Jongno 5-ga Korean restaurant with rosemary green tea gulbi: Gu Table

What kind of place is Gu Table Korean Restaurant?

Gu Table (구테이블 한정식) is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) restaurant tucked into an alley off Jongno 31-gil, near Jongno 5-ga Station. If you search for hanjeongsik around Jongno 5-ga, you'll probably see the famous places on the main road first, but this one only shows up once you walk into the alley. A real hidden gem.

Reservations and group bookings are possible, so it looked fine for a meal with parents or a gathering. The interior is very neat and pretty.

Insa-dong regulars who followed it all the way to Jongno

When I asked the owner, I learned that they ran a restaurant in Insa-dong for a long time. They had to move to the current spot because of a building issue, but their old regulars still come all the way to Jongno.

It hasn't been long since the move, and they say new regulars keep showing up too!!

What comes with the barley gulbi set at Gu Table?

The barley gulbi set (보리굴비정식, ₩40,000) is a full spread: barley-aged dried corvina (gulbi) with braised cutlassfish, bulgogi, seafood and seaweed soup. There are plenty of other dishes besides it, but today I ordered the signature one!

It isn't just a plate of gulbi dropped in front of you. Braised cutlassfish, bulgogi, seafood and seaweed soup fill out the whole table.

When I looked down to take a photo, I could barely find an empty space between the bowls! This is a meal where you mix a little of many side dishes rather than quickly finishing one main. Gu Table..♥

Bigger and chewier gulbi than elsewhere

The gulbi stood out from the very first look, because of its size. I've had gulbi at lots of restaurants, but here the flesh was thick and the bones weren't fiddly, so it was easy to pick off big pieces with chopsticks,

and I think small touches like that are what customers love. It was dried just right, so the flesh was chewy, with the deep salty umami that gulbi is known for,

and it brought back memories of the gulbi I ate at festive family tables as a kid.

How do you eat barley gulbi with rosemary green tea water?

Along with the gulbi, Gu Table serves green tea water with rosemary leaves in it. It isn't plain green tea; the rosemary makes the aroma fresher, and it felt like a signature touch.

Just dip the rice lightly in the fragrant green tea water and put a piece of gulbi on top. As the cool grains meet the chewy fish, the rich flavor of the gulbi stays while the saltiness gets mellowed out.

The gulbi grabbed my appetite, and the rosemary aroma lightly rinsed my mouth from behind. The scent is more distinct than ordinary green tea, so it may be hit or miss, but I think most people will like it >ㅁ<

Braised cutlassfish that calls for more rice than the main

The braised cutlassfish (galchi-jorim) served with the set was too present to dismiss as a side. The fish was plump, and the spicy seasoning had soaked deep into the big chunks of radish.

Especially when I cut the well-cooked radish onto my rice, the sauce seeped between the grains and I kept going back for more..

To experience it, you'll just have to visit Gu Table, right? Going from the gulbi to the spicy braised cutlassfish

completely changes the flow of flavors, so the table never gets boring. It's generous, too, so I think it would be great for a special day or with your parents.

Whole-eggplant bulgogi, conch and raw fish, and seaweed soup

The bulgogi in the set came topped with whole grilled eggplant,

and the soft eggplant soaked up the meat's seasoning and was so moist.. Eating it with the vegetable made the sweet and salty flavors of the bulgogi feel a lot gentler.

The conch and raw fish came with lemon and were refreshing, and the warm seaweed soup comfortably reset my mouth in between. Picking up conch and raw fish together gave chewy and soft textures at once, which I loved.. It's been a while since I felt such a strong hit of Jeolla-style flavor.

Jeolla-style kimchi that makes you think of beer

True to Jeolla style, Gu Table's kimchi is richly seasoned and quite clearly salted, which makes it good for a group dinner. It might be a bit strong if you like mild kimchi, but with white rice it's hard to go wrong, and it really makes you want a drink..

After a bite of gulbi and some kimchi, a cold glass of beer..

With so many well-seasoned side dishes, the drink tasted even sweeter at Gu Table.

Is the atmosphere at Gu Table right for a meal with parents?

Gu Table was quiet and refined, a good fit for a meal with parents. When I visited, the conversations at different tables didn't bleed into each other. It's a place where you can focus on the food and talk, and with the giraffe painting on one side and other unexpected details, it's unlike an ordinary franchise restaurant and I think I'll remember it for a long time ㅇㅁㅇ🦒

Gu Table menu and prices

This is the menu as it was presented.

• Barley gulbi set ₩40,000
• Handmade dumpling soup set with secret broth ₩14,000
• Aged kimchi stew set ₩15,000
• Mussel-packed seaweed soup set ₩12,000

There are so many dishes that I plan to visit again and try more. The owner is very kind and the food is good, too.

In the evening there is also a reservation-only omakase (chef's choice) menu, priced from ₩70,000 to ₩150,000. I heard celebrities come often, so it has good food and a high-end vibe.

Who should go to Gu Table?

The biggest strength of Gu Table in Jongno is a solid table that doesn't rely on the gulbi alone. The braised cutlassfish and eggplant bulgogi each have a clear role, so picking through everything stays fun to the end, and I think you'll enjoy a calm, upscale meal. Especially try that bite of chewy gulbi on rice dipped in rosemary green tea water, along with the Jeolla kimchi..

It's for people who care more about home-style cooking and quiet time than a flashy atmosphere,

and especially for anyone looking for a place to eat slowly with parents, for a family meeting of the two sides, or for a group dinner.