Gyeongbokgung Station Korean restaurant for chicken gomtang: SABAL

The mornings and evenings have turned chilly enough that all I can think about is hot soup or something warm and hearty these days.

A friend recently raved about a genuine Korean restaurant near Gwanghwamun that's held its ground as a Gyeongbokgung favorite for nearly 20 years. With the temperature swings getting sharper, I wanted to warm up and fill my stomach with a proper Korean meal, so I went without hesitation. You could feel why it's kept winning over office workers and locals for so long, and I'm about to walk you through the warm, tidy meal we had.

How to reach SABAL from Gyeongbokgung Station, and what time to book

SABAL sits a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Station, on the first floor of the Gyeonghuigung-ui Achim 3-danji complex. Not just local office workers but word-of-mouth has also brought a steady stream of foreign tourists, so I heard the wait during lunch peak hours can be considerable. That's why we deliberately booked ahead for a relaxed 1:30pm slot, avoiding the busiest window.

Getting off at Gyeongbokgung Station and walking out Exit 7, it took just about 5 minutes to reach the building entrance while enjoying the quiet, old-school alley vibe. The access from the station was so easy there was no worry about getting lost.

What is SABAL like inside?

SABAL, on the first floor of the Gyeonghuigung-ui Achim 3-danji complex, gave off a sleek, modern Korean dining vibe the moment we walked in — fitting for a Gyeongbokgung favorite with 20 years of history behind it.

There's an open-kitchen setup and a clean main hall,

an outdoor terrace that looks great on a nice day, and an annex too — the place is bigger and more thoughtfully laid out than I expected. Before eating, I stopped by the shared restroom in the shopping complex, then came back and gave the staff our reservation name. Maybe because lunch peak had already passed, the staff kindly showed us to a cozy, atmospheric table further inside, and we sat down in a good mood.

The interior, where traditional Korean beauty and a modern sensibility blended naturally under soft lighting, was striking enough that I kept clicking away on my camera.

Pre-meal pumpkin porridge and what to order at SABAL

Soon after, the staff brought out cold water along with a pre-meal pumpkin porridge. One spoonful in, it wasn't overly sweet and gently soothed the stomach, whetting my appetite. Savoring the sweet porridge, I excitedly looked over the menu on the table.

With such a wide range of tidy Korean noodle and soup-rice dishes, choosing was a happy dilemma. In the end, for a can't-go-wrong pick, we went with the two signature dishes marked 'BEST' on the menu — the deeply nourishing neungi mushroom chicken gomtang (₩17,000) and the promising, nutty oyster mushroom black sesame perilla noodle soup (₩17,000). It felt like the perfect nourishing combo for this kind of weather with big temperature swings, and once we'd ordered, the anticipation kept building.

While the food was being prepared, neat basic side dishes arrived first. Spicy-sweet, well-fermented geotjeori kimchi (fresh-tossed cabbage kimchi) and refreshing pickles were set out in tidy bowls, adding visual appeal too. None of the sides were heavily seasoned, and I was already looking forward to how they'd pair with the mains.

After a bit of friendly chatting with my friend while we waited, the day's main dishes finally arrived — steaming hot in big ceramic bowls, filling the table. The deep aroma of neungi mushrooms and the heavy, nutty scent of black sesame and perilla hit us the moment they landed, and we couldn't help but gasp.

Oyster mushroom black sesame perilla noodle soup, ₩17,000

The first spoon went toward the oyster mushroom black sesame perilla noodle soup, which had by far the most striking presentation.

Inside the large bowl, fresh in-season Tongyeong oysters, three kinds of mushrooms, and green chives were generously piled into the perilla broth, topped with a neatly arranged garnish — it was a feast for the eyes even before the first bite.

Tasting the thick black sesame perilla broth first, the deep umami of a well-brewed anchovy stock and the heavy nuttiness of perilla spread smoothly through my mouth.

The plump, briny texture of the Tongyeong oysters and the chewiness of the mushrooms came together harmoniously with every bite.

The noodles left the biggest impression. The artisan-made suyeon somyeon (fine wheat noodles), with their lovely appetizing color, had a springy yet smooth slide down the throat that regular somyeon just doesn't have — pure art. Loading up the noodles soaked in thick perilla broth with a piece of cool, crisp cabbage kimchi was a match made in heaven — the kimchi cleanly cut through the perilla richness that could otherwise get heavy.

I fell for the kimchi and emptied my bowl in no time, then shyly asked staff for a refill — they smiled and generously topped it up, and that kindness made the whole meal feel like being treated with real care.

Neungi mushroom chicken gomtang, ₩17,000

Fully won over by the nuttiness of the perilla noodle soup, I turned my attention to the steaming neungi mushroom chicken gomtang.

Under a richly brewed, clear, milky chicken broth sat tender, hand-shredded chicken and neungi mushrooms, filling the bowl,

and glossy rice made from good-quality grain was ladled in just right — mouthwatering just to look at. The earthy, deep scent of neungi mushroom mingling with the light chicken broth made it feel like a bowl of proper tonic even before the first taste.

Taking a generous spoonful and savoring it, the broth — light and greaseless but deeply flavorful — flowed down my throat and warmed me from the inside out.

"This is really good," I found myself saying out loud — not sharp or overwhelming at all, just a deep flavor that settled the stomach.

The chicken melted away with no dryness at all, and the chewy neungi mushroom and sticky rice added deep savoriness with every bite.

And here's the real 'kick' of the place — the garlic pickles served as a side. As the chicken gomtang went on, the crisp, sweet-and-sour garlic pickles cleanly reset the palate whenever things got a touch heavy. Their mild pungency struck a perfect balance with the light chicken flavor, and I polished off the last spoonful without ever getting tired of it, still full of admiration.

In this chillier weather, it doesn't get more perfect than this for a gentle, nourishing meal.

Is SABAL a good Korean restaurant to take your parents to?

SABAL proved with every bite exactly why it's kept winning over so many office workers and foreign visitors for nearly 20 years — the reputation is no accident. The dishes served in that sleek, cozy dining space carried the natural flavor and care of good ingredients rather than flashy technique. From the rich, nutty oyster mushroom black sesame perilla noodle soup to the deeply light neungi mushroom chicken gomtang that warmed us from within, every spoonful felt like being served a proper tonic.

As the weather gets colder, this feels like the kind of place my feet will naturally carry me back to whenever I crave something hot and gentle. It's such a healthy, comforting spread with deep flavor that I've already marked it as the top restaurant I want to take my parents to. If you're near Gwanghwamun or Gyeongbokgung and want to share some warmth over tidy Korean food, I'd highly recommend stopping by.