Incheon Guwol-dong Korean restaurant: Hantiok side vs set bossam

There's a spot in Lotte Department Store Incheon that used to host all kinds of short-term pop-ups. It kept doing quick pop-ups for a while, then that space disappeared and construction started — I wondered what was coming, and it turned out to be a clean, tidy Korean restaurant!?

Where is Hantiok in Lotte Department Store Incheon?

Hantiok Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is at 35 Yeonnam-ro, basement floor 1 of Lotte Department Store Incheon, in Michuhol-gu, Incheon. It's easy to find! Go in through the entrance facing Incheon Terminal side, go down one flight of stairs, and it's right there — where the old Youngpoong Bookstore used to be, right in front of Uniqlo now.

I just casually glanced around, but seeing the food displayed like this really caught my eye. And true to that, while we were eating, people kept! coming in nonstop.

Hantiok menu and prices

Hantiok's main menu is split into sets (bansang) and single dishes (danpum).

• Bossam set ₩22,000
• Andong gukbap set ₩22,000 / single ₩14,000
• Hanwoo seolleongtang set ₩21,000 / single ₩15,000
• Hanwoo gomtang set ₩21,000 / single ₩15,000
• Makguksu set ₩20,000 / single ₩14,000
• Yeolmu guksu set ₩18,000 / single ₩12,000
• Andong guksu set ₩21,000 / single ₩15,000
• Gondre bibimbap set ₩20,000 / single ₩14,000

Side orders are bossam ₩15,000, jeyuk (stir-fried pork) ₩6,000, tofu ₩6,000, dumplings 3 pieces ₩6,000 / 6 pieces ₩11,000, and a bowl of rice ₩1,000. Drinks are Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, and cider at ₩3,000.

There were two of us, and we ordered the makguksu set, a single Andong guksu, a side-order bossam, and a cider.

Seating and how the Hantiok table is set

There are 4 seats inside Hantiok itself, and plenty of shared seating right next door too.

All the food came out at once. On the left is the single guksu with the side-order bossam, and on the right is the makguksu set (cold broth).

Here's what the single dish looks like!

What does the single serving of Andong guksu taste like?

Hantiok's Andong guksu single dish is ₩15,000, topped with meat, green onion, and zucchini. I'd never had Andong guksu before so I was curious — visually it looked like a mix between regular noodles and kalguksu (hand-cut noodles).

The side dishes with the guksu are kimchi, gungchae (mountain vegetable), and perilla leaves. Isn't it kind of amazing that perilla leaves come out with this? Maybe because perilla itself is so tasty, but eating them together was surprisingly a great match.

Don't think of the noodles as regular noodles — they're closer to kalguksu.

The broth is also closer to kalguksu than to a clear noodle soup. Overall, just think of it as kalguksu — a flavor that should please almost everyone!

Side bossam at 15,000 won vs the bossam in the set meal

The side-order bossam is ₩15,000, with about 10 pieces of meat on it. This is the side-order bossam.

Next up, the makguksu set!

On the left is the side-order bossam and on the right is the bossam from the set — the side-order bossam has more, but!? Considering the price, the set meal seems like better value haha

What comes with the makguksu set in cold broth

Hantiok's makguksu set is ₩20,000, and you can choose between mixed (bibim) or cold broth (mul) — we chose cold broth.

Tofu and dumplings are also included in the set!

The set's side dishes are salted seafood (looked like squid or octopus), kimchi, gungchae, and various sauces.

They also give you mustard and vinegar-chili sauce to add to the makguksu to taste. We just ate it plain :-)

I've almost always had the mixed version of makguksu, so ordering the cold broth version after a really long time made it look super appetizing.

The makguksu was so refreshingly cold — I was so glad I chose the cold broth version!!

You've got to eat it with the kimchi and cucumber for the full flavor. Even without adding the mustard or vinegar-chili sauce, it was tangy and sweet, and not spicy at all.

And finally, the bossam! This was my favorite of everything we had. The meat was tender and the kimchi was slightly sweet with a nice crunch — honestly this place could just be a bossam specialty restaurant ,, (˘͈ᵕ ˘͈ *)

Who is Hantiok best for?

Personally, the bossam was so good I wish there was a menu with even more of it, but since there are set meals to pair with other dishes, the value overall isn't bad!

Since it's attached to a department store, it's a good spot to come with older family members or with kids for a clean, easy meal :-)

Hantiok Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is open daily from 10:30 to 20:00.