Diet-friendly sundae and pork jowl platter in Gangdong: Boseung

My boyfriend's soul food is gukbap (Korean soup with rice). He loves it even more than beef. Why? Because he loves broth. He says that's the secret to his "chubby but healthy" figure...

Dieting but craving gukbap: why sundae hangjeong-suyuk instead of soup

I've been keeping my distance from gukbap lately because I'm on a diet. Other people say you can just fish out the solid bits and skip the broth without messing up your diet, but my boyfriend drinks every last drop. It's honestly amazing how all that broth fits in his stomach.

So I'd been avoiding gukbap, until I heard Boseung Hoegwan has a sundae hangjeong-suyuk with just a shallow pool of broth — so my boyfriend and I went and ate it!

The weather's gotten chilly lately and I was really craving Korean food — specifically gukbap. Funny how the longer you diet, the more you crave it...

Gukbap means finishing the whole bowl of broth (right?), which could pack on the pounds, but sundae hangjeong-suyuk is basically suyuk (boiled pork) — it comes with clear broth, but way more meat.

The broth is shallow, not red, and lightly seasoned — deep flavor through and through. So if you just eat the solids and skip chugging the broth, that's basically a diet meal, right?! We promised each other not to touch the broth, haha, and headed to Boseung Hoegwan, a well-known gukbap spot near Cheonho Station.

Where is Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch, and is it open 24 hours?

Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch is right in front of the bus stop as soon as you exit Cheonho Station Exit 3. Such a great location.

Plus it's open 24 hours. In. Sane.

The interior is really spacious, so it's great for a final round of gukbap after drinking, or even while waiting for the first subway train. A real hidden gem near Cheonho Station.

How much pork comes with the 34,000-won sundae hangjeong-suyuk?

My boyfriend really wanted gukbap even while trying to diet, so I won him over with the sundae hangjeong-suyuk instead.

There's even more suyuk than the photos suggest, haha. For ₩34,000, that's insane value. Once again, gukbap near Cheonho Station is the best!!!

Kkakdugi and kimchi refills brought to the table, no self-serve bar

The kkakdugi and kimchi were both delicious. We dumped in the chives the moment they arrived. The kkakdugi and kimchi were so good we asked for a refill. There's no self-serve bar — you just ask and they bring it to you, which was a nice touch too. This kind of service at this price? Unreal!!

I really liked that you get a mix of both hangjeong-sal (pork neck) and sundae. And the portion is genuinely generous. Boseung Hoegwan — gukbap near Cheonho Station — remember that name!

Does a chain restaurant's broth taste good? Deep flavor, no gamey smell

Usually with chains I don't expect much, but Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch is genuinely good. First, the broth has a deep flavor that isn't harsh or overpowering. Not a hint of gamey taste — clean and mild.

And they even gave us this as a free extra...? Total soju bait... I really wanted a shot but had a PT session booked... gotta go see my trainer... so I barely held off on the soju-and-beer mix.

This is total soju pairing food, seriously >< My boyfriend saw the broth and couldn't resist scooping out a ladleful, haha. There's just no way not to eat this...

Honestly... we ordered two bowls of rice... there was just no holding back. Whenever I want gukbap near Cheonho Station, Boseung Hoegwan is the only option. This Cheonho Station branch was actually the tastiest of every Boseung Hoegwan I've been to.

It was hard holding off on gukbap while dieting, but thanks to Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch, I got to enjoy a hearty, satisfying meal with delicious sundae hangjeong-suyuk! Being open 24 hours makes it easy to drop by anytime, and the spacious, friendly space means I'll likely become a regular. If you're near Cheonho Station looking for a real gukbap or suyuk spot, definitely stop by Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch!