Baby-friendly noodle restaurant in Songpa: Hanyang Dak Kalguksu

When dining out with a baby, the menu matters, of course—but I find myself checking first whether there is a high chair, whether children’s tableware is available, and whether the restaurant is too crowded. This time, while looking for an easy place to have a meal with the baby in Garak-dong, Songpa, we visited Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch. We ordered dak kalguksu (chicken noodle soup) along with suyuk (thinly sliced boiled pork) for the baby, and it was more comfortable than expected to eat with a baby—and the food was delicious too—so I wanted to share it.

A comfortable find in a Garak-dong side street: Hanyang Dak Kalguksu

Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch sits on a quiet side street in Garak-dong. Rather than a restaurant on a busy main road, it felt like a cozy neighborhood favorite where local residents would casually stop by for a meal.

Once inside, the space was reasonably roomy and the tables were comfortably spaced, so eating with the baby was not especially inconvenient.

Are high chairs and children’s tableware available?

What I liked most was that there were plenty of high chairs and children’s tableware ready to use. These little details are surprisingly important when eating out with a baby, and not having to bring them ourselves made the meal much easier. The owner was kind as well, so even though it was our first visit, it felt familiar rather than awkward.

Rich yet mild chicken noodle soup and house-made noodles

The noodles came generously topped with shredded chicken, so the bowl looked filling from the start. The broth was rich but not salty, with a mild flavor that did not feel heavy from the first taste. It was not aggressively seasoned chicken noodle soup; as I spooned up the rich, clean broth, it almost felt like having a delicious restorative meal.

What I especially liked were the noodles. Perhaps because they are aged, house-made noodles, they were chewy yet soft, and the broth soaked into them nicely, making every bite more delicious. With kalguksu, noodles that become too soft or stay too stiff can be disappointing even when the broth is good, but here the noodles and broth worked very well together.

Choose scallion or seaweed topping to suit your taste

My husband’s seaweed-topped dak kalguksu was the same chicken noodle soup, but the umami of the dried seaweed gave it a slightly deeper flavor. I preferred the mild scallion topping, while my husband liked the seaweed topping better, so it would be nice to choose according to your taste.

Suyuk chosen to eat with the baby’s rice

Since we were visiting with the baby, I thought a little more carefully about what to order. The baby has been eating familiar foods well lately, but does not eat much in the way of noodles, so ordering only dak kalguksu felt a little lacking. I thought it would be nice to have something to serve with rice, so we ordered suyuk as a side as well.

The suyuk was sliced thin enough for the baby to eat comfortably. What stood out most was the texture! It was not the kind with fat that melts away too softly; it had a pleasantly chewy, springy texture that was delicious for adults too.

Our baby, who usually does not eat the fatty parts very well, ate the suyuk really well that day. I did pick out mostly lean pieces, but perhaps because it was tender, the baby ate a good amount without being picky, which was especially satisfying from the perspective of visiting with a baby. With dak kalguksu and suyuk together, the adults could have warm noodles while the baby could have rice with suyuk, making it a very good combination for a family meal.

Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch did not feel like a restaurant with a flashy or particularly special atmosphere; rather, it felt like a good place to casually stop in for a meal in the neighborhood. Above all, the owner was kind, which made it comfortable for a family meal with a baby. On a day when you want an unfussy meal in Garak-dong, Songpa—especially if you are looking for a restaurant to visit with a baby—I think Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch would be a good place to try.