Gomtang with beer at a Wangsimni restaurant: Geumnyeong Gomtang

When the weather turns chilly or you just crave a hearty meal, a warm, rich soup is always the first thing that comes to mind!

I'd been craving a deeply simmered gomtang (beef bone soup) recently, so I made my way to the famous Geumnyeong Gomtang.

Where is Geumnyeong Gomtang in Wangsimni, and what is the entrance like?

Geumnyeong Gomtang sits on Wangsimnino 20-gil, and the moment I arrived I was greeted by a cute, garden-like entrance. It felt like stepping into a small, pretty house tucked away in the city, and my expectations went up right from the doorstep!

Two floors of seating and separate restrooms for easy solo dining

Stepping inside, the whole place felt very clean and pleasant. The space is split across two floors, so there's plenty of seating with room to spare!

It's a layout that works well whether you're eating alone or coming with a group.

One thing I found especially convenient was the restrooms!

The men's restroom is on the 1st floor and the women's on the 2nd floor, so the flow of traffic was clean and it felt very hygienic.

Basic gomtang with a bottle of beer: rice soaked in the broth

Sitting down, I wondered what to order — but of course, you have to try the signature dish, right? I ordered the basic gomtang, Geumnyeong Gomtang's signature menu item, along with a cold bottle of beer to go with it!

After a short wait, the gomtang arrived bubbling and steaming — served neatly in a brass bowl, the sight alone made my mouth water!!

Interestingly, Geumnyeong Gomtang serves the rice already toremed (soaked and mixed) into the broth!

Each grain of rice was soaked through with the deep, rich broth, so the first spoonful hit with a deep flavor right away. And on top of that, the portion was seriously huge!

There was a generous amount of meat topping, plus chewy rice cake (tteokguk-tteok) mixed in, so it was fun picking through the bowl. Paired with a clear yet deep broth and a cold glass of beer, all the fatigue of the day just melted away!

Self-serve kimchi and radish kimchi from the crocks

After all, the heart of any great gomtang restaurant is the kimchi and radish kimchi, right?

Geumnyeong Gomtang keeps a generous crock at every table so you can help yourself to as much as you like!

The kimchi and radish kimchi were perfectly fermented, exactly the style I love. Scooping just the right amount onto a plate and layering it on top of the gomtang made for an absolutely perfect pairing!

Free spicy pollack salad at every table

And the real jaw-dropper was the free side dish! Surprisingly, Geumnyeong Gomtang serves myeongtae hoe-muchim (spicy seasoned raw pollack salad) to every single table, free of charge!

I tried a bite of the sweet-and-sour, spicy pollack salad, and it was a real treat that woke up my appetite.

Taking a spoonful of the mild gomtang and topping it with a bit of the pollack salad made the seasoning land just right, with the savory flavor exploding — haha, I'd strongly recommend trying it this way!

The owner who kept refilling broth and kimchi

Even in the middle of enjoying the meal, there were plenty of little moments that touched me. The owner kept an eye on the whole restaurant, warmly checking in with things like, 'Do you need more broth?' and 'Is the kimchi running low?' — so touching!

I could really feel the owner's sincerity and warmth toward each and every guest, and it warmed my heart the whole time I was eating. With food this good and service and kindness this perfect, I decided I definitely have to come back!

Geumnyeong Gomtang opening hours and break time

• Hours: Daily 10:00–22:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00

From 3 to 5pm is break time for prep work, so if you plan around that window, you should be able to enjoy a great meal any time!

If you're near Wangsimni looking for a hearty Korean meal or a great solo dining spot, be sure to visit Geumnyeong Gomtang for its heartfelt broth and touching service!