Jongno Korean restaurant for solo gomtang: Wolhadong

Wolhadong, Korean food in Insadong near Anguk.

A hearty Insadong Korean meal after a walk

The weather has been lovely lately, with no rain in the forecast, so I took a little outing around Jongno for a walk. Since it was near Anguk Station, I debated having bread or a sandwich, but I felt like I hadn't been eating proper meals lately—so off to Wolhadong in Insadong for a hearty Korean meal!

I visited for a slightly late lunch, so there was no wait. But apparently there can be a line during peak hours, and there are chairs outside where you can wait.

It's tucked inside an alley, making it a space where you can eat calmly without the bustle—totally my style.

A hanok restaurant atmosphere that was lovely for solo time

Once inside Wolhadong, the quiet, serene atmosphere unique to a hanok (traditional Korean house) made it such a nice place to enjoy a meal slowly on my own. There were families dining too, but everyone was chatting quietly and eating in keeping with the mood.

It looked like kimchi and ingredients were stored inside the fermentation room. Since it was open to view, the cleanliness was right there to see—instant trust, such a good feeling.

There isn't a separate menu board. You can order using the QR code at each seat. It also explains how to enjoy Wolha Gomtang, and they go over it once more when the food arrives.

Solo dining in Insadong at the counter

Attention, anyone looking for a place to eat alone in Insadong! There are counter seats and neat tables, so solo guests like me can enjoy a meal comfortably without feeling self-conscious. Very satisfied.

Sogokju…? I was curious too. They sell this traditional rice wine by the glass, and if I hadn't been taking medicine, it would have been perfect to have a light drink with my gukbap. What a shame that day.

Wolha Gomtang and a half plate of spicy squid salad

I ordered the signature Wolha Gomtang and a half plate of spicy squid salad, which makes a great side. It felt a shame to eat just one thing, you know. I debated the chilled boiled pork and chose the squid salad, and to give you the conclusion first: a total pass! (Says the person who hasn't tried Wolhadong's chilled boiled pork.)

Clear, refined Wolha Gomtang

The signature Wolha Gomtang was ₩12,000. The clear, refined broth and generously wide slices of meat on top were impressive. Though thin, the broad slices had a wonderfully satisfying chew in the mouth.

It came with jeonggeun-jang, a special doenjang (fermented soybean paste)-based sauce. I spooned out a little to eat with it, and the gentle savory depth it added was just the best?

I don't usually eat much kimchi, but I tend to at gukbap places. It just feels different somehow? The umami of the basic side dishes—napa cabbage kimchi and radish kimchi—was great too. I usually eat rice and soup separately, but the rice here was nicely fluffy, so even when mixed into the broth it didn't get soggy or mushy and kept its texture until the end. Love that.

Spicy squid salad that balanced the gomtang

The half plate of spicy squid salad was ₩10,000. It had plenty of fresh minari (water parsley), whose fragrance spread so refreshingly, and the pairing with chewy squid contrasted with the rich gomtang perfectly. Honestly, this half plate of squid salad I added as a side might have been the hidden card that perfectly balanced the gomtang.

The moderately spicy seasoning had soaked nicely into the squid, making a wonderful point in a gukbap meal that could otherwise have been ordinary. For someone visiting alone, it was an absolutely perfect portion to order comfortably as a side dish.

A gomtang tip: add chili oil and pepper

After eating about half, I followed the owner's tip and sprinkled in a little chili oil and pepper. The broth, which had been clean-tasting, didn't become spicy, but changed into a different kind of umami experience—such a distinct charm.

I thought it was a great tip because you get to experience two different broth flavors in one bowl. This felt like an Insadong Korean restaurant where you can have a refined, filling meal. I recommend Wolhadong for its lovingly made gukbap and deeply flavored Insadong gomtang.