Balsan Station Korean restaurant with mini Stella draft: Gungmin

Where is Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch near Balsan Station?

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch (국민낙곱새 강서점) is on the first floor of the Dong-A Building at 330 Gangseo-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Balsan Station Exit 6. It sits right on the main road, so it is easy to find even on a first visit.

I was looking for a filling meal near Balsan Station. I was craving octopus, shrimp and intestines in one spicy sauce, and that led me to Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch.

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch menu and prices

This time I had the hanwoo daechang nakgopsae (₩32,900), which comes with octopus, hanwoo beef intestine and shrimp. Here are the signature dishes at Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch.

• Hanwoo daechang nakgopsae (octopus + hanwoo beef intestine + shrimp)
• Beef gopchang nakgopsae (octopus + beef small intestine + shrimp)
• Nakusae (octopus + beef small intestine + shrimp)
• Naksamsae (octopus + pork belly + shrimp)
• Soupy chicken feet set (chicken feet + flying fish roe mayo rice balls + steamed egg)

At a glance, the octopus was plump and the hanwoo daechang was thick and chunky. With the shrimp on top, the pot looked completely packed. Every ingredient was big, so it looked quite generous just sitting there. The sauce is spread on the bottom, and after about 5 minutes of boiling at your table it starts soaking in between the ingredients.

What side dishes come with the nakgopsae?

The side dishes at Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch are seaweed soup, pickled radish, mayonnaise and white kimchi. The one I kept reaching for was the white kimchi! It has two apple slices in it, and eating it after a bite of nakgopsae instantly refreshes your mouth.

How to cook nakgopsae for the best flavor

• ❶ Stir evenly so the glass noodles don't burn
• ❷ When the onions turn translucent and the rice cakes are cooked, turn the induction down to 5 and boil 2–3 more minutes
• ❸ Lower it to 2 and eat it on keep-warm

At this point, it's best to go for the glass noodles first. They soak up the broth and swell quickly, so you want to slurp them while they're still springy. I wanted plenty to eat, so I added glass noodles (₩2,000), and I'm glad I did.

How spicy is Gungmin Nakgopsae?

The hanwoo daechang nakgopsae is about Shin Ramyun level spicy! There was no spice setting on the tablet, but they said they can make it milder if you ask. Once it starts boiling, the sauce reduces down until it's thick and a little brothy.

As I ate, the broth had reduced a bit, so I asked for a refill. We topped up the broth and round two began!

The hanwoo daechang was nutty and chewy. The more I chewed, the more its rich fat melted into the sauce, making the broth feel deeper. The octopus wasn't tough and had a springy bite, and I loved the plump pop of the shrimp.

How small is the 150ml Stella draft beer?

At Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch I also ordered a Cass draft beer (500ml, ₩5,000) and a Stella draft beer (150ml, ₩2,900). Especially the Stella! The size is just so adorably tiny.

How tiny? Almost the size of a cola can. Next to a water cup it looked even smaller. It's gone in three or four sips, but that was honestly just right. It's good when you don't want to get too drunk and just want to wet your throat happily.

The first sip hits with a fizzy pop, followed by a bittersweet flavor. It goes down smoothly. The slight bitterness left at the end after you swallow pairs well with the rich nakgopsae sauce.

Atmosphere, restroom and parking at Gungmin Nakgopsae

Inside Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch there is a large high-definition screen that looks great for watching soccer or baseball games. On game days the mood must get pretty lively!

And what surprisingly stuck in my memory was the restroom. It's inside the restaurant with separate men's and women's rooms, and it was quite clean for a restaurant restroom.

The parking lot is behind the building. It's fairly spacious, so you shouldn't have to circle around looking for a spot if you come by car. If it's full, double-park and leave your phone number.

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch opening hours and perks

• Daily 11:00–23:00 (closes at 22:00 on the last Monday of each month)
• High oil price relief subsidy accepted
• Free steamed egg coupon when booking via Naver

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch was a good option near Balsan Station when you want a spicy, filling meal. It's fun to eat octopus, shrimp and intestines all at once, and with the glass noodles added, two adults ate quite fully even without fried rice.

Add a steamed egg with the Naver booking coupon and the meal gets even better. It's a perk too good to pass up, so I recommend grabbing it before you visit.