Sindorim Korean restaurant: perilla kalguksu lunch, Sambaekga

Where is Sindorim Sambaekga?

Sindorim Sambaekga (신도림삼백가) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant near Homeplus Sindorim, just past Techno Mart and D-Cube City by Sindorim Station. Jokbal and bossam are the main event, but they serve kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) too, so this time I came for the noodles.

It's October and the weather has turned chilly, so I had a lovely meal at this Sindorim Station favorite. When it gets cold, Korean kalguksu is just the thing.

Sindorim Station, Techno Mart and the Homeplus building right next to them make up a busy area with people coming and going all day. I stopped by Sambaekga, the jokbal place in the Homeplus first-floor arcade.

• Address: 661 Gyeongin-ro, Unit 118 (1st floor), Guro-gu, Seoul
• 244 m from Exit 1 of Sindorim Station, Seoul Subway Lines 1 and 2
• Hours: 11:00–21:40
• Break time: 15:00–16:00
• Groups, reservations and ordering available
• Parking available

It's a handy stop when you're near Sindorim Station and suddenly crave jokbal or bossam. Sindorim has so much to see and eat that I end up dropping by every now and then.

With such easy transport, Sindorim Sambaekga is perfect for get-togethers, company dinners and lunch. You'll spot the storefront with its big glass windows, and the standing sign lists the food in detail, which gives off a feeling of real care. Mega Coffee is right across from it.

What are the menu and seating like at Sindorim Sambaekga?

There's a huge range of meal and dinner dishes. You could honestly decide what to order right at the entrance before you walk in.

The place brings together freshly made bossam and jokbal with kalguksu, and it's popular with plenty of customers.

There are lots of seating options, including tables for 4 and 8, so it's great for company dinners and gatherings. There's also a Naver receipt review event after your meal.

Do you get free barley rice with kalguksu?

Yes, anyone who orders kalguksu at Sindorim Sambaekga can enjoy free barley rice. You take one serving from the rice warmer yourself, and you need the good sense to take only as much as you'll eat.

There's a whole spread of homemade kimchi made with real care, including geotjeori (fresh kimchi salad), bossam kimchi and eolgari kimchi (young cabbage kimchi), and mixing it into the barley rice is heavenly. The barley rice, gochujang and sesame oil are provided only to people who ordered kalguksu.

Their bossam is said to be a healthy one, made with pork belly from pigs fed Sangju persimmons plus mulberry leaves. They say a former Chosun Hotel chef gives it a distinctive depth, and with jokbal, bossam and kalguksu all on offer, it's very popular for gatherings and group dinners.

The broth is made from 12 top ingredients, and the springy handmade kalguksu uses 100% fresh noodles, which were delicious too. The geotjeori has persimmon in it, so it's subtly sweet and crunchy, perfect as a side.

Self-serve bar and tablet ordering

There's a self-serve bar, and you just sit down and order on the table tablet. Don't forget to validate your parking on the way out. There are so many tasty, varied dishes.

How does the perilla kalguksu at Sindorim Sambaekga taste?

The perilla kalguksu here has a wonderfully mild broth. For some reason I really wanted kalguksu that day.

It's a lovely Sindorim lunch. Geotjeori kimchi and dried radish strips (mumallaengi) come alongside.

The salted shrimp and the seasoning were just right, and it paired nicely with the chewy meat. I finished everything and got so full!

The soft, clean flavor and springy noodles both helped. With no fuss, a properly simmered broth meets chewy, bouncy noodles, making a delicious bowl.

Is the soft tofu set worth ordering too?

The soft tofu set here was good too: hearty with ingredients, and the piping hot broth was delicious in my mouth.

Every dish at Sindorim Sambaekga had a deep, true flavor that was a joy, and I loved that it's tasty yet healthy to eat. This Korean restaurant near Sindorim Station, Sambaekga, I'll definitely go again.