Gukbap with chili paste near Jungbu Police Station, Daegu: Hanwoojang

Hanwoojang, an old-school gukbap restaurant on Gukchaebosang-ro in Jung-gu, Daegu

Today I'm here to share a hot, hearty bowl of gukbap (Korean soup with rice) I had in Daegu! Introducing Hanwoojang haha. Daegu has so many long-running old-school restaurants, but

this place has been going strong in the same spot for a really long time, so I was already excited before even walking in?? And it's won the Blue Ribbon award multiple times too....

If you're in Daegu, shouldn't you check out a place like this haha. The exterior already gives off that unique old-school-favorite vibe. Totally different charm from the clean, newly opened restaurants these days! You could just tell from the outside that this place has been selling gukbap for a long, long time haha.

Where is Hanwoojang? Right by Daegu Jungbu Police Station

📍 Hanwoojang, 555 Gukchaebosang-ro, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea. It's near Daegu Jungbu Police Station and also close to the Daegu Modern History Museum, so it's a convenient spot to stop for a meal while wandering around Dongseong-ro or downtown Daegu.

Open 24 hours: why Hanwoojang works as a hangover soup stop

And a huge plus of Hanwoojang: 24-hour operation!! Isn't it so reassuring when a gukbap place is open around the clock haha. Great for a hot early breakfast, and also perfect for a late-night hangover-soup run after drinks!

Check the menu board — I ordered yangtang (tripe soup) and special seolleongtang. Knowing Hanwoojang has been around since 1968 made me even more excited. Places like this just make you expect a deep, rich broth before you even see the menu haha.

Self-serve kimchi bar and the dining room at Hanwoojang

Nicely set-up self-serve side dishes!!! Taste, hygiene, cleanliness — all perfect.

Even the bathroom was spotless, wow.

Inside, the whole place has a cozy, welcoming vibe! Rows of tables meant it felt totally fine to come alone for a bowl of gukbap, and also comfortable for families or groups to eat together.

You can help yourself to as much as you need, which is convenient. A gukbap place absolutely cannot run out of kimchi and kkakdugi, right??? The menu ranges from seolleongtang to ttaro-gukbap, ox head gomtang, oxtail gomtang, doganitang, and more — plenty to make any broth lover's eyes light up.... I went with the most basic, classic combo here: seolleongtang plus yangtang haha.

The side dishes that came out were exactly what a gukbap place needs! Especially at places like this, the main broth matters, but so does the kimchi and kkakdugi haha. A bite of gukbap topped with a well-fermented piece of kkakdugi... ah.... that's the end of me....

The kimchi was so tasty~~ spicy with the freshness of freshly tossed kimchi!! Absolutely the best.

What does the special seolleongtang taste like? A milky, easy-going broth

First, the seolleongtang! As soon as it arrived, just looking at the pale broth made me feel comforted haha. When the weather's a little chilly, seeing something like this makes you reach for the broth right away, right?? A spoonful in, it felt soft and rich but not heavy or overwhelming, so my spoon kept going back for more. The kind of broth that has that distinctive nutty, deep flavor from being simmered for a long time!

Hanwoojang's yangtang: how is the tripe soup different from seolleongtang?

Yangtang!! Honestly, whenever I visit an old-school gukbap place like this, I want to try a dish I don't usually get to eat haha. So I ordered yangtang alongside the seolleongtang. The yangtang has a clearly different character from the seolleongtang. If the seolleongtang goes down soft and mild, the yangtang is a bit richer and heavier to enjoy!

There's meat in there too, and since it's been simmered fully in the broth, it felt tender in texture. If you like mild broths, or want a hot meal that isn't too intense, I'd recommend going with the seolleongtang.

The yangtang especially has that chewy tripe texture, so it's not just about drinking the broth — chewing through the solid pieces is part of the fun too. Chewy tripe plus hot broth in every bite made it really filling haha. If you like this kind of offal dish, yangtang is worth trying at least once!

Noodles first, rice later, then stir in the dadaegi

Slurp up the noodles in the broth first, then add rice — it feels like eating two dishes in one bowl haha. Slurp the noodles~~ a sip of broth~~

They give you dagadagi (spicy chili paste) too haha. I really love spicy food, so~~

Looking for a gukbap restaurant in Jongno or Jung-gu, Daegu?

Before I knew it, the bowl was empty! Overall, Hanwoojang isn't really the kind of place you go to for a flashy menu — it's more about a hot bowl of broth that's been beloved for a long, long time~~ New trendy restaurants are great too, but there's a special fun in eating a classic dish at an old-school spot like this every once in a while. If you're looking for a Daegu Jongno restaurant or a solid, classic Daegu gukbap spot, Hanwoojang is worth a visit~

It seems like a lot of baseball players and celebrities visit here too ~!! Being open 24 hours means you're not really constrained by time, which is another big plus!! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even late-night hangover soup are all possible haha. It's also an open kitchen, so you can see the food being prepared inside. Seeing the kitchen at an old-school gukbap place like this actually makes you trust it more haha. If you're craving a filling, hot bowl of broth, head to Hanwoojang. Got to enjoy that old-school atmosphere along with a hearty meal 😊

📍 Hanwoojang / 555 Gukchaebosang-ro, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea / ⏰ Open 24 hours, every day