Yeongdeungpo ssambap restaurant after a CGV movie: Gangmun

Where to eat Korean food after a movie at Times Square CGV in Yeongdeungpo

On the weekend, after watching the movie I'd been looking forward to, 'The Odyssey', at the Times Square CGV in Yeongdeungpo, I came out hungry and craving a hearty Korean meal. Wanting something easy on the stomach and neat, I looked around and found Gangmun Times Square Branch, a Times Square restaurant known for its tidy presentation.

Here's my honest record of a visit that was great for filling up after a movie.

Gangmun Times Square Branch Address: 15 Yeongjung-ro, B1 B148, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 21:00)

Inside Gangmun Times Square Branch: seating and atmosphere

Heading toward the restaurant floor, this Times Square Yeongdeungpo eatery greeted me with soft indirect lighting and warm beige wood tones that felt cozy. The tables had generous spacing, with comfortable sofa seating and 4-person tables — plenty roomy enough for a movie date or a family gathering.

Sitting down and looking over the menu, there was a solid, varied lineup of Korean dishes ranging from single-item meals to hearty full-course sets.

What comes in the 38,000-won soybean paste and boiled pork set for two

We ordered the restaurant's signature dish, the 'ureong gangdoenjang pork jowl boiled meat set' (₩38,000 for two).

• Ureong gangdoenjang
• Seasonal ssambap
• Vegetable bibimbap
• Boiled meat
• Spicy mixed noodles
• Beef radish soup

After ordering, individual place settings and neatly arranged side dishes were set out on the table one by one. The basic banchan included chewy, sweet-and-spicy dried radish strips, along with pungent garlic, cheongyang chili peppers, and a special dipping sauce for the boiled meat, all served in clean white porcelain dishes.

There was also a generous serving of moist, boiled napa cabbage to wrap around the meat and cut through the fattiness — you could feel the care put into the spread.

On the hot plate sat the savory ureong gangdoenjang and eight round kale ssambap, with glossy pork jowl boiled meat arranged neatly beside them.

How did the pork jowl boiled pork and river snail soybean paste taste?

With crunchy vegetables and spicy-tangy mixed noodles all coming together, it was a feast for the eyes even before I picked up my chopsticks. The first thing I tried, the pork jowl boiled meat, had a perfect ratio of lean meat to fat — no gamey smell, just savory juices and tender texture filling my mouth.

Gangmun's standout signature ureong gangdoenjang had a deep, savory flavor rather than an overpowering saltiness, and the chewy river snails were generously packed in.

The round kale ssambap was bite-sized and easy to pair with the boiled meat.

Mixing the vegetable bibimbap with the thick soybean paste

After enjoying the boiled meat and ssambap for a while, I also tried the vegetable bibimbap. It came with fluffy rice topped generously with crisp julienned fresh vegetables and savory seaweed flakes. Adding a few generous spoonfuls of the ureong gangdoenjang from the shallow hot stone bowl and mixing it all together, the savory soybean paste aroma blended with the fresh crunch of vegetables — easily one of the best bites of the meal.

The tangy-spicy seasoning refreshed my palate between bites of boiled meat, and I could keep eating without ever feeling greasy, right to the end.

Is Gangmun Times Square Branch good value for two people?

For ₩38,000 for two, Gangmun's signature set let us enjoy pork jowl boiled meat, ssambap, mixed noodles, bibimbap, and soup almost like a full course — both good value and well executed. The flavors weren't overpowering, letting the natural taste of healthy ingredients shine through, so I felt full but comfortable even after finishing.

This was a great place to stop by when craving a hearty Korean meal after watching a movie at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo. Rather than just boiled meat on its own, being able to try the ureong gangdoenjang, ssambap, bibimbap, and mixed noodles all together made it a satisfying meal for two. Next time I'm at Times Square craving Korean food, I'd love to come back here.