Bossam and fresh kalguksu at opening time in Sangdaewon, Seongnam

The gabrisal bossam, seafood kalguksu and kimchi at Bossam Ae Kalguksu are amazing since they opened!

I'm definitely coming back. A clean, light meal made with good ingredients. Family dining in Sangdaewon-dong: Bossam Ae Kalguksu Seongnam Sangdaewon Branch.

A place that boils fresh every day and kimchi's made same-day

They boil the meat fresh every day — three times, no less. That's not something just anyone can pull off. And the kimchi is made the same day too — also not easy. So much hand labor goes into it.

Bossam Ae Kalguksu is near Seongnam City Haeoreum Library! A great spot for family meals. Booking through Naver Reservations makes it more convenient. Parking can be a bit tricky. Open daily 11:00-22:00, until 24:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Signature dish - bossam boiled only with gabrisal

We only use the precious, hard-to-get gabrisal (pork collar butt) cut for our bossam.

It's hard to find a place that does bossam (boiled pork wraps) really well. This place uses gabrisal — not the hind leg, not the front leg, not neck meat — for its boiled pork.

The ratio of lean meat to fat is perfectly consistent. And right beside it, the fresh seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) simmers away, looking gorgeous.

Why it's great for family meals

It's especially good for family dining because there's a set menu. The more people you go with, the more reasonable the price gets, and rice is unlimited. You can eat it plain, or use it to make porridge or fried rice.

Even a mighty wrestler would leave full here. And with a ₩3,000 discount on bossam items for takeout, it's even better!

Meat comes out at 11am, 3pm, and 7pm.

Time it right and it's tender, delicious.

Order bossam and the kalguksu comes free.

What makes this place stand out - Haenam cabbage, domestic sun-dried salt, seafood broth

They use Haenam cabbage, domestic sun-dried sea salt, and highland radish. The seafood broth that pairs with the bossam is clean and deep in flavor. Since it's freshly made kalguksu, it even has a bit of a shabu-shabu feel to it.

Above all, it's precious to find a place specializing in boiled gabrisal — a cut that only yields about a palm's worth per pig. When it comes to food, ingredients are everything. With a menu board this confident about what they serve, wouldn't you trust a place like this?

You can dine solo or in the hall, but it's spacious enough to be convenient for family meals. Great for lunch near the Seongnam industrial complex too, and can accommodate groups. A menu kids can enjoy without any fuss — bossam and kalguksu.

The meal itself - fresh seafood kalguksu and the self-bar

Kalguksu simmered with zucchini, carrot, green onion, and whole red chili.

Same-day green onion kimchi and domestic cabbage kimchi. The self-bar is very clean too.

The unbeatable salted shrimp, cheongyang chili, and garlic.

Fresh kalguksu simmered clean in a shabu-shabu style clear seafood broth.

In the seafood broth, you can taste the savory, clean flavors of anchovy, bonito flakes, shrimp, kelp, and crab. Honestly they could just run this as a kalguksu specialty shop. We ordered two servings of noodles and ended up adding a third — it was that good.

Want a taste of authentic Korean kimchi made with Haenam cabbage?

A full plate, beautifully plated. The kimchi comes wrapped nicely, and it's nice that they include steamed cabbage too. The seasoned dried radish strips are also deliciously tossed — amazing eaten with the bossam. You can't help but blurt out, 'wow, this is good, this place knows what it's doing.'

While you're eating the bossam, the kalguksu comes to a boil.

With the kimchi, the bossam and noodles just keep going in, endlessly. A menu you can't go wrong with, no matter who you bring — bossam and kalguksu.

Dessert porridge made with unlimited rice

Dessert porridge made by scooping unlimited rice from the self-bar. Fills you up nicely whether you're a kid or an adult.

Right when you're thinking 'I want a little more...' — the unlimited rice refill is there.

Boiled up with the seaweed flakes and sesame oil available at the self-bar. You could make it kimchi porridge or fried rice depending on your taste, too. I got so full that I figured today would end up being a one-meal day.

Final thoughts

An easy-to-digest meal with clean, delicious kimchi and bossam — we went right at opening time, and delivery orders kept coming in as the place quickly filled up with families. A Seongnam bossam favorite: Bossam Ae Kalguksu Seongnam Sangdaewon Branch.