Euljiro 3-ga bone soup restaurant, cuttlefish fritters: Eulji Baektan

What did you fill up on for lunch today? There are certain soul foods that feel extra necessary once the weather turns chilly or you're craving something hot and hearty.

Today I want to introduce a place where I enjoyed genuinely deep broth and a fantastic side dish with a coworker on a weekday. It's near Euljiro 3-ga Station, so it works great as a lunch spot for office workers in the area, and the interior is clean and really spacious, making it just as good for group dinners or company gatherings in Euljiro.

You could really feel the solid expertise of a bone-grilling specialist here. Let me dive right into my review of Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui!

Where is Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui, and what are the hours and parking?

Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui is at 110-2 Eulji-ro, 1F, Jung-gu, Seoul, within a 5-minute walk of Exit 12 of Euljiro 3-ga Station. It's open daily from 11:00 to 24:00. There's no dedicated parking lot, so I'd recommend using a nearby paid lot or taking public transit instead.

Walking from Euljiro 3-ga Station and the clean, roomy interior

On a weekday, a coworker and I decided "let's properly recharge with a spicy, rich soup for lunch today" and headed over to Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui.

It was really easy to find, sitting within a 5-minute walk of Exit 12 of Euljiro 3-ga Station. It's close enough to the subway that even first-timers shouldn't get lost, so it already earned points for accessibility before I even sat down.

When I carefully opened the door and stepped inside, the interior was much bigger than it looked from outside, with a lot of tables. It had that stylish retro feel unique to Hip-ji-ro, but kept modern and clean overall, so even people sensitive about hygiene could relax and enjoy the space comfortably.

Each table had glasses and utensils neatly set out, showing the owner's attention to detail. The space felt so roomy and relaxed that it would also work great as a casual Euljiro bar for a drink after work, or as a spot for a group of coworkers to gather for a company dinner.

What we ordered at Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui: prices and side dishes

That day, the two of us ordered ppyeohaejangguk (bone soup) 13,000 won, spicy ppyeohaejangguk 14,000 won, and a medium squid fritter 15,000 won at Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui.

Sitting down comfortably and looking over the menu carefully, there was a great variety, from hearty meal options to grilled dishes perfect for an evening drink.

• Ppyeohaejangguk (bone soup): ₩13,000
• Spicy ppyeohaejangguk: ₩14,000
• Squid fritter (medium): ₩15,000

As soon as we ordered, a tidy set of banchan (side dishes) arrived to whet our appetite.

Crunchy diced radish kimchi and refreshingly tangy baek-kimchi (white kimchi) that pair perfectly with soup, plus fresh peppers and onions great with meat, kept our hands reaching for them even before the main dishes arrived.

How does the pork bone soup taste? Two bones and plenty of ugeoji greens

Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui's ppyeohaejangguk (13,000 won) came out in a piping-hot stone bowl loaded with ugeoji (dried napa cabbage) and scallions, plus two big bones packed with meat. Maybe because it's a bone-grilling specialist, but the depth and richness of the broth itself was on a completely different level from a typical haejangguk restaurant!

Our food was finally set out. First up, my regular ppyeohaejangguk arrived, bubbling away appetizingly in a stone bowl.

How spicy is the spicy ppyeohaejangguk?

The regular ppyeohaejangguk was rich and just a touch spicy with a deep broth flavor — unless you truly can't handle any heat, this is a taste pretty much anyone would enjoy without complaint. It must have been simmered a long time, because the meat pulled off the bone smoothly with just a light touch of the chopsticks, and the rich broth had soaked deep into every fiber of the meat, so a whole bowl of rice disappeared in no time.

My coworker's spicy ppyeohaejangguk (14,000 won) had a lot more chili paste mixed in than the regular version, giving it a much sharper, spicier kick. Taking a deep spoonful of the broth, there was even a hint of yukgaejang-like flavor passing through, which would completely hit the spot for anyone who loves bold, spicy flavors. If you usually prefer spicy food or you're after something to cure a hangover, I'd strongly recommend going for the spicy version!

Medium cuttlefish fritters: portion size and dipping sauces

The medium squid fritter at Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui is 15,000 won, and the moment it landed on the table, its huge presence genuinely surprised us. The portion was massive — enough for two big eaters to eat their fill without running out.

The batter's color was bright and clean white, which visibly signaled how fresh and clean the oil was — it gave me real confidence in how carefully the owner sources their ingredients.

Just as it looked, the batter was crispy, and the squid inside was so tender and chewy that every bite drew a little gasp of admiration. Dipping it back and forth into the barbecue mayo sauce and soy-onion sauce that came with it, we got a lovely range of flavors, and it paired amazingly well with the spicy ppyeohaejangguk. With snack quality this good, it made total sense why this place has such a hot reputation as a bar and hidden gem in Hip-ji-ro.

Ordering tips and what could be better

My tip: if you usually love sharp, spicy broth, definitely go for the spicy ppyeohaejangguk over the regular one. And I'd recommend ordering the squid fritter as a side alongside your hearty meal, dipping it generously into the sweet-savory barbecue mayo sauce. The rich broth of the bone soup and the savory crunch of the fritter balance each other beautifully.

The drawback: if I'm being completely honest, since this place is so popular by word of mouth, it can fill up fast during weekday lunch peak hours! I'd recommend visiting with some flexibility in your schedule, or going a bit earlier than the typical lunch rush.

Final verdict on lunch at Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui

From the rich, spicy bone soup that showed off real specialist-level skill, to the squid fritter fried in clean oil that melted smoothly in the mouth, it was an almost unbelievably satisfying, happy meal for a weekday lunch.

Being able to fill up on solid energy in such a clean atmosphere, I can see myself becoming a regular here. If you want to try proper bone dishes and top-quality snack food, definitely pay a visit to Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui. It won't be a choice you regret! ✨