Blue Ribbon gomtang restaurant in Hyangdong, Goyang: Doonjeong

What kind of Korean restaurant is Doonjeong in Hyangdong, Goyang?

Doonjeong is a Korean beef gomtang (beef bone soup)-focused restaurant on the first floor of a corner building behind the Hyangdong Daiso, at 130 Kkonnaeum 1-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Centered on clear Korean beef gomtang, it also serves Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap, boiled meat, pancakes, and Korean beef hot pot, and has reportedly been selected as a Blue Ribbon restaurant two years running, in 2025 and 2026.

When you're looking for a hearty meal in Hyangdong, Goyang, you end up choosing among a bunch of restaurants with pretty similar menus. This time I'm introducing Doonjeong, a place built around clear Korean beef gomtang with a wide range of Korean dishes on the side.

Located in Hyangdong, which is also close to Sangam DMC, it's fairly accessible, and the neatly arranged space looked good for family meals, dining with parents, or catching up with friends. What stood out most in reviews from visitors with kids was the separate baby-rice service, which should catch the eye of families in particular.

Where is Doonjeong and where do you park? Hyangdong Public Parking Lot No. 1

This Hyangdong restaurant, Doonjeong, sits on the first floor of the corner building behind the Hyangdong Daiso, so it's not hard to find once you're in the area. If you're driving, though, it's worth checking the parking situation ahead of time.

Based on reviews, there's no dedicated lot in front of the restaurant; instead, you're guided to park at Hyangdong Public Parking Lot No. 1 and get parking support from there. It's within walking distance from the lot to the restaurant, so this seems to be the most convenient option for visitors arriving by car.

Inside Doonjeong: tables, atmosphere and baby chairs

Walking into Doonjeong, the first thing that catches your eye is the overall tidiness of the space.

There are about 10 tables, and even though it's a Korean restaurant, it's decorated in a way that feels clean and calm rather than heavy or dated.

It's a good spot for a proper lunch, and in the evening it also works well as a place to pair boiled meat or hot pot with a drink.

Reviews mention plenty of family visits, and indeed, baby chairs are set up so kids can sit at the table too.

When eating out with young kids, having a menu the child can actually eat matters as much as the food itself — and this place stands out for offering a baby-rice service.

What's on the menu at Doonjeong

Doonjeong's core menu is Korean beef gomtang. It comes in clear and spicy versions, and the clear gomtang can further be ordered in regular, extra (teuk), tendon (suji), or brisket (chadol) portions.

Beyond gomtang, there's Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap, boiled meat, and Korean beef hot pot as full meals and dishes. The pancake lineup is also varied, with meat and chive pancake, meat and kimchi pancake, and shrimp minari pancake to choose from.

If you're visiting with a group, rather than everyone ordering their own gomtang, it seems like a good idea to add a pancake or boiled meat dish to share.

There's also a lineup of Korean traditional liquors — distilled soju, cheongju, and yakju — so it's a good setup for anyone who wants to pair a light drink with dinner.

Extra-size clear beef gomtang and tendon gomtang: how does the broth taste?

I ordered the extra-size clear Korean beef gomtang, the clear Korean beef gomtang with tendon, and the shrimp minari pancake. The clear Korean beef gomtang is the dish that comes up again and again in reviews. You'd normally picture a milky broth when you think of gomtang, but true to its name, Doonjeong's broth is quite clear.

It looks closer to a clear galbitang (short rib soup), but once you taste the broth, you notice the deep, distinctive flavor of Korean beef beneath the clear appearance.

The seasoning is on the milder side, which should suit people who prefer clean, mellow broth over something more intense.

You can adjust the seasoning yourself with the salt and pepper on the table if needed. I liked that the broth had little gamey smell or greasiness, so it went down cleanly.

It especially struck me as a great dish for a day after drinking, or on a chilly day when you're craving something warm.

Toremsik rice, warmed through with hot broth

Another notable part of Doonjeong's gomtang is the rice. Unlike typical gomtang where rice is served separately, here it comes toremsik-style — already sitting in the broth — which made it very soft.

It was so good I finished the whole bowl in no time.

Being able to scoop up broth-soaked rice together with tender Korean beef made the meal go by naturally, spoonful after spoonful.

Extra size vs tendon: how the cuts differ

The extra (teuk) portion had noticeably more meat than the regular one, with plenty of tender cuts like brisket and chadol.

The tendon gomtang had a mix of tendon and shank, giving it a wider range of textures. If you're a meat lover, it's worth choosing extra, tendon, or brisket over the regular option depending on your taste.

Adding the shrimp minari jeon (pancake)

The shrimp minari pancake I ordered arrived.

The golden-fried pancake was packed with fragrant minari (water dropwort) and plump shrimp, which paired well with the mild gomtang.

If you're dining with others, it'd be nice to pick one pancake to share depending on preference.

The shrimp were plump and generous, giving a really satisfying bite. Dipping it in the soy sauce provided also brought out even more savory depth.

Side dishes at Doonjeong: napa cabbage kimchi and kkakdugi

Ordering gomtang at Doonjeong comes with napa cabbage kimchi and diced radish kimchi (kkakdugi) as standard side dishes. Both have a clean flavor that pairs well with the soup.

Pairing the crunchy kkakdugi with the clear, mild gomtang balances the broth's simplicity with the kimchi's savory kick, refreshing your palate between bites. There's also praise for how neatly the dishes and side dishes are presented, so it's worth noting for anyone who cares about plating and tableware as much as the food itself.

Who Doonjeong suits best

Doonjeong is best summed up as a restaurant for anyone who wants a proper Korean meal with warm broth, rather than anything flashy or intense.

• Looking for a clean Korean restaurant in Hyangdong
• Enjoy clear, mild Korean beef gomtang
• Families looking for a place to eat with kids
• Need a comfortable spot to dine with parents
• Want to pair gomtang with a pancake or boiled meat
• Want to enjoy hot pot or pancakes with a light drink in the evening

Final thoughts on Doonjeong

This Hyangdong restaurant, Doonjeong, is a place where you can enjoy a wide range of Korean dishes centered on clear Korean beef gomtang. Despite the clear broth, it carries a deep flavor, and with toremsik-style rice and a generous amount of meat, it makes for a filling meal on its own.

Adding a pancake like meat kimchi pancake or shrimp minari pancake on the side makes the meal a bit more filling and varied.

Above all, the fact that they provide baby rice and baby chairs when visiting with a child is worth noting for anyone planning a family meal.

If you're looking for a Korean restaurant in Hyangdong where you can enjoy a mild bowl of gomtang along with pancakes and boiled meat, Doonjeong is worth adding to your list.

Doonjeong's calm, upscale atmosphere made it a Hyangdong restaurant worth taking guests to, or gathering the family for a meal.