Busan Seomyeon galbitang for two, Dongbaekjeon pay: Gang Galbitang

Today I want to introduce a galbitang (short rib soup) spot in Seomyeon that I've now visited three times. It's Gang Galbitang, a favorite for solo dining and drinking in Seomyeon, Busan. I remembered loving it on my first visit, so I went back — and once again, I left completely satisfied.

One thing I always look forward to with galbitang is the side dishes, and the chosukjam (Chinese artichoke) pickles here go so well with the soup. Eaten alongside the warm, savory broth, they cleanse the palate perfectly — I kept reaching for more.

It's also a great place to eat a simple solo meal with a drink on the side, so I wanted to recommend it to anyone looking for a place for honsul (solo drinking) in Seomyeon, Busan. Let me tell you in detail why I've already been back three times and enjoyed my meal again this time!

Where is Gang Galbitang Seomyeon, and what are the hours and parking?

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon is located at 33 Saessak-ro, 1F, Busanjin-gu, Busan, and is open from 9:20 AM to 9:00 PM. Cana Card (Dongbaekjeon) payment is also accepted.

If you spend over ₩20,000, you get 30 minutes of Blue Parking support. Parking support is rare in Seomyeon, so it's a nice bonus that Gang Galbitang, a solo dining and drinking favorite here, offers it.

Inside and out: solo seats at Gang Galbitang Seomyeon

The storefront on Saessak-ro

This was my third visit to Gang Galbitang, and it's always busy.

Inside the dining room

There are single-diner seats for solo dining, along with 4-person and 6-person tables.

What's on the menu at Gang Galbitang Seomyeon?

The menu includes galbitang, galbi guksu (rib noodle soup), arongsatae suyuk (boiled beef shank), spicy galbitang, and galbi gukbap.

The galbi guksu comes with Jeju jungmyeon noodles, and if you order arongsatae suyuk after 2 PM, keep in mind there's a coupon for a free bottle of the house-made ginseng yagwanmun liquor.

A receipt review also gets you a Korean-made Vodel hand cream.

I ordered galbitang for two.

Self-bar side dishes and free coffee

If you need more side dishes, the self-bar has you covered, and if you buy a mealkit to take home after dining in, you get ₩500 off each one!

The self-bar has kkakdugi (radish kimchi), chosukjam pickles, dried radish strips, doenjang (soybean paste), peppers, garlic, gat-jangajji (mustard leaf pickles), sauces, and other sides not included with your first table setting — help yourself to whatever suits your taste! Coffee and ice are also available for dessert.

Korean beef bone galbitang: the broth and the ribs

Galbitang topped generously with green onions!

A sign says the soup is freshly made every morning, and the broth is made from domestic Korean beef bones! The rice is domestic, too.

This is how the table setting comes out. It's easier to eat if you separate the bones from the meat in the galbitang. Use the scissors to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces! There's a generous amount of both broth and meat — one bowl leaves you full and satisfied.

There's also a small piece of ginseng and a jujube tucked in.

Gang Galbitang's broth is simmered richly with Korean beef bones, clean-tasting with no gamey smell. There are glass noodles in it too, so you'll be stuffed.

The ribs are so tender they melt in your mouth — delicious plain, but dipping them in the accompanying sauce makes them even better with a tangy-sweet kick.

Chosukjam pickles, the perfect match for galbitang

And you can't talk about Gang Galbitang without mentioning the chosukjam pickles! It was my first time trying chosukjam here, and it's tangy and crunchy — a spoonful of galbitang broth followed by a bite of chosukjam cleanses your palate perfectly, and the two just go together. It's the side dish I always go back to the self-bar for more of. The kkakdugi is well-fermented too, tangy and delicious.

The main dish, galbitang, is genuinely delicious, but the side dishes that come with it are always great too — so whenever I'm craving galbitang, I always head to Gang Galbitang.

How is Gang Galbitang Seomyeon for drinking alone in Seomyeon?

Another delicious meal at Gang Galbitang :) The galbitang suited my taste so well that this was already my third visit, and it's a great place to eat a hearty solo meal with a light drink on the side — I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a spot for solo drinking in Seomyeon, Busan.

It's also great that they offer parking support for those visiting by car, so you can eat without worrying about parking. Whenever I crave a warm bowl of galbitang in Seomyeon, I'm sure I'll be back again :)