Sinnonhyeon Korean restaurant with self-serve side dishes: Geumnyeong

These days, as mornings and evenings start to cool down a bit, I keep craving a bowl of something hot and soupy for some reason. Especially when I have plans in Gangnam or want lunch there — there are so many menu options, but it's surprisingly hard to find a meal that's hearty without being too spicy or heavy.

This time, I went looking for a warm meal near Sinnonhyeon Station and ended up at Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch. As the name suggests, gomtang (beef bone soup) is the main dish here, but the menu also includes minari gomtang (water celery beef soup), rice noodles, boiled pork, and more — good for a proper lunch or a solo meal when you want something filling. That day I ordered the most basic gomtang along with meat dumplings. Let me walk you through it in detail for anyone looking for a Korean restaurant near Sinnonhyeon :)

Where is Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch, and where do you park?

Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch is on the 1st floor of 1 Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, near Sinnonhyeon Station. It's about 88m, a 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Sinnonhyeon Station on the Sinbundang Line, so it's easy to reach right after stepping out of the station.

There's no on-site parking, so you'll need to use a nearby public parking lot.

Walking into the alley from Sinnonhyeon Station, the big 'Geumnyeong Gomtang' sign was easy to spot. The restaurant sits on the ground floor of the building, and its black exterior with a wood-toned terrace gave it a cleaner, more sophisticated vibe than your typical gomtang restaurant. There's a set of stairs at the entrance and a tall standing signboard, so it was easy to recognize the place even from a distance.

Inside Geumnyeong Gomtang: mood and seating

Walking into Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch, the first thing I noticed was the clean interior with white tones and wooden tables. The overall atmosphere was bright and tidy, giving it a more modern feel than a traditional gomtang restaurant, and the tables were spaced fairly generously.

Seating continues toward the back, so it looked comfortable for solo dining, a workday lunch, or a meal with a group. For anyone looking for a clean, tidy Korean restaurant near Sinnonhyeon, this seemed like an easy place to visit. When I was there, other customers were already eating, so it clearly gets a good lunch crowd.

Geumnyeong Gomtang menu and prices

As the name implies, Geumnyeong Gomtang's menu is centered around gomtang. The current online prices for the Yeoksam branch are: gomtang 13,000 won / minari gomtang 14,000 won / rice noodles 13,000 won / pollock salad 14,000 won / boiled pork (2 servings) 39,000 won.

That day, I ordered the gomtang for 13,000 won and meat dumplings (3 pieces) for 6,000 won.

Kimchi jar on every table

Every table has a jar filled generously with kimchi, so you can help yourself to as much as you want. You can't have hot gomtang without kimchi, right! It was nice not having to ask staff for it — just serve yourself to taste — and putting a bit of kimchi on a spoonful of gomtang made for a great classic Korean meal combo.

Besides kimchi, each table also had condiments and utensils ready to go, so everything you needed was right there.

The self-serve side dish corner

There's also a separate self-serve side dish corner. If the basic sides run low, you can just go grab more, which was convenient. Garlic, pickled vegetables, seasoned salads, namul (seasoned vegetables), beans, peppers, and more were all available,

I only took small portions of the sides I wanted. Combined with the kimchi at the table, there was quite a variety of things to pair with the gomtang. Especially with the mild, clean gomtang, having a bite of something spicy or salty here and there was a nice way to refresh my palate.

How much beef is in the 13,000 won gomtang?

The gomtang I ordered, at 13,000 won, arrived. The first thing that caught my eye as soon as I got the bowl was the generous amount of meat! Several large chunks of meat sat on top of the clear broth, and finely chopped green onion was added without holding back, so it looked hearty from the start.

As you can see in the photo, the broth is the clear, transparent style of gomtang rather than the milky, cloudy bone broth. With plenty of meat and green onion in it, it was a fitting choice when you're craving a hot Korean meal near Sinnonhyeon. Notably, the meat wasn't hidden at the bottom of the bowl — you could see it right on top — so the first impression was pretty good for 13,000 won.

What does the gomtang taste like?

I scooped up a big piece of meat and ate it with rice. The meat was cut thick and hearty, so it was satisfying to eat piece by piece.

The broth was clear and clean rather than the thick, milky style of bone broth, so it wasn't heavy at all. There was plenty of green onion too, adding a fragrant touch throughout, and adding a bit of kimchi on top made for a great pairing as expected! Being able to take a big bite of meat and rice together made this one bowl a pretty filling meal on its own.

The side order: three meat dumplings for 6,000 won

For a side, I ordered the meat dumplings (3 pieces) for 6,000 won! Three big, plump dumplings came out, and cutting one in half revealed a filling packed tight with meat, chives, and other ingredients with no gaps. The dumpling skin wasn't too thick either, and it was steamed moist, making it a great pairing with the gomtang.

Especially while eating the mild gomtang, adding a bite of the fully-packed meat dumplings in between added texture and extra fullness — I was glad I ordered it as a side.

Is Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch worth a visit?

• Taste: The gomtang was clear and clean, easy to eat without feeling heavy, and the combo of big chunks of meat and green onion with rice was great. Adding kimchi or self-serve sides kept it from getting boring until the last bite.
• Price: At 13,000 won for gomtang and 6,000 won for 3 meat dumplings, it's a reasonable price range for lunch in the Gangnam area. The gomtang especially came with plenty of meat, so one bowl alone was filling.
• Atmosphere: Bright and clean with white tones and wooden tables! It felt more modern and tidy than a traditional gomtang restaurant, making it comfortable for solo dining or a workday lunch.
• Service: Kimchi is set out at every table, and you can help yourself to as much of the extra side dishes as you want from the self-serve corner — very convenient.
• Would I go back: Yes! It's easy to get to from Sinnonhyeon Station, and it's a place I'd want to revisit whenever I'm craving a warm, mild meal.

Recommended for anyone looking for a Korean restaurant near Sinnonhyeon, anyone looking for a hearty solo meal, Gangnam office workers deciding on lunch, and anyone who likes a clear, clean style of gomtang.