Dongtan kalguksu with hand-cut noodles and clam broth: Yubok Haemul

Today I'm bringing you an honest review of Yubok Haemul Kalguksu Dongtan Direct Branch, a hearty, soul-warming spot near Dongtan Central Park 🍲✨

Homemade noodles, a broth loaded with clams, and a perilla pancake with insanely good crispiness — this place had it all.

Where is Yubok Haemul Kalguksu in Dongtan, and is there parking?

Yubok Haemul Kalguksu Dongtan Direct Branch is near Dongtan Central Park and Gaenari Park. It's open daily from 11:00 to 21:00 (last order 20:30), closed every Tuesday.

There's parking for 3-4 cars right in front of the restaurant!

The interior is mostly set up with 4-person tables, clean and comfortable — great for a proper meal!

Ordering is easy through the table kiosk. I noticed you also get a free drink or a pack of broth for leaving a review!

Menu and the 32,000-won set: kalguksu for two plus perilla leaf pancake

The menu at Yubok Haemul Kalguksu Dongtan Direct Branch includes seafood kalguksu, shabu-shabu kalguksu, grilled webfoot octopus stir-fry, octopus and seafood chive pancake, perilla leaf pancake, and king meat dumplings, among other things!

Above the kiosk there were friendly instructions on how to enjoy the kalguksu and the octopus stir-fry best, which was nice to read while waiting for food. We ordered the great-value set menu (kalguksu for two + perilla pancake / ₩32,000)!

Barley rice before the meal and the self-bar at Yubok Haemul

After ordering, kimchi and radish salad come out as basics along with barley rice to start!

Mixing the barley rice with the crunchy radish salad and seasoned sauce really got my appetite going 🤤

There's a well-stocked self-bar on one side of the restaurant, so if you run low on the tasty radish salad or fresh kimchi, you can help yourself to as much as you want!

How crispy is the perilla leaf pancake in the set?

While waiting for the kalguksu, the perilla leaf pancake included in the set came out first!

It came out fried incredibly thin and crispy, and the moment I dipped it in soy sauce and took a bite, the perilla aroma and the savory crunch were seriously unreal... 😭

We were so busy marveling at it that it disappeared in a flash, even before the kalguksu was ready hahaha. If you love perilla leaves, you'll love this even more!!

Clam-packed seafood broth and hand-cut noodles at Yubok Haemul

While we were enjoying the perilla pancake, the seafood broth arrived, really loaded with clams! There were so many clams that the broth couldn't help but taste refreshing!

Once the broth started boiling hard, the staff added the noodles and seafood together!

You just wait until the hourglass on the table runs out once haha.

Once it was fully boiled, I tried the broth first — and instead of a strong MSG-heavy taste, it was mild, not harsh at all, and had a clean, healthy, refreshing flavor!

What I liked most was the noodles! Being homemade, they were really chewy and springy~

Overall the kalguksu portion was super generous, so the two of us left completely stuffed and satisfied!

Is the Dongtan kalguksu set for two worth it?

With an affordably priced set, we got to enjoy a full course from the crispy, savory perilla pancake to the refreshing, chewy homemade-noodle seafood kalguksu. The portions were generous and the restaurant was clean, making it a solid choice for eating out or a lunch/dinner spot. If you're looking for a refreshing, clean kalguksu place in Dongtan that really hits the spot, be sure to visit Yubok Haemul Kalguksu Dongtan Direct Branch!