Clear-broth galbitang near Achasan Station: Achasan Tong Galbitang
In short
Achasan Tong Galbitang is a galbitang (beef short rib soup) restaurant in Gwangjin, Seoul, toward the makgeolli alley from Exit 2 of Achasan Station. At lunch, the basic galbitang and the beef shank galbitang came with a clear, refreshing broth, melt-in-your-mouth rib meat, house-made kimchi and kkakdugi, plus barley gangjeong and misugaru from the self-serve bar. Achasan Tong Galbitang is a solid pick when you want a restorative bowl of galbitang with a clean broth and no heavy aftertaste.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Achasan Station Exit 2 · 6-min walk (store listing, Oct 6, 2026)
- Location
- 1F, 306 Jayang-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul; 5-minute walk from Achasan Station Exit 2 toward the makgeolli alley
- Hours
- Daily 11:00–21:00 (break time 15:30–17:00)
- Menu
- Galbitang (basic, beef shank, spicy), galbijjim (braised short ribs)
- Basic galbitang
- Two rib bones, egg garnish, scallions, glass noodles, king oyster mushrooms
- Beef shank galbitang
- Basic galbitang plus beef shank and bean sprouts
- Side dishes
- Napa cabbage kimchi, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), seasoned deodeok root, onion, chili peppers (kimchi and kkakdugi made in-house with Korean ingredients)
- Self-serve bar
- Side dishes, rice, barley gangjeong (puffed barley snack), misugaru (roasted grain drink)
- Water
- Hutgae (oriental raisin tree) tea instead of plain water
- Parking
- No dedicated parking; use a nearby paid lot
- Waiting
- Waiting list at peak times
as written by the visitor on Jun 11, 2026
Achasan Tong Galbitang near Achasan Station might just be the most delicious galbitang of my life. The broth is outrageously clean and clear, and the meat in the soup is unbelievably tender, so it's the perfect place to go for a hearty, restorative meal haha. I left completely satisfied that day!!!!
How to get to Achasan Tong Galbitang, with parking and waiting tips
Achasan Tong Galbitang is a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Achasan Station, in the direction of the makgeolli alley. The weather was so gorgeous that day that I couldn't help thinking it would have been nice to hike up Achasan, which you can see in the distance, and come down for lunch haha. A sign saying "a bowl of good food for the hiking trail" is stuck right at the entrance too!!!
Since Achasan Tong Galbitang makes its own kimchi and kkakdugi in the shop with Korean ingredients, it's a rice restaurant near Achasan Station where you can eat really well. The restaurant has no parking of its own, so if you drive, use a nearby paid lot. You might have to wait at peak times, but you just write your name on the waiting list and wait! Luckily, we were able to go straight in hahaha.
I learned about the owner's twisty, turny life story through the "17 years in business" story on the wall...!!!! He's tried so many different kinds of businesses, wow, amazing!!! Let's eat galbitang for a long, healthy life! hahaha
Achasan Tong Galbitang menu: basic vs beef shank galbitang
The menu at Achasan Tong Galbitang is super simple: either galbijjim (braised short ribs) or galbitang. The basic galbitang comes with two rib bones, and the shank galbitang adds tender beef shank on top. After tasting it, I could easily imagine that galbijjim made with ribs this tender would be amazing, but I just can't give up that galbitang broth...!!!!! So I ended up ordering galbitang hahaha.
I thought hard about getting the spicy galbitang, but the basic broth is so clean and delicious that you probably don't need to order the spicy one. Still, I'm curious about it even now! hahaha
Side dishes and self-serve bar at Achasan Tong Galbitang
The default water at Achasan Tong Galbitang is hutgae tea rather than plain water, so you get a nutty drink. The side dishes are napa cabbage kimchi, kkakdugi, deodeok salad, onion and chili pepper.
Since it's galbitang, huge rib bones are unavoidable, so all the utensils are already set out on the table. There's also a self-serve bar, so if you run short on side dishes you can help yourself.
Along with the side dishes, rice and barley gangjeong are on the self-serve bar too, making Achasan Tong Galbitang a great Gwangjin lunch spot for a filling meal.
You can even have dessert with sweet barley gangjeong and nutty misugaru.
How does the galbitang at Achasan Tong Galbitang taste?
The basic galbitang has arrived!! At Achasan Tong Galbitang, the basic galbitang comes topped with egg garnish and scallions. The shank galbitang is piled high with thick chunks of beef shank!!!!
The galbitang arrives bubbling in a ttukbaegi (earthenware bowl), so it stays hot right down to the last spoonful.
You wouldn't believe how much meat is on the bones! It's seriously loaded, and so tender...!! I really want everyone to try it ㅠㅠㅠㅠ The rib bones are truly king-sized lol.
The rice is nice and sticky too, and you can grab more from the self-serve bar. Thumbs up!
Here's the galbitang after I painstakingly pulled off all the meat haha. Turns out there were glass noodles and king oyster mushrooms in the soup too!
Clear galbitang broth with no heavy aftertaste
Above all, the most surprising thing is how clean and mild the broth at Achasan Tong Galbitang can be!! Meat broth can easily leave a heavy, muddy feeling in your mouth, but at this Achasan lunch spot, you don't need to worry about that at all!!!!
And the meat is so tender that "melts in your mouth" is exactly the right phrase.
Beef shank galbitang packed with bean sprouts
The shank galbitang at Achasan Tong Galbitang is full of bean sprouts, which makes the broth taste even more refreshing.
Achasan Tong Galbitang location and opening hours
- Address: 306 Jayang-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Hours: daily 11:00–21:00
- Break time: 15:30–17:00
Where it is
306 Jayang-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 광진구 자양로 306 1층
Achasan Tonggalbi Tang: hours, menu and prices →
