Hongdae gomtang restaurant with crunchy gungchae bibimbap: Baengni

I went to check out Baengni Gomtang, a place that just opened in Hongdae. Gomtang (beef bone soup) and yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl) happen to be two of our favorite dishes, and this place serves both — I couldn't resist and went right away.

Where is Baengni Gomtang and what are its hours?

Baengni Gomtang is at 40-18 Wow-san-ro 29-gil, 1st floor, Unit 1, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Hours are 11:00 - 22:00, with a break time from 15:00 - 17:00 and last order at 21:00.

The whole place has a clean, no-frills vibe, so you can tell it's a gomtang spot just by walking past. Since it's freshly opened, both the exterior and interior felt spotless overall — a good place to stop for a hearty meal in Hongdae.

The free photo zone at the entrance

There's also a nice free photo zone right by the entrance! It would feel a bit lacking these days without one, haha. Getting a good meal and a photo op in the same spot — very on-trend 📸

Inside Baengni Gomtang: is it good for solo diners?

Inside, everything was clean and pleasant overall. Being newly opened, the tables and every corner were neatly kept, and the atmosphere was more comfortable than I expected for a meal. It seemed great for eating alone, and just as good for two of us splitting a gomtang and a yukhoe bibimbap the way we did :)

They're also running a review event! Write a review and you get either 2 pieces of handmade tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) or a drink. It's always nice when a good meal comes with a little bonus for leaving a review, haha.

What we ordered at Baengni Gomtang and what it cost

Beef gomtang ₩12,000 Special soy-sauce yukhoe bibimbap ₩16,000

What does the name Baengni Gomtang mean?

There's a story behind the name Baengni Gomtang. It comes from the saying that 'one bowl can carry you a hundred li' (a traditional unit of distance). In the old days, people would eat a hearty bowl of gomtang before setting off on a long journey. The restaurant is named with that same warm wish — that a filling meal here will give people the strength for whatever's ahead. Once I knew the story, the name 'Baengni' felt like more than just a restaurant name.

Our food arrived. It looked delicious — let me walk you through the taste!

Special soy-sauce yukhoe bibimbap: crunchy gungchae makes the bowl

The first thing that caught my eye the moment it arrived: each bowl came topped with a whole stalk of ginseng! 🌿 You could choose soy sauce or gochujang (red chili paste) seasoning for the yukhoe bibimbap, and since we usually prefer the clean, mild taste of soy sauce over spicy gochujang, we went with soy sauce.

The bibimbap came with green lettuce, gungchae, and young sprouts, and the colorful mix made it look really appetizing. But the real surprise was the gungchae! I'd never seen it in a yukhoe bibimbap before, and it worked so much better than expected. Its distinctive crunch paired beautifully with the tender raw beef, adding extra texture with every bite that made the whole dish taste even better. The soy sauce seasoning wasn't harsh either — savory and mildly salty, without overpowering the beef. Mixed together with the lettuce and young sprouts, it stayed light yet crunchy, and for our taste, soy sauce suited it far better than gochujang would have. A spoonful of gomtang, then a bite of yukhoe bibimbap — yep, ordering this combo was the right call, haha.

Korean beef gomtang: clear broth topped with ginseng

Seeing the ginseng nicely placed on top of the gomtang alone made us feel healthier, haha. With the ginseng added, it felt more carefully put together than a typical gomtang. The broth was clear and clean, and one spoonful revealed a subtle but deep beef flavor with a light, clean finish.

It wasn't heavy or overly salty, so it was easy to keep going back for more spoonfuls. We did shower it with a lot of pepper, haha. The beef inside was tender and generous, and it seemed like it would be even more filling mixed with a bowl of rice.

How to eat gomtang with squid jeotgal on top

Among the side dishes served with the gomtang, our cheat code was the squid jeotgal (salted fermented squid)! It was tasty enough on its own as a side, but at some point we tried scooping up a spoonful of gomtang with rice and a bit of squid jeotgal on top. That combination turned out to be way better than expected. You really have to try it this way!

Verdict: a hearty Hongdae meal at Baengni Gomtang

Overall, Baengni Gomtang was a great place for a clean, filling meal. The beef gomtang had plenty of meat and a light, clean broth, and the soy-sauce yukhoe bibimbap was even more enjoyable thanks to the crunchy gungchae. Best of all, we got to enjoy our favorite combo — gomtang plus yukhoe bibimbap — in one place, and that made the whole visit satisfying. If you're looking for a hearty meal in Hongdae, this place is worth a stop :)