Quiet dinner spot in a Myeongdong alley for pork gomtang: Baekok

Today I'm writing up a review of Baekok Myeongdong, a place worth recommending for gomtang (pork bone soup) near Myeongdong Station.

Myeongdong is packed and busy even in the evening, but Baekok Myeongdong sits in an alley just off the main street, so it was relatively calm. I visited in the evening and it was an easy, comfortable meal — the menu itself isn't heavy, so it would also work well as a Myeongdong lunch spot.

Location and atmosphere of Baekok Myeongdong

Baekok Myeongdong is located inside an alley off Myeongdong-gil. It feels a bit hidden in the alley, so first-time visitors might have a little trouble finding it.

But being a bit removed from the bustling center of Myeongdong actually made it easier to eat comfortably.

The interior is clean, and the atmosphere felt comfortable for eating alone. When I visited in the evening, quite a few foreign tourists were also there. It seemed to be a fairly well-known spot among tourists looking for Korean food in Myeongdong.

Store info

• Name: Baekok Myeongdong
• Address: 1F, 8-23 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
• Hours: 11:00–22:00

Hours can change, so I'd recommend double-checking the latest hours on Naver Map before you visit.

What's on the menu and how much

What I ordered was the medium-size pork gomtang and cabbage dumplings.

• Pork gomtang (medium): ₩11,000
• Cabbage dumplings 4pc: ₩8,000

It was filling enough for dinner without being too heavy. Given that it's gomtang, it also seems like a decent option if you're looking for lunch near Euljiro or lunch in Myeongdong.

How was the clear pork gomtang?

Gomtang comes with kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) as a basic side. It's not too sour and pairs perfectly with the soup.

Baekok's pork gomtang isn't the milky, rich style — it's characterized by a clear broth. One spoonful in, the seasoning wasn't strong at all, so it went down easily without feeling heavy.

It's not just the broth that's good — the meat and rice inside come together well as a whole. The meat pairs nicely with the broth, and eating it together with the rice made for a hearty bowl. This is the kind of clean, mild broth you'll crave over something more intense.

Cabbage dumplings wrapped in cabbage, paired with the gomtang

Personally, I was surprised by the cabbage dumplings. The look of them was quite unusual from the first glance. Instead of a regular dumpling wrapper, kimchi dumpling filling is wrapped in cabbage — I'd never eaten dumplings like this before.

I thought it might just be a visually unusual dish, but it was genuinely delicious. Since the pork gomtang is mild and clean, it paired especially well with the kimchi flavor of the cabbage dumplings.

A spoonful of gomtang followed by a bite of cabbage dumpling hit the seasoning balance just right, each filling in what the other lacked. If you visit Baekok near Myeongdong Station, I'd recommend not just ordering the gomtang alone, but pairing it with the cabbage dumplings.

At a glance

• Name: Baekok Myeongdong
• Location: 1F, 8-23 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
• Order: Pork gomtang (medium) ₩11,000 / Cabbage dumplings ₩8,000
• Atmosphere: Clean and relatively calm
• Recommended for: Those looking for mild Korean food or a solo meal in Myeongdong
• Would I return: Yes. I'd order the cabbage dumplings alongside the gomtang again next time.

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for a clean, clear soup among Myeongdong's Korean restaurants
• Anyone looking for a light meal for lunch near Euljiro or lunch in Myeongdong
• Anyone who wants to try a dumpling a bit different from usual

Overall thoughts

I visited in the evening, and it was nice to be able to eat a relatively calm meal in the middle of busy Myeongdong. The clear pork gomtang was clean and mild all the way through — broth, meat, and rice — and it wasn't heavy for dinner. Given the nature of the menu, it's also quick and filling, so it would suit a Myeongdong lunch visit well.

Above all, the dish that stuck with me was the cabbage dumplings. The mild pork gomtang and the kimchi-flavored cabbage dumplings matched far better than I expected, and I think I'll order both together again next time.

Clean Myeongdong gomtang plus unique cabbage dumplings — a place that works just as well for a light lunch as it does for dinner.