Dongseong-ro, Daegu gukbap: ox head soup vs ttaro-gukbap, Hanwoojang

Today I visited a gukbap (rice soup) place, a true Korean soul food and perfect for curing a hangover. It's Hanwoojang (한우장) in Dongseong-ro, Daegu! Let me walk you through it 😙

Hanwoojang in Dongseong-ro, Daegu: location, hours and parking

Hanwoojang is at 555 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea, on the first floor, a 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Jungangno Station. It's open 24 hours, every day of the year!!! There's no private parking lot, so use a nearby public car park.

What kind of gukbap restaurant is Hanwoojang?

The first thing that caught my eye at the entrance was the sign saying it's been selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey 12 years in a row 👀 Hanwoojang sits right in the middle of Dongseong-ro, so it's easy to get to anytime from anywhere. Seeing those 12 Blue Ribbons, I figured this is a place you can trust, and my expectations were already up!

The inside has serious presence. Lots of regulars, and it totally gives off that famous-restaurant vibe. The space is roomy and clean enough for eating or drinking solo, or for a group gathering.

Looking around, it's a gukbap place going since 1968, and the walls show that lots of people have already been here, from celebrities you'd recognize the second you hear their names to sports stars.

Table seasoning and the self-service side dish corner

At the tables there's minced seasoning (dadaegi) and salt to add to your seolleongtang (ox bone soup) or gukbap. The spoons and chopsticks are clean too, so they seem to take hygiene really seriously ✨

There's a self-service corner too! They bring side dishes at first, and when you run out you can go grab more yourself, which I like.

What's on the Hanwoojang menu?

True to a gukbap place, the Hanwoojang menu has plenty of options: seolleongtang (ox bone soup), ttaro-gukbap (soup served with the rice on the side), oxtail soup, dogani-tang (ox knee cartilage soup), yangtang (tripe soup) and more, so you can enjoy a hearty meal at a good price 😋 Great for a hangover cure or as a snack with a drink ♨️

+ By the way, Hanwoojang is also famous for its suyuk (boiled beef slices). I'm planning to try it next time 👍

Every item at Hanwoojang can be packed to go (2 servings or more). They also state the country of origin clearly, which makes me trust them even more~

Hanwoojang's basic side dishes

The basic side dishes are crunchy, well-fermented kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), soy-sauce onions, kimchi with real depth of flavor, and anchovies seasoned just right to go with gukbap.

Hot gukbap with kkakdugi, I can't even describe how good that combo is 🥵

• Ttaro-gukbap ₩11,000
• Hanwoo ox head soup ₩14,000

How do the broth and meat taste in Hanwoojang's ox head soup?

Hanwoojang's ox head gukbap comes with a milky white broth and truly generous amounts of meat. Just a light stir with the spoon and a heavy load of the meat hiding inside comes up. The broth is clean and mild, so it's perfect for anyone who prefers a non-spicy flavor!!

Season it to your taste with the salt, pepper and minced seasoning on the table. I put in rice right away, added the minced seasoning and ate it with kkakdugi, and honestly it felt like proper restorative food.

The meat isn't tough and comes off the bone easily, and dipped in salt or soy sauce it was delicious.

How spicy is Hanwoojang's ttaro-gukbap?

Hanwoojang's ttaro-gukbap comes loaded with fresh seonji (congealed ox blood). The broth was a deep color and looked spicy, and from the first bite it was an instant hangover cure: a rich beef soup flavor hits you, and it's so spicy that sweat beaded on my forehead. (You know the unwritten rule: sweat on your nose and forehead when you eat gukbap.)

The look of it is huge... Don't we need to crack open a soju right now?

Is Hanwoojang in Dongseong-ro worth recommending?

Hanwoojang is a gukbap specialist with both spicy and mild bowls, and it's been loved by people for a long time as a gukbap hotspot!! Since it's open 24 hours every day of the year, whether you want a meal or a night of drinking, you can get a really hearty meal whenever you visit. If you're looking for a filling, good-value Hanwoo gukbap place in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, I recommend Hanwoojang!