Namyangju Korean restaurant lunch for three: Gojip Tongmuneo

A sudden get-together with my mom and sibling came up. Since it was a weekday, we decided to meet for lunch and visit a good local spot. Today’s Namyangju Byeollae lunch place is known for kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) with whole octopus and fresh cuttlefish bulgogi.

Getting there from Byeollae Byeolgaram Station and parking

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu Byeollae Byeolgaram Station Branch (고집통문어칼국수 별내별가람역점) is about a 10-minute walk from Byeollae Byeolgaram Station.

There is a dedicated parking lot behind the building, so parking was easy, and there were plenty of spaces.

Right beside the parking lot are stairs leading down to the restaurant. There were signs everywhere, so it was not hard to find.

• B1, 450-31 Sunhwagung-ro, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• 11:00–21:00
• Break time 15:00–17:00
• Closed every Wednesday

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu menu and prices

• Whole octopus seafood kalguksu: Small ₩43,000 / Medium ₩58,000 / Large ₩72,000
• Cuttlefish bulgogi: Small ₩37,000 / Medium ₩49,000 / Large ₩63,000
• Cuttlefish bulgogi set meal: ₩14,000
• Fried cuttlefish: ₩16,000

Spacious table spacing and how the wait works

The restaurant was packed with diners, as you would expect from a popular Byeollae kalguksu spot. The tables were spaced fairly far apart, though, so it still felt pleasant and comfortable to eat.

Clams were being kept fresh in the tank outside.

At Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu, you register for the wait upon arrival, order in advance, and then get shown to your table. There is a waiting area, so you can wait comfortably.

Ordering cuttlefish bulgogi and water-gun clam kalguksu

• Cuttlefish bulgogi (small) ₩37,000
• Water-gun clam kalguksu ₩9,000
• Fried cuttlefish ₩16,000

As soon as we sat down, they brought out the banchan (Korean side dishes), all of which went well with the cuttlefish bulgogi and kalguksu.

The water-gun clam kalguksu came out first, loaded with clams, and the broth was wonderfully rich.

This kalguksu was fun to eat, with chewy noodles and plump clam meat that popped as you bit into it. The broth was so clean and delicious that we ate until we could see the bottom of the bowl.

Spicy-sweet cuttlefish bulgogi with a smoky char

The kick in the cuttlefish bulgogi was its spicy-sweet sauce. It was so tasty that I just kept reaching for more. The sauce had a deep smoky char, making it something anyone could enjoy without much division in taste.

More than anything, the cuttlefish was so thick that the texture was no joke.

There was plenty of cuttlefish too, so three adults could eat until full without feeling shortchanged. You can tell from the photos, but it was really generously packed with cuttlefish. I ate all the cuttlefish I could possibly want that day. Haha.

One bite dipped in the complimentary garlic mayo sauce added creamy mayonnaise to the tender cuttlefish, and the savory flavor spread all through my mouth.

The sauce was seriously delicious, so I mixed in a bowl of rice and polished it off in no time. I wanted fried rice, but I was too full and had to give up; next time, I absolutely have to try it.

Putting sauce-mixed rice and cuttlefish on top of gim (roasted seaweed) made me feel so happy.

There was sauce left, so we thoroughly mixed in extra kalguksu noodles too. Haha.

Fried cuttlefish with a thin batter

The fried cuttlefish we ordered as a side was textbook frying: chewy inside and perfectly crisp outside.

It also paired well with the garlic mayo sauce, and the thin batter made the texture even better.

There was a thin crisp coating on the outside and thick cuttlefish flesh packed inside, so every bite had a nutty richness. Because the batter was thin, it tasted even lighter and cleaner.

Freshness matters with seafood, and I could taste the freshness of the ingredients in every bite here. They did not skimp on anything and gave us generous portions, making the whole meal such a pleasant time.

When to visit for a shorter wait

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu is famous as a Namyangju Byeollae lunch spot. There can be a wait, but if you visit at opening time, 11 a.m., or around 5 p.m., there is hardly any waiting. Luckily, I came at a time with little to no wait and walked right in. With spicy cuttlefish bulgogi and refreshing kalguksu, it is a great Byeollae kalguksu restaurant for the whole family. It is also a nice place for a family gathering or date, so enjoy a weekend date at this Byeollae restaurant.