Seohyeon galbijjim lunch special, 3 portions for two: Gimcheongja

A great-value lunch spot near Seohyeon Station Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch

Where is Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch, and when is it open?

🎈 Location 2F, Cheonji Officetel, 16 Hwangsaeul-ro 330beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (145m from Seohyeon Station Exit 4) 🎈 Hours Weekdays 11:00-22:00 Saturday 11:30-22:00 Closed Sundays (Break time 15:00-17:00) 🎈 Other info Parking available, takeout/delivery available, takeout discount, waiting area, separate men's/women's restrooms

Already full at 11:50: why to arrive at opening

I ate plenty of great food in Hawaii and thought I wasn't even craving Korean food (?), but the moment I landed back in Korea, all I could think about was something spicy and delicious. So while I was mulling over what to eat, I remembered how good Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch was last time and ran straight there haha. This place always has a long wait, so I went pretty much right at opening — but even then, by around 11:50 it was already almost completely full. Definitely the most popular spot in the area.

Last time I got the medium spice and it was way spicier than expected, so this time I didn't push my luck and went with mild — and it was exactly the delicious, spicy flavor I was craving. This is what Korean food tastes like! So addictive, so good, I want to eat it again already,,

The lunch special for three and how to choose your spice level

The spicy galbijjim (braised rib stew) comes in pork or beef, and the portions differ, so check carefully when ordering. You can't add a single extra portion mid-meal. I happened to be very hungry, and since we went on a weekday lunch, the lunch special was available. Wanting to eat plenty of meat, we ordered the lunch special for 3 portions and polished it off between the two of us haha. Apparently writing a review can get you free cheese, so give it a try. It was also interesting that they sell fried items on the side — the more I ate, the more I thought, wow, dipping that in the broth would be amazing haha. There are three spice levels — mild, medium, spicy — and mild is said to be about as spicy as Shin Ramyun. Medium is quite spicy for anyone who's not great with heat, so keep that in mind. Still, it's more the delicious kind of spicy than the kind that burns your stomach?!

Side dishes: free bean sprout refills with the galbijjim

Aah, just looking at this again makes my mouth water. The side dishes are simple and clean, and the bean sprouts are great whether you eat them separately or mix them in. It was spicy so I kept refilling them — the staff were kind too, and having the bean sprouts to munch on alongside made the meal even better haha.

Simmer 3-4 minutes more: rice cakes, noodles and ribs

It comes out mostly cooked already, so you just simmer it another 3-4 minutes before eating. It's got rice cakes, noodles, and ribs in it — the portion is more generous than I expected, and genuinely so good. One bite and you're instantly hooked,, especially if you love spicy food!! A lot of people drink alcohol with it too — I had it with beer last time, and it's the perfect dish to pair with a drink, going down nice and spicy. Plus the lunch special comes with rice and steamed egg alongside the galbijjim, so it was even better value :)

Finding something you're craving, eating it happily, chatting about nothing in particular — that's honestly what happiness feels like sometimes. The steamed egg soothed my spice-scorched mouth haha. Steamed egg really is a must when eating something spicy! Eating it with rice brought back my lost appetite completely, and I polished off the whole bowl.

Would we go back to Gimcheongja for lunch?

A generous, clean, spicy flavor — with rice or with a drink, it's just amazing. The visuals alone make my mouth water. From now on, whenever I want something spicy or crave galbijjim, I won't waste time or money elsewhere — I'll just head straight to this great Bundang spot, Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch haha.

Looking back on the way out, the place was totally packed — such a popular waitlist spot,, and I ate so well haha. Sizzling away~ the meat was super tender and there was so much of it, I ate until I was completely stuffed hehe.