Yeoksam gomtang restaurant before the lunch rush: Geumnyeong Gomtang

A solo diner's go-to spot near Sinnonhyeon Station: Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch.

Let me tell you about a place near Sinnonhyeon Station that I recently ate at until I was completely stuffed, haha! I'd stopped by a hospital near the station and was looking for somewhere to grab lunch before heading off to run more errands on the subway, when a gukbap (soup-with-rice) place caught my eye and I walked in. I went in with zero expectations and walked out completely won over by the taste, the portions, and how kind the owner was.

Where is Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch? 88m from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 4

I'm not exaggerating — the moment I came out of Exit 4, it was just a few steps away. Being 88m from the subway station, the accessibility was amazing.

What Geumnyeong Gomtang feels like at 11am, before the lunch peak

I visited around 11am, before the lunchtime crowds hit. At this time the restaurant was quiet, so I sat down and settled in without any rush.

But once it hit 11:30am, office workers started pouring in one after another. Watching the place fill up so quickly, I could tell this is a genuinely trusted spot for the local office crowd.

There were plenty of group diners, but also people eating alone or in pairs like me — everyone seemed to feel completely at ease there.

Geumnyeong Gomtang menu and what was ordered that day

Here's the menu board at Geumnyeong Gomtang! I'm a dumpling lover, so the moment I saw "king dumplings" listed as a side, I ordered it right away.

For some reason my appetite went wild that day, so I ended up going a bit overboard with the order. I got the signature minari gomtang, plus pollock salad, plus kimchi dumplings.

Minari gomtang, 13,000 won

The moment I took a sip of the broth loaded with minari (water dropwort), that fragrant minari aroma just hit me — so good.

It had that deep, rich gomtang flavor, but the minari cut through it and kept it clean and refreshing. There was more meat than I expected too, and both the texture and taste were great.

Pollock salad (myeongtae hoe-muchim), 14,000 won

The pollock salad had this spicy-sweet seasoning that really woke up my appetite.

Wrapping it up neatly in the cabbage leaves that came with it, along with some ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) — pure heaven! Eating it together with the vegetables on the side made it nice and refreshing.

Kimchi dumplings, 6,000 won for 3

I'm not a fan of thick dumpling skins, but these were thin and just right! Handmade dumplings really are on another level.

And the filling was so generous..! The combo of minari gomtang, pollock salad, and dumplings was perfect together. By the time I was done eating I genuinely felt like I was about to burst, but it was so delicious I couldn't put my spoon down. In the end some pollock salad was left over, so I asked just in case, and the staff kindly packed it up for me to take home.

Unlimited banchan at the self-serve corner

Even the self-serve corner was perfect... Chili peppers, seasoned soybeans, perilla leaves in soybean paste, pickled chili — all these hearty little side dishes that go so well with the soup, and they're unlimited! Great location, great taste, and perfect service on top of it — how could I not be satisfied...!!

Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch: frequently asked questions

Is Geumnyeong Gomtang comfortable for eating alone?

If you go right when it opens at 11am or slightly avoid the peak hours, it's a really comfortable atmosphere for solo dining. There are plenty of tables for two, and I actually saw quite a few office workers eating by themselves.

Will the staff pack up leftovers to take home?

Yes, the owner and staff are genuinely kind. I had some pollock salad left over and asked them to pack it up, and they did it cheerfully and neatly — I brought it home and enjoyed it all over again.

What time should you arrive to avoid the lunch queue?

From around 11:30am, nearby office workers start pouring in in full force. That said, the restaurant is quite large so it doesn't fill up instantly — as long as you arrive before 12:30pm, you should be able to get a seat right away!

Final thoughts on Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch

Being right in front of Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 4 made the location super convenient, and the clean-tasting minari gomtang paired with the generous side dishes made this a completely satisfying meal. It's great for solo diners, but also has plenty of seats for coming with coworkers, so it never feels cramped. If I have any reason to be in this area again, I'm definitely coming back. If you're near Sinnonhyeon Station looking for a hearty, delicious gukbap or gomtang restaurant, this one's worth a visit!