Haejangguk restaurant near Daedong Market, Daegu: Samsol Gamjatang

Where is Samsol Gamjatang Main Branch in Daegu?

Samsol Gamjatang Main Branch is a gamjatang (pork bone soup) and haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant on the first floor of 205 Sanghwa-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, near Daedong Market. It's open from 10:00 to 24:00, and parking is available in front of or near the restaurant.

As the weather got chillier, I found myself craving something warm and soupy, so I headed straight to this newly opened gamjatang spot in Dalseo-gu right after work.

Samsol Gamjatang is a gamjatang spot in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, near Daedong Market, and it hasn't been open long.

Inside Samsol Gamjatang: atmosphere and solo-dining tables

Since it just opened, the interior was super clean, and I liked that the space was spacious with wide gaps between tables. There are also tables set up for solo diners, so you can eat comfortably even by yourself.

Samsol Gamjatang menu and prices

The menu at Samsol Gamjatang covers haejangguk, gamjatang, and ppyeojjim (steamed pork bones), plus a wide range of dishes like yukjeon naengmyeon (cold noodles with pan-fried beef), donkkaseu (pork cutlet), and yangji seolleongtang. There's such a variety that you won't have to worry about the menu no matter who you bring — a solid Korean restaurant in Daegu.

• Ugeoji haejangguk (napa cabbage bone soup) – ₩10,000
• Yangji seolleongtang (brisket ox bone soup) – ₩10,000

You get the basic banchan (side dishes) that come standard at any haejangguk place, and if you need more, there's a self-serve bar.

When our haejangguk and yangji seolleongtang arrived, the haejangguk looked spicy just from the color, and the seolleongtang's milky broth caught my eye. But we didn't get rice, so I asked the owner if we needed to order it separately — turns out it was the staff member's first day, and they just forgot, haha. Since it's a new place, there are still a few rough edges, but I'm sure it'll smooth out with time.

How were the pork bones and broth in the ugeoji haejangguk?

Samsol's red-broth haejangguk comes with two large bone pieces and soft ugeoji (napa cabbage). Picking the meat off the big bones, there was plenty of it, and dipped in the accompanying sauce, the seasoning was just right.

The pork bones were simmered until the meat was extremely tender, with absolutely no gamey smell — which meant I could eat it happily. Honestly, if the meat smells off, I usually can't even manage the broth, but whether it's because the bones were fresh or the cooking was just that good, there was zero funky smell. A genuinely trustworthy haejangguk spot in Sangin-dong.

The first thing I tasted the moment the haejangguk arrived was the broth — and as you can see, that deep red color means it's spicy and rich, the kind of broth that just makes you think of a shot of soju. Watching the older folks around us pouring themselves soju, I could see why: this broth practically calls for a drink, making it a solid Sangin-dong bar-food option too. My husband doesn't drink, so we skipped the soju, but I still left this Dalseo-gu gamjatang spot satisfied.

The ugeoji in the haejangguk had soaked up the broth beautifully, well-seasoned with a really soft, tender texture. Wrapping the lean meat and ugeoji together is a combination that practically demands rice. I was tempted to ask for extra ugeoji — that's how much I enjoyed this ugeoji ppyeo haejangguk from Samsol Gamjatang.

What does the yangji seolleongtang taste like?

Samsol's yangji seolleongtang comes in a brass bowl with milky broth and scattered scallions — a clean, appealing look. I personally prefer the haejangguk, but this seolleongtang suited my taste well too.

A spoonful of the seolleongtang broth reveals a rich yet clean and mild flavor. The well-boiled brisket had a great texture and no gamey smell at all. I love the small amount of glass noodles in seolleongtang, and mixing rice in with the soft noodles and the deep gomtang-style broth made it go down almost as smoothly as a drink, haha.

Is Samsol Gamjatang Main Branch worth a visit, and for whom?

If you're looking for a good haejangguk spot in Sangin-dong, Dalseo-gu, I'd recommend this newly opened Samsol Gamjatang. Both the spicy ugeoji ppyeo haejangguk and the clean yangji seolleongtang are delicious, so it's a Dalseo-gu gamjatang spot where you can pick based on your mood.

When the weather turns chilly and you want a hearty meal with a spicy broth, how about Samsol Gamjatang today?