Sinchon solo dining: spicy hangover soup set at Pyeongando Sikdang

I went to Sinchon to cure a hangover after drinking too much the night before. Pyeongando Sikdang Sinchon Branch is a great option in Sinchon when you're craving haejang-guk (hangover soup) or sundae-guk (blood sausage soup).

Where is Pyeongando Sikdang Sinchon Branch, and when is it open?

📍 The address is 12 Yonsei-ro 4-gil, 1st floor, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. It's an easy walk from Exit 3 of Sinchon Station, and being close to Yonsei University makes it pretty accessible too. ⏰ Hours are 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can drop by late at night or early in the morning, which makes it a solid option for anyone looking for a 24-hour sundae-guk spot in Sinchon.

One reason I came to this Pyeongando restaurant was that I'd heard their spicy gukbap was really good. I actually prefer a spicy, sharp broth over a regular haejang-guk or sundae-guk. And it just so happened that the day after drinking, I was craving something spicy — so having a place like this in Sinchon was perfect.

What's on the menu at Pyeongando Sikdang?

Pyeongando Sikdang doesn't just serve sundae-guk — they actually have a pretty wide range of gukbap (soup with rice). There's Pyeongando sundae-guk, bone-free gukbap, bone haejang-guk, spicy haejang-guk, yukgaejang, Korean beef head gukbap, seolleongtang, pork organ soup, and even gamjatang (spicy pork bone stew) and stir-fried sundae — good options if you're visiting with a group. They also have set meals, which look like a good choice if you want a more filling meal.

Right when you walk in, there's a sign explaining the best way to enjoy the soup — apparently if you go with the clear broth, add plenty of chives, and season only with salted shrimp, you get a rich, deep flavor. Haha, I went there for the spicy version, but seeing this made me crave the clear white broth too.

Inside the restaurant and the seats for solo diners

The interior was clean overall, and there was more seating room than I expected. There were seats set up specifically for solo dining, so it didn't feel awkward to come alone. There are also tables for larger groups, so it seemed like a fine spot to eat with friends or have a casual drink together. The whole vibe is casual and comfortable — a good place for an easy meal.

What comes with the 16,000-won spicy haejang-guk set

I ordered the spicy haejang-guk set, which comes with sundae and pyeonyuk (sliced boiled meat) alongside the soup. It cost ₩16,000.

Apparently the broth is simmered for 20 hours using pork thighbone, which is why it's so rich and flavorful. Reading the description just made me hungrier...

I went on a Saturday for lunch, and the tables were almost fully booked, but since I was on my own anyway, I sat at the window bar seat for solo diners. I often eat sundae-guk alone, so having a dedicated solo seat like this was really convenient. Sometimes when a restaurant is packed and you're seated alone at a 4-person table, it feels awkward — but here, there's no need to worry about that at all. Solid.

Ordering through the kiosk right at the seat!

As soon as I ordered, the side dishes arrived. Simple but everything you'd expect at a sundae-guk restaurant — chives, chili peppers, onion, and both kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). I love restaurants that keep it simple but get the basics right. The kimchi and kkakdugi tasted homemade and went really well with the sundae-guk.

Before the sundae-guk arrived, the sundae and pyeonyuk came out first, and they were substantial, chewy, and savory — really tasty. Ordering the set gets you this little sundae and pyeonyuk sampler too, so I'd recommend the set on days when you're really hungry.

How the spicy broth tastes, and what's in the bowl

The soup came out piping hot, and just looking at it felt like it would fix a hangover. Because the broth was spicy, it paired really well with rice, and mixing in a little rice at a time made it even better. Rather than being aggressively spicy, it had more of a sharp, addictive kind of heat that kept me eating. There was also plenty of meat inside, so eating it with rice ended up being surprisingly filling.

When the dish arrived, it was still bubbling away furiously in the stone pot. Honestly, just seeing that made me think, pass. For sundae-guk and haejang-guk type dishes, staying hot while you eat really matters, and some restaurants unfortunately serve them lukewarm from the start. Here it came out bubbling hot, and I loved that.

And there was a ton of stuff inside ‼️ A couple weeks ago I had sundae-guk in Hongdae, and since that place gets a lot of foreign tourists, the bowl was seriously empty inside — I'm not exaggerating. There were maybe 4-5 tiny pieces of meat, no vegetables or anything, so I just mixed rice into the broth and ate it with kimchi. But here, the ingredients were genuinely generous. Bean sprouts, mushrooms, and all kinds of pork innards inside, plus the chives that came with it made it even more filling. I ate it happily, thinking, ah, this is what sundae-guk should be.

The chili peppers and onion that came alongside were great dipped in ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) too — crunchy and pungent, a great match.

Is Pyeongando Sikdang worth a second visit?

On days when I'm craving something hot and soupy in Sinchon, or need somewhere to eat late at night, this seems worth a visit. Since it's open 24 hours, I liked that you're not restricted by time at all. Next time, I want to try the sundae-guk or bone haejang-guk. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a 24-hour sundae-guk spot in Sinchon, or anyone craving a hot, spicy bowl of gukbap 💛