Gangnam restaurant for solo milbok soup: Bogi-o Boguk

Something soooo irritating happened yesterday, and I really needed to shake off the mood. I relieve stress by eating hahaha. But I’m dieting too, so I couldn’t just eat anything!

The weather suddenly turned chilly, so it was one of those days when I kept craving a warm~ bowl of soup! Autumn is way too short.

I wanted something delicious, but I was quietly worried about gaining weight, so instead of a punchy spicy fish stew, I went with clean, mild milbok jiri—a clear soup made with milbok pufferfish! I am dieting, after all,,,^^,,, Pufferfish is basically pure protein!!!

I sent my friend a last-minute invite, but... they said they had just eaten dinner...

I was a little worried whether I could eat pufferfish soup alone, but I had such a smooth, delicious solo meal at Bogi-o Boguk! I even finished the whole bowl^^ Only the pale broth was left hahaha.

Bogi-o Boguk location and exterior

Bogi-o Boguk is a pufferfish-specialty restaurant with cool, clear broth that settles your stomach. They say you start liking food like this as you get older—I thought that would happen in my fifties, but I discovered the appeal of pufferfish in my thirties!

It’s on Dosan-daero in Cheongdam-dong. Head up to the second floor of this building and you’ll find it! You need to go around the side there to reach the entrance.

A setting for both solo meals and gatherings

Since I was visiting alone, I went in slightly worried about whether solo dining would be okay. But once inside, it was better than I expected! You can take the elevator, and the stairs aren’t much of a climb either.

The restaurant was neat and pleasant. Along with private rooms for group gatherings or company dinners, it has well-arranged seating—including window seats—where solo visitors can eat comfortably. I tend to prefer window seats haha. The photos turn out well there. Natural light is the best.

Among Cheongdam-dong’s pufferfish spots, this was a great place for a filling, easy-on-the-stomach meal anytime because it stays open without a break time~!

One side had a group gathered for a get-together, and plenty of people were also eating in the private rooms farther inside. If you’re looking for a good pufferfish restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, you have to try it!

Luckily, the restaurant is spacious and the flow of traffic is well divided, so I could settle into an open window-side seat and enjoy my solo meal comfortably.

Bogi-o Boguk’s menu and milbok jiri

It’s popular as a gathering spot, but I also saw quite a few people come alone, neatly finish a bowl, and leave just like me! There are course meals too, but there are also single-order pufferfish soup dishes! Bogi-o Boguk’s signature is milbok pufferfish.

Finishing a whole bowl of milbok jiri

My milbok jiri finally arrived! The ttukbaegi (earthenware pot) was absolutely packed with milbok pufferfish, mushrooms, bean sprouts, and minari (water parsley)—the secret to that refreshing flavor. The moment I took a sip of broth, it felt like my insides completely relaxed!

Milbok is low in fat and high in protein. Its clean, mild flavor without any fishiness is excellent! Pufferfish is poisonous, but once the poison is removed, it’s such a, such a healthy food!

The pufferfish meat in particular was so wonderfully chewy—the texture was incredible.

After diligently picking out and eating all the ingredients, I couldn’t resist and added rice to the broth, then gulped down every last bite. My worries about gaining weight disappeared completely, and I left after very happily clearing the bowl!

Whenever you’re craving soothing, refreshing broth in Cheongdam-dong, do visit—whether for a gathering or a solo meal! It is served neatly in an individual ttukbaegi, so even when you come alone, you can enjoy a hearty meal that feels thoughtfully prepared for you. I recommend it when you want a non-spicy, easy-on-the-stomach meal or a refreshing hangover soup.