Gangnam Korean restaurant for squid bossam: Yangeunine

I wanted bossam (boiled pork wraps) or suyuk (boiled sliced pork) around COEX, and found Yangeunine (양은이네), a spot for spicy pollock stew and squid bossam, so I visited. There is somewhere I go in Seolleung when I am craving jokbal (braised pig’s trotters), but I did not know of a suitable bossam place. It could definitely be called a good bossam restaurant near Samsung Station.

Inside Yangeunine Samsung Station Branch and its seating

Inside, there were about eight four-person tables, or tables for eight when joined together. It did not feel overly packed, and there was room between seats, so talking was not difficult.

It looked like a nice place for office workers to have a drink after work. There seemed to be lots of walk-in groups, and rather than a neighborhood favorite near home, it felt better suited to company dinners or gatherings for nearby office workers.

Pollock stew, al-goni jjim, and squid bossam menu

The menu is very varied, but broadly it is stews, steamed dishes, and bossam: pollock stew, al-goni jjim (steamed fish roe and milt), and squid bossam.

If you choose the pollock stew, squid bossam, and naengmyeon (cold noodles) set, you can enjoy food advertised as worth about ₩70,000 for ₩48,000. You could see it as a good-value gathering spot.

They were running several events, so if you want an extra discount coupon or pyeonyuk (pressed sliced meat), scan the QR code and join an event.

For the naengmyeon to come with the set, you need to ask for it. We ordered ours when we were nearly finished with the bossam and pollock stew, and it came later than expected, so I hope you time your order well.

Seeing that Lee Young-ja had visited made me think, maybe it is a good restaurant? Before I had even tried it.

Lunch rice and self-serve side dishes

Unlimited bowls of rice are available at lunch only, from 11:00 to 15:00.

The side dishes were stocked generously enough that I did not feel self-conscious taking more. There were bean sprouts, kimchi, garlic, chili peppers, and fish cake.

While waiting for the food, I looked around and saw a master craft certificate beside me.

What kind of master? A kimchi master. Honestly, unless the meat is made incredibly badly, I think kimchi does 80 percent of the work with bossam or suyuk. In that sense, I was really looking forward to it.

Squid bossam that was not chewy

The long-awaited squid bossam. The squid was cooked just right and was not chewy, while the suyuk was a good thickness and nicely boiled. The kimchi was plated so beautifully, and I really loved the pickled onion and chive salad in the middle.

Pollock stew loaded with milt and roe

Next came the pollock stew. The goni (fish milt) was so large that I took a photo. You can add more milt or roe while eating, so anyone who wants more can add it.

The pollock stew was actually a little salty for me, but it seemed like adding water and boiling it a little longer would do the trick.

I was really satisfied with the roe. Sometimes at meal-kit places or inexpensive roe-stew restaurants, the roe is low-density and mushy. But the roe here was firm and full, which I liked.

Dessert naengmyeon and after-meal amenities

The naengmyeon that came as dessert was a little sweeter than at other places. They provide single-use vinegar and mustard packets, so if you want more, ask a staff member.

After the meal, you can have sujeonggwa (cinnamon-ginger punch), and Halls candies are available too, letting you freshen your mouth after the spicy, salty flavors. There were hair ties, toothpicks, and chargers as well, so you could head home without worry if something felt inconvenient after eating or if your battery was low after work.

Yangeunine seems not to have other branches, but perhaps because it feels like a franchise with lots of locations, these service items were very well set up.