24-hour Korean restaurant in Gwangsan for takeout: Sinjuokmi

I heard there was a great sundae-guk spot in Gwangju's Suwan District that is open 24 hours and even has a Blue Ribbon, so I went to check it out! Since it is a place where you can enjoy a generous helping of sundae-guk along with suyuk (boiled pork), I arrived wondering just how good it could be. After trying it myself, I could see why it is famous as a Blue Ribbon restaurant haha.

I visited with high expectations because it is open a full 24 hours and has a Blue Ribbon! I also loved that I could have a filling meal even late at night. It is already such a well-known restaurant that my excitement was sky-high before I even walked in haha. It is especially the kind of place that sundae-guk lovers would have wanted to try at least once, so I made sure to properly try the dishes I had been curious about!

A modern, spotless dining room and self-service bar

The interior was incredibly stylish and tidy for a sundae-guk restaurant! Haha. When you think of sundae-guk places, it is easy to picture something a little rustic and homey, but Sinjuokmi Suwan District branch had a much more modern, orderly feel, which made it comfortable for a meal. The tables and the whole space were well maintained too, so from the moment I stepped in, I got the sense that the restaurant was kept very clean!

Side dishes that go nicely with sundae-guk were set out as standard, so it was nice to pick at them one by one before the soup arrived. There is also something fun about eating gukbap (rice in soup) with the banchan (side dishes), and everything was neatly prepared, making it easy to enjoy alongside the food!

The self-service bar had all sorts of things not included among the basic side dishes, including ssam wraps and peppers, so I could easily refill whatever I wanted!! This kind of bar would be especially useful for anyone who loves wrapping suyuk in ssam. I could take only what I needed without feeling self-conscious, and pile on plenty of the side dishes I wanted, which was great!

It was kept absolutely spotless, the best!! Since a self-service bar is used by many people, how it is maintained matters, and the whole area was organized, leaving me with a clean impression while using it.

Two sundae-guk set meals that come with suyuk

We ordered two of Sinjuokmi's signature dishes: the gat sundae-guk suyuk set meal and the clear gosari gat sundae-guk suyuk set meal! Even though these set meals include both sundae-guk and suyuk, they are in the low ₩10,000 range, so the spread felt really substantial and very reasonably priced haha. Rather than having just gukbap, I could enjoy suyuk too, making these great choices when I wanted a proper meal!

Clear gosari gat sundae-guk suyuk set meal

This is the clear gosari gat sundae-guk suyuk set meal! The presentation is seriously legendary ㅠㅠ

The meat was so tender and satisfyingly chewy—delicious!!!! It was sliced really thick too haha. It was honestly so thick that it was perfect for making ssam wraps! 😋

True to its name, it was packed with plump sundae! Every piece was full of filling, so each bite had a rich, savory yet clean flavor. The outside was pleasantly springy while the inside softened beautifully, and the texture was just so good. There was no skimping on the gosari (bracken fern), either. Eating it with the sundae added the fern's nutty, fragrant flavor and made the broth taste even richer!!

More than anything, the broth was really impressive. It was rich without being overly greasy or heavy, and went down so cleanly that I kept reaching for another spoonful. Perhaps because the stock is slowly simmered with Korean pork bones and vegetables, it had a deep, nutty umami all on its own. They also boil the suyuk four times a day, and it tasted freshly cooked—moist, clean, and without any unpleasant smell! There was plenty of meat in the bowl too, so I was truly full haha. It was not just sundae; the generous meat made one bowl of gukbap reliably filling!

Gat sundae-guk suyuk set meal

Next up is the gat sundae-guk suyuk set meal.

From the first spoonful, the gat sundae-guk drew me in with broth that was both clean-tasting and deep. The rich stock came through fully, yet the finish was refreshing rather than murky, making it something I wanted to keep eating. With the nutty flavors from the sundae and meat added in, every spoonful felt packed with flavor—so good haha.

It was delicious wrapped in ssam, too. I put the suyuk and sundae in a wrap with peppers and side dishes, and the crisp texture and peppery kick made it really tasty. The meat itself was mild and tender, so it paired especially well with the wrap vegetables; alternating it with the gukbap meant I never got tired of it and just kept eating!

Why I added an uncooked takeout package

I was so satisfied after eating at the restaurant that I ended up getting an extra package to take home too haha. It comes uncooked, and once home, I only had to put the ingredients straight into a pot to easily enjoy the exact same flavor as at the restaurant, so I totally recommend it!! Being open 24 hours makes it easy to visit without worrying about the time, and the generous sundae-guk and suyuk made for such a satisfying, filling meal. The plump sundae, tender suyuk, and clean yet deep broth were especially good—this is a place I think I will be craving again.