Insa-dong family restaurant with galbitang near Ssamziegil: Goshine
In short
Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is a hanok-style Korean restaurant at 3 Insadong 12-gil in Jongno, Seoul, right next to the Ssamziegil shopping alley. Before the Gyeongbokgung Palace night opening, a family with grandmother and children shared buckwheat bibim mak-guksu (spicy chilled buckwheat noodles), perilla oil mak-guksu, jeyuk bibimbap (spicy pork rice bowl) and galbitang (short rib soup). Between the house-made noodles and the hot galbitang broth, Goshine Donghae Makguksu worked well for a family meal with kids.
Good to know
- Location
- 3 Insadong 12-gil, 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul — right next to Ssamziegil
- Dishes ordered
- Buckwheat bibim mak-guksu, perilla oil mak-guksu, jeyuk bibimbap, galbitang
- Side dishes included
- Kkakdugi (radish kimchi), yeolmu kimchi, radish, pickled onion, warm broth
- Self-serve corner
- Side dishes are self-refill; ask staff for more hot broth
- Seating
- Group tables available, suitable for gatherings and family meals
- Also good to know
- Korean gift corner inside; menu posted at the entrance
as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026
A Jongno, Seoul restaurant spot: Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch
Last Friday I went to the Gyeongbokgung night opening. Before that we stopped for dinner at this Jongno / Insa-dong restaurant with such a hanok feel — Goshine Donghae Makguksu. Ate really well there 😊
Where is Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch in Insa-dong?
Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is a hanok-style Korean restaurant tucked in the Insa-dong alleys, right next to Ssamziegil. You get the hanok atmosphere and delicious Donghae-style mak-guksu (cold buckwheat noodles) all in one place.
Besides mak-guksu, there's a wide menu including galbitang, so it's great for visiting with kids, family, or as a couple!
Ssamziegil is right next door. The atmosphere is so good, right?! That hanok feel!!! Probably why there were a lot of foreign visitors too.
It's even better that you can check the menu before you go through the entrance!
The atmosphere is so good you just want to walk in — a hanok-style Insa-dong restaurant 😊 Would be great for gatherings too. We visited with my mother-in-law and she loved it too.
Inside Goshine Donghae Makguksu: hanok interior and group tables
Inside Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, the hanok atmosphere is strong and it feels quite upscale. There's group seating too, good for family meals and gatherings.
The hanok-style interior is quiet and serene, so you can enjoy a meal with real atmosphere. It has a strong Korean feel, and there's even a gift corner where you can pick up a Korean-style souvenir!
Self-serve side dish corner and free broth refills
Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch in Insa-dong has a self-serve corner. Side dishes are set out in advance, and you just help yourself if you run out.
For the hot broth that comes with the mak-guksu, just ask staff and they'll bring more.
What's on the menu at Goshine Donghae Makguksu?
The menu at Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch covers the basic mak-guksu lineup plus set menus you can enjoy with suyuk (boiled pork)!
You can also enjoy Korean dishes like sundubu (soft tofu stew) and bibimbap. Nice to have so many different dishes to share.
There's Korean gimbap (seaweed rice roll), various roll gimbap options, good for a simple bite too.
Four dishes for a family of five: mak-guksu, jeyuk bibimbap and galbitang
The basic side dishes come out first. Kkakdugi (radish kimchi), yeolmu kimchi, radish, pickled onion, and a warm broth too, which was great for eating something hot.
We ordered buckwheat bibim mak-guksu, perilla oil mak-guksu, jeyuk bibimbap, and galbitang. Good good, being able to order a variety with family and try a bit of everything. We visited with the kids, and they loved the galbitang. The adults enjoyed the mak-guksu.
Buckwheat bibim mak-guksu (spicy chilled buckwheat noodles)
The buckwheat bibim mak-guksu had such a glossy shine~~~ and the seasoning had great depth of flavor. For me, bibim mak-guksu was the best of the bunch.
The portion was surprisingly generous too. A seasoning that's hard for anyone to dislike, and since the noodles are house-made, they had a nice chewiness that made it even more delicious.
Perilla oil mak-guksu: the mild choice for kids
The perilla oil mak-guksu came topped with a generous amount of gim (dried seaweed) and loads of perilla oil. Truly nutty and full of sesame seeds — a rich, comforting flavor without feeling heavy.
Jeyuk bibimbap (spicy pork rice bowl)
The jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork) really needs no explanation. Mixing the gochujang-seasoned pork with the rice was the best haha. My husband said this was his favorite.
Galbitang (short rib soup) at Goshine Donghae Makguksu
The galbitang had a generous amount of broth and tender meat — the kids' favorite dish by far. The broth was piping hot and easy to eat, and the meat was so soft, not tough at all, that we finished the whole bowl.
Is Goshine Donghae Makguksu worth a visit with children?
- Hanok atmosphere is quiet and pleasant for a meal
- The house-made mak-guksu noodles are so delicious
- Nice to be able to enjoy a variety of dishes together
- Right next to Ssamziegil, so it's very accessible!
Where it is
3 Insadong 12-gil, 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 종로구 인사동12길 3 1층
