Goshine Donghae Makguksu menu and prices

The signature dish here is, of course, makguksu! From mul-makguksu to perilla oil makguksu, pollock jeotgal bibim-makguksu, and pine nut soft tofu makguksu, there's quite a variety.

• Mul-makguksu ₩11,000
• Perilla oil makguksu ₩12,000
• Pollock jeotgal bibim-makguksu ₩13,000
• Pine nut soft tofu makguksu ₩14,000
• Spicy pork stone pot bibimbap ₩15,000
• Galbitang ₩18,000

Beyond makguksu, there's a wide range of Korean dishes including stone pot bibimbap, galbitang, chodang soft tofu, suyuk (boiled pork), and buckwheat gimbap, so there's a lot to choose from. In particular, there's a set for one that comes with both makguksu and suyuk, which seems great if you're dining solo or want to try both dishes.

What we ordered: galbitang, spicy pork stone pot bibimbap and the mul-makguksu set for one

Spicy pork stone pot bibimbap, 15,000 won

The spicy pork stone pot bibimbap came out generously topped with pork and various vegetables in a hot stone pot. The pork, seasoned in a special sauce, was spicy and sweet and went well with the rice, and being in a stone pot meant it stayed warm to the last bite.

Mixing it all up and then scraping off the slightly crisped rice at the bottom — that's the fun part! Ordering a cool dish like makguksu alongside a warm one like the spicy pork stone pot bibimbap and sharing them worked well as a combination.

The mul-makguksu and bossam set for one

The dish I was most looking forward to was the set for one that comes with both mul-makguksu and bossam! Apparently, the pine nut soft tofu makguksu — developed and patent-filed by Goshine as Korea's first of its kind (application no. 10-2023-0084750) — is made with 100% chodang soft tofu and domestic Gapyeong pine nuts, giving it a nutty, rich broth.

This is the perfect combination for when eating just makguksu alone feels a bit lacking, but ordering a whole plate of suyuk on its own feels like too much. The mul-makguksu had chewy buckwheat noodles in a cool broth, making it clean and easy to eat. The tangy-sweet seasoning blended nicely with the broth, and the flavor wasn't heavy at all — it just kept going down easily.

The bossam that came with it also paired really well with the makguksu. The meat was tender on its own, but eating it together with the makguksu noodles brought out the meat's savoriness alongside the tangy flavor, which personally tasted even better to me. If you like the makguksu-and-bossam combination, I'd recommend trying the set for one!

It really paired well with the makguksu. The meat was tender with no gamy smell.

The meat was tender on its own, but eating it together with the makguksu noodles brought out the meat's savoriness alongside the tangy flavor, which personally tasted even better to me. If you like the makguksu-and-bossam combination, I'd recommend trying the set for one!

Galbitang, 18,000 won

If you want something warm besides makguksu, galbitang is also an option. It came with big chunks of short rib, and the broth was rich but not too heavy, making it a satisfying warm meal.

Even when visiting with someone who isn't a big fan of makguksu, it was nice to have other dishes like galbitang or stone pot bibimbap available. It seemed like a solid option when looking for a family meal spot after an Insa-dong outing with parents, too.

Finishing with a cup of chilled sikhye

After the meal, I finished off with a cool cup of sikhye (sweet rice punch). Drinking the sweet, cool sikhye left my mouth feeling clean and refreshed!

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, a restaurant near Anguk Station, was a place where I could enjoy a range of Korean dishes centered on makguksu, along with bossam, galbitang, and stone pot bibimbap. I especially liked the set for one that lets you try both mul-makguksu and bossam together, and it was also a plus that there were plenty of other dishes on the menu for people who don't like makguksu. It's an easy walk from Anguk Station and close to Insa-dong's Ssamziegil, making it a great addition to a date or Seoul outing route!

Who should eat at Goshine Donghae Makguksu?

• Anyone looking for a good Korean restaurant near Anguk Station
• Anyone looking for a place to eat after exploring Insa-dong and Ssamziegil
• Anyone who wants to eat makguksu and bossam together
• Anyone looking for a clean Korean restaurant to take their parents to
• Groups who each want to order something different