Seongsu Station pork soup restaurant after a pop-up: Dwaeji Gomtang

As autumn arrived, I suddenly craved hot pork gukbap (pork soup with rice) in a weirdly intense way. Pork gukbap is a bit of a special food for me! I always ate it during the Busan International Film Festival, so once the cool breeze starts blowing, I think of Busan, the festival, and hot pork gukbap all at once~

In my twenties there was a pork gomtang place near Samseong-dong that was exactly my taste, but at some point it closed and I was so sad about it. After that, I could never find another spot that made me go "ah, this is it!"

And then, of all places, I rediscovered my soul food in Seongsu. It's Dwaeji Gomtang House, on the 4th floor food garden of Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu. On the menu, instead of just "gomtang," they use the names clear gomtang and spicy gomtang.

What is the 4th-floor Food Garden at Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu like?

Dwaeji Gomtang House is located inside the 4th floor food garden of Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu. I had no idea a space like this existed on the 4th floor of Musinsa Seongsu~

Last time I came to Seongsu for the Tinyping pop-up, I had no idea where to eat and ended up crossing all the way to Konkuk University to grab a meal. But next time I won't need to do that!

Going up to the 4th floor of Musinsa Mega Store, the space was surprisingly pretty for a food court~ When I visited it was pretty quiet, and best of all, the Seongsu view out the window was amazing. It's a food court, but it felt like walking into some pretty brunch restaurant.

Anywhere popular in Seongdong you go, there's a wait and every seat is full, and after eating you have to move again to find a place for coffee. Here, you can shop, eat, and get coffee all in one building, so next time I come to Seongsu with my mini-me, I'm coming here!

For anyone looking for gukbap near Seongsu Station who's tired of waiting in line, or who just wants to eat at a more relaxed pace, this space alone was a pretty solid choice.

This time we ordered the clear gomtang set, the spicy gomtang set, and the minari tot king mandu.

Clear gomtang set, 15,000 won: light, clean pork broth

The clear gomtang set at Dwaeji Gomtang House is ₩15,000. Unlike the milky, heavy pork gukbap, this broth is clear and clean-style.

The clear gomtang was honestly the one I was happiest to see. If you prefer a clear, light pork gomtang style over the heavier, richer broths common in Seongsu, I'd say start with the clear gomtang~

Spicy gomtang set, 16,000 won: how hot is the broth?

The spicy gomtang set is ₩16,000. The spicy gomtang we ordered together has a completely different vibe from the clear one.

The sharp broth hits and you automatically reach for a spoonful of rice. If the clear gomtang is about calmly tasting each ingredient, the spicy gomtang is what you'll want when you're craving something stronger and hotter.

So if you're going with two people, ordering one clear and one spicy to share is a good idea. That's how we ate it, and the difference between the two was so clear it was actually fun.

My sister, who came with me, said she was craving hot soup... and I was craving something spicy, so I quickly looked this place up and went... and it was a hit place... T.T This was a totally unplanned detour from the Pocopia pop-up store... haha.

Minari and tot king mandu, 3 pieces for 9,000 won: juicy with a fresh finish

The minari tot king mandu is 3pcs for ₩9,000. I think I'd order this again even next time I come.

Bite into it and the inside is juicy with meat broth, but oddly it's not greasy at all~ That's thanks to the minari (water dropwort) inside. Minari's distinct fragrant, fresh flavor cuts through the richness of the meat juice, and with tot (hijiki seaweed) added too, the texture gets interesting.

Juicy inside but with a fresh finish — that's a combination I love. So for anyone looking for good mandu in Seongsu, I really wanted to put this dish right next to the gomtang.

A bite of clear broth, a bite of king mandu. This combo is pretty great in autumn. :) Ate well and full again today~~! Had a great meal! Please hurry up and open a branch at Starfield Hanam too T.T

Why Dwaeji Gomtang House fits a Seongsu shopping day

This bowl of pork gomtang meant a bit more to me than just a regular lunch. As it gets colder, I'll probably think of it even more. And my next Seongsu outing with my mini-me is already booked for here!

If chasing down a table at a restaurant and then a seat at a café in Seongsu sounds exhausting, remember this route instead: shop at Musinsa Mega Store, eat on the 4th floor, and get your coffee all in one place!

Dwaeji Gomtang House Musinsa Mega Store Branch is currently located at 62 Seongsuiro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 4th floor food garden of Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu.

Dwaeji Gomtang House Musinsa Mega Store Branch: address and prices

• Address: 62 Seongsuiro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu 4F Food Garden
• Transit: Walkable from Seongsu Station
• Menu: Clear gomtang set ₩15,000 / Spicy gomtang set ₩16,000 / Minari tot king mandu 3pcs ₩9,000
• Tip: Shop at Musinsa → eat on 4F → get coffee, all in one building
• What stood out: A surprisingly quiet, pretty space for a food court, especially the Seongsu view from the window seats