Itaewon 24-hour hangover soup restaurant with kids' galbitang: Nuri

Itaewon has everything from cuisines around the world to trendy hotspots, but some days you crave a hot bowl of soup more than anything bold or spicy. This time I wanted a hearty meal, so I went to Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch!

As a proper gamjatang (pork bone stew) specialist, the portions were generous and the broth was rich — the hangover soup and galbitang were satisfying too, and my kid ate well. Let me introduce this Itaewon spot.

Where is Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch, and when is it open?

Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch is on the 2nd floor at 176 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, right in front of Itaewon Station Exit 4. It's open 24 hours, every day of the year.

• 📍Location: 2nd floor, 176 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul / right in front of Itaewon Station Exit 4
• ⏰Hours: Open 24 hours, every day
• 🚘Parking: No parking, no parking support · nearby private paid lot recommended
• 📌No pets allowed
• 📌Group dining available
• 📌Takeout available
• 📌High oil price relief vouchers accepted

A 24-hour hangover soup restaurant right by Itaewon Station

Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch is super easy to walk to. It's like 20 steps from Itaewon Station Exit 4, haha. It's also close to Itaewon's main street, so it's great for a meal after shopping or a date, or for a late-night bite when you're hungry.

Best of all, since it's open 24 hours, you can eat whenever you want! I thought it'd be perfect not just for lunch, but for late dinners or an early-morning hangover fix too.

Parking is a bit tough in Itaewon in general, but there's a private paid lot right behind Nuri Maeul Gamjatang, which was convenient. I remember it being about ₩6,000 an hour.

Inside Nuri Maeul Gamjatang: solo meals to group dinners

When I walked into Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch, I was surprised by how spacious it was inside. And since it had opened not long ago, it was really clean and tidy.

The tables were spaced generously so it never felt cramped, and I saw all kinds of guests — solo diners, families, groups of friends.

Overall everything was well kept and clean, and the staff were friendly, so the whole meal felt comfortable.

There's a self-bar with kimchi, pickled onions, garlic, sauces and more, so it was easy to grab extra side dishes whenever we ran low.

Why kimchi matters most at a gamjatang restaurant

It's fine if the gamjatang itself isn't amazing, but I won't go back to a place with bad kimchi, haha — that's how important kimchi is to me. The diced radish kimchi (kkakdugi) was crisp, refreshing and clean-tasting. The napa kimchi had just a touch of spicy kick too, and it was so good. The fermentation level was perfect — an art form!

Nuri Bone Hangover Soup: a rich, deep broth

The first thing I tried was the Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch's Nuri Bone Hangover Soup. It came out bubbling in a stone pot, and just looking at it warmed me up.

One spoonful of the broth and the deep, rich flavor hit right away. It had that signature gamjatang intensity without being overly salty or harsh, so I kept going back for more, haha.

There were three big chunks of bone with plenty of meat still attached. It was boiled so soft that the meat came off gently at just a touch of chopsticks, and it wasn't dry at all — juicy enough that the meat alone was delicious on its own.

No gamey smell at all, just savory, tender meat with a deep meaty aroma — totally satisfying! The napa cabbage (ugeoji) was also generous, soaked in the broth, getting more savory the more you chewed.

Eating it with rice made it so filling. The kkakdugi was so well fermented — ugh — it went perfectly with the rice and the broth. A per.fect.match ✨🫶🏻

Bone Ramyeon Hangover Soup: better than expected

My husband ordered the Bone Ramyeon Hangover Soup with instant noodles added in. Wow, this was really, really good, haha.

The ramyeon noodles soaked up the rich gamjatang broth, giving them a completely different level of flavor from regular ramyeon. If you're a ramyeon lover, this is a dish you have to try. Chewy yet soft noodles combined with the deeply savory gamjatang broth!

Special Galbitang: a beef rib soup my child loved

This is the Special Galbitang I ordered for my kid at Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch. It's a clear broth, but from the first spoonful you can taste the deep, meaty flavor of a long-simmered stock — clean yet rich.

The short ribs were really big chunks, and the meat was so tender it slid off the bone effortlessly, haha. No gamey smell at all, and there was plenty of glass noodles too, so my kid ate really well, haha.

Mixing rice into the broth felt like a proper boyangsik (nourishing meal) for this scorching summer, haha.

Mandu (dumplings) on the side: also satisfying

The mandu (dumplings) we ordered as a side came out steaming hot. The thin dumpling skin was packed full with pork and vegetables — really substantial.

The wrapper wasn't too thick, so it kept a nice chewy texture, and the filling felt moist yet full, so even one dumpling was quite satisfying.

It was hearty on its own, and it also paired really well with the warm broth. :)

Itaewon has all kinds of restaurants, but Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch is open 24 hours, so there's no pressure about when to visit, and the vibe worked for solo diners, friend gatherings and family meals alike. If you're looking for a good hangover soup or gamjatang place in Itaewon, give it a try! Next time I'd love to try the bone jjim (steamed bones) and the soybean cream gamjatang.