Namdong Korean restaurant with clear sundae soup: Gukdam

I usually love sundae soup (Korean sausage soup), and I had been curious about this place because its broth is clear rather than the usual style. The restaurant was more spacious and tidier than I expected, so it felt like a good spot for a family meal too. I’ll show you everything in order, from the exterior and interior to the menu and, most importantly, the sundae soup :)

A tidy first impression at Gukdam Sundaeguk

Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch is within walking distance of Ganseokogeori Station.

With its dark awning and full-height glass windows, the exterior looked clean even from a distance! Rather than the old-fashioned gukbap restaurant atmosphere I had imagined, it felt a little more modern, so I liked the first impression.

There was also a banner by the entrance for the new gopchang jeongol (spicy beef tripe hot pot). They serve gopchang jeongol as well as sundae soup, so I want to try something else next time.

A spacious restaurant for a family meal

Once we went inside, the restaurant was quite a bit larger than I had expected.

There was plenty of room between the central tables, window seats, and tables farther inside, so it looked suitable for a family meal or a visit with a larger group.

Near the entrance was the counter, neatly organized without any clutter.

Tables ran all along the windows, and the big windows made the space look even larger. There were more wall-side seats farther in too. With that inner area as well, there were more seats than I had expected. It felt so big because it was hard to fit the whole space into one photo.

Overall, it felt like the restaurant was very well maintained, so the first impression was a good one.

There was also a separate SELF SERVICE corner on one side. Bowls and other necessities were organized in one place, and the space flowed naturally into the kitchen area, making the overall layout look tidy.

A large menu was posted on the wall, making it easy to check the dishes and prices before ordering.

Signature sundae soup ₩10,000, special sundae soup ₩12,000; sundae ₩8,000 / suyuk ₩20,000

Gopchang jeongol was available in medium and large sizes, and I could see extras such as noodles and fried rice too. The menu was not overly complicated, so it was easy to look through.

Easy tablet ordering

Each table had an ordering tablet, so we could order right from our seats.

It was easy to order because the menu photos and prices were visible at once. Paper cups, perilla powder, salt, and pepper were also neatly arranged to one side.

There was a water pitcher and napkins on the table, and they even had hair ties set out beside us. It may seem like a small thing, but it felt like they had thoughtfully kept what diners might need close to the table, and I liked that detail.

The sundae soup was ₩10,000 including a bowl of rice, so we ordered four for a total of ₩40,000.

Side dishes, including seasoned pork skin

A little after ordering, the side dishes arrived first. There were kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), kimchi, chili peppers, garlic, seasoned chives, and dipping sauce, all arranged nicely to eat with the sundae soup.

One slightly unusual side dish was seasoned pork skin! It was coated in a red seasoning and topped with sesame seeds, which felt a little different for a standard side dish at a sundae soup restaurant.

They were quite a varied spread of side dishes when set out together, right? 😳 Looking at the photo, I realized that even though we were just having bowls of gukbap, there were more kinds of sides than I expected, making the table look extra abundant.

Clear sundae soup with generous meat and sausage

The sundae soup we had been waiting for arrived! The first thing that caught my eye was, of course, the clear broth. When I think of sundae soup, I normally picture a milky-white broth, but this one was clear and clean-tasting in style, so it felt a little different from the first look. It was topped generously with green onions too, giving it an overall clean appearance.

When I stirred the broth with my spoon, there was quite a lot of meat and sundae inside. Even though we ordered the regular sundae soup, it had big pieces of meat and sundae, so the filling was more generous than expected. At first I thought the clear broth might be on the lighter side, but once I tried it, the broth was tasty, and the meat and sausage made it satisfying.

Once everyone in the family had their sundae soup, our dinner table was truly complete 💛

Adding dadaegi (spicy seasoning paste) made the broth a little darker, while chives or chili peppers let us adjust the flavor to our own tastes.

Personally, I thought it tasted better to try the clear broth as it was first, then add a little dadaegi and chives midway through. Everyone in my family added seasonings to their own taste, and we all finished a bowl neatly :)

A clean, satisfying meal with family

As we were leaving after our meal, I noticed lots of individually wrapped candies by the counter. From the exterior and dining room to the tables and self-service corner, everything was kept tidy, so we ate comfortably without any inconvenience.

Our weekday family dinner at Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch! What I liked most was the unexpectedly spacious, tidy atmosphere and the clear-style sundae soup. The broth looked clear at first, which felt a little different, but the soup had generous amounts of meat and sundae and tasted good, so we had a filling meal together. The seasoned pork skin side dish was a little unusual too, and being able to order directly on the table tablet made the meal convenient.

If you are looking for a tidy gukbap restaurant in Ganseok-dong or somewhere comfortable to eat with family, Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch may be worth keeping in mind 💛