Gwangjin galbitang restaurant for solo dining: Achasan Tong Galbitang

Achasan Tong Galbitang is a great spot to stop by near Achasan when you're craving something hot and comforting~! I'd kept seeing this place pop up as a must-visit near Achasan Station, so I really wanted to try a proper bowl of galbitang (beef short rib soup) haha. It's right on the main road on the first floor, so it was easy to find even on my first visit~~

Achasan Tong Galbitang hours and break time

At the entrance there was a sign with the business hours and a note that every menu item is available for takeout! Currently they're open daily from 11am to 9pm, with a break time from 3:30pm to 5pm. Last order is at 8:30pm, so if you're planning to visit late, it's worth checking the time~!

How to find Achasan Tong Galbitang from Achasan Station Exit 2, and where to park

There's no dedicated parking at the restaurant, so you'll need to use the paid lot across the street~~! The sign said it's ₩900 per 30 minutes and cars can only enter until 5:50pm haha. If you're planning to drive, it's a good idea to check the entry cutoff time in advance!

The address is 306 Jayang-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea~~! It's within walking distance from Exit 2 of Achasan Station, so it was also convenient by public transit. A great location for anyone looking for a good restaurant near Achasan Station~

There was a fridge on one side packed with items ready for takeout >.< Since every menu item can be packed to go, it seemed like a good option if you can't eat in the restaurant~! Everything was neatly organized in the fridge, so it was easy to see what was on offer haha.

Is Achasan Tong Galbitang comfortable for eating alone? Inside the self-serve bar

The inside was clean and there were more seats than I expected!! It felt comfortable for eating alone, and there were also good spots for groups~ A nice atmosphere for having a relaxed meal with a hot bowl of soup.

At the self-serve bar there was napa cabbage kimchi, kkakdugi (radish kimchi), chili peppers, onion, and ssamjang haha. If you run low on side dishes, you can just help yourself to as much as you want, which was convenient~~! Kimchi really does go well with galbitang, so it was nice to be able to grab more to taste!

Next to the self-serve bar there was also a rice cooker, so you could freely refill your rice~ There was also barley candy set out for dessert haha. Eating a hearty meal and then grabbing a sweet piece of candy at the end made the whole experience feel complete~~!

What's on the menu at Achasan Tong Galbitang, and how tablet ordering works

The main menu items are wang-galbitang, teuk-galbitang, and arongsatae-galbitang (beef shank soup)! There's also galbi-jjim (braised short ribs), so it would work fine for a group visit too~ I ordered the teuk-galbitang, which comes with three rib bones.

You could order easily using the tablet at the table~~ Since you could see photos and prices and pick right away, the ordering process was simple! There was also a review event notice showing up, so it might be worth checking out if you want to participate haha.

On the wall, there was a detailed explanation of how the galbitang is made~! From soaking out the blood for a long time to trimming and boiling the meat, it clearly takes a lot of hands-on work >.< It was impressive to see just how many steps go into a single bowl at this restaurant near Achasan Station.

On another wall there was also a story about how long the owner has been running the place haha. It talked about the process and mindset behind running the restaurant for 17 years, and I found myself reading it closely! It wasn't just a menu description but a look into the restaurant's story, which made it memorable~

The teuk-galbitang: three rib bones, glass noodles and mushrooms

The basic side dishes were seokbakji (radish kimchi), chili peppers, onion, and ssamjang~~! The seokbakji was crunchy and tangy, which paired well with the hot galbitang. Snacking on the chili peppers and onion in between kept my palate feeling clean!

The teuk-galbitang came out as a full spread with rice and side dishes, so it looked hearty from the start~ It had three big rib bones in it, so the portion was generous too!! It was filling enough that I felt glad I'd gone with the premium order at this restaurant near Achasan Station haha.

Inside the clear broth there was more than just the ribs — glass noodles and mushrooms too. The broth wasn't heavy at all, it was light and clean, so it was easy to keep spooning up~~! Mixing in rice at the end made for a truly satisfying, filling bowl~

The rib bones were big, so there was quite a lot of meat! It wasn't chewy at all, it was cooked tender enough that it came off the bone easily haha. It really delivered that satisfying meaty feeling you'd want from a teuk-galbitang at a restaurant near Achasan Station~~

Eating the tender rib meat together with the glass noodles and mushrooms made the texture even richer >.< The glass noodles had soaked up the broth nicely, so they were also great to slurp up~! With generous fillings throughout, it never felt bland to the last bite.

The meat pulled off the bone was moist and tender~~ It had soaked up plenty of broth, so it wasn't dry even eaten on its own! Eating it together with rice made the meal feel properly hearty haha.

Is Achasan Tong Galbitang worth a visit? Final verdict

The teuk-galbitang comes with three rib bones, so it was a satisfying, hearty meal even for people who love meat~! With rice refills, the self-serve bar, and barley candy on top, the overall package felt quite complete haha. Knowing how much time and care goes into the long preparation process made the meal even more memorable~~ If you're craving a hot, generous bowl of galbitang near Achasan Station, Achasan Tong Galbitang was a solid choice!