Gwangsan Korean restaurant for pork soup and suyuk set: Sinjuokmi

On a day when I wanted gukbap (Korean soup with rice) but felt one bowl alone might not be quite enough, I returned to Sinjuokmi Suwan District branch (신주옥미 수완지구점). I had enjoyed the previous sundae gukbap suyuk set, and this time I wanted to try different soups. I ordered the spicy fern and assorted offal gukbap suyuk set and the sanghwang mushroom and glutinous rice nurungji pork gukbap suyuk set.

Where is the restaurant, and what are the hours and parking like?

The restaurant is at 52 Jangsin-ro 20beonan-gil in the Suwan District food alley. The hours I noted during my visit were 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 a.m. the next day from Monday to Saturday. It was listed as closing at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday and opening at 7:00 a.m. on Monday.

This was a place where I could park in a nearby alley. I returned partly because I remembered that I could come here for gukbap early in the morning or late at night.

What was the restaurant like after lunch?

I arrived at an in-between time after lunch, but the restaurant was still almost full.

The restaurant was spacious and clean. It had a quiet, settled atmosphere, and as on my previous visit, I found it comfortable.

What gukbap options are available, and how much is the suyuk set surcharge?

There were many choices, including spicy sundae soup with bracken, clear sundae soup, sanghwang mushroom master sundae soup, assorted offal gukbap, and glutinous rice nurungji pork gukbap. There were options beyond sundae gukbap, so I could choose according to my preference.

I could turn any gukbap into a suyuk set, with suyuk (boiled pork slices) served alongside, by adding ₩3,800. It suited me well: ordering a large side dish separately felt like too much, but I still wanted some meat with my soup.

This time I wanted something other than sundae, so I chose the spicy fern and assorted offal gukbap suyuk set and the sanghwang mushroom spicy fern glutinous rice nurungji pork gukbap suyuk set. I was especially curious about the pork gukbap with both sanghwang mushroom and glutinous rice nurungji.

What side dishes were available at the self-service bar?

The self-service bar was in the middle of the dining room. It was spacious and was being kept clean when I visited.

There were kkakdugi, kimchi, and musaengchae (seasoned shredded radish), along with chives, onions, and chili peppers. Leafy vegetables for wrapping the suyuk and somyeon (thin wheat noodles) to add to the gukbap were also available.

I could also take as much tableware as I needed.

The kitchen was open, so I could watch the cooking. I was told that they make suyuk and sundae with freshly boiled pork four times a day, and I could see the meat being sliced to order right in front of me.

How much suyuk came with the set, and what was included?

Once I added the side dishes from the self-service bar to the basic banchan, the table was full. The suyuk came first, with two servings arranged on one plate, and again the portion felt generous.

Tender lean meat and chewy head meat came with liver and lungs as well. I could enjoy several textures on one plate, and the pieces with chewy parts were especially good while hot.

How did the spicy offal gukbap compare with the sanghwang mushroom pork gukbap?

The two bowls of gukbap arrived after the suyuk. The spicy fern and assorted offal gukbap was placed in front of me, while the sanghwang mushroom spicy fern glutinous rice nurungji pork gukbap was across the table.

How spicy was the fern and assorted offal gukbap?

There was also a clear version with the same ingredients, but that day I wanted a peppery broth, so I chose the spicy one. It was full of the bracken I like, with a generous amount of offal. The broth had an immediate spicy kick, and the heat came through more clearly than in the pork gukbap with sanghwang mushroom.

What did the pork gukbap with sanghwang mushroom and glutinous rice nurungji taste like?

This gukbap contained sanghwang mushroom, bracken, glutinous rice nurungji, and pork. The broth had a gentle herbal-medicine aroma that reminded me of samgyetang. To me, a slightly sweet, deep flavor came first, followed by mild heat. I particularly liked this broth that day and kept spooning it up.

The glutinous rice nurungji was already in the soup from the beginning, and steamed rice was not served separately. Its pleasantly chewy texture was different from mixing steamed rice into the soup.

Wrapping the suyuk in leafy greens while eating the gukbap made this a filling meal. After the suyuk set with sundae gukbap last time, I was satisfied with this choice too. I felt comfortable coming here alone for gukbap, and next time I want to have the memorable sanghwang mushroom broth again.