Hongdae Korean restaurant with a free photo zone: Baengni Gomtang

I went to Baengni Gomtang (백리곰탕) with my mom for a hearty meal in Hongdae haha. It's the kind of Hongdae gomtang restaurant that comes to mind when you're craving a soup that's easy on the stomach these days! Thanks to the bright sign, it wasn't hard to find in the alley.

Their signature menu was displayed big on the window!! Seeing that steaming gomtang visual made me hungry before I even walked in. Since it's a Korean beef-focused spot, I went in ready for a proper meal hahaha.

Where is Baengni Gomtang and what are its hours?

Baengni Gomtang is on the 1st floor of 40-18 Wausan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's a decent walk from Hongik Univ. Station into the Hongdae alleys haha. Hours are 11:00 to 23:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00. Last order is at 22:00, so worth checking before you visit!

Inside the restaurant, there was also a story behind the name Baengni Gomtang. It's about filling up on a hearty bowl of gomtang before setting off on a long journey — kind of a moving little detail haha. Knowing the name carries that meaning made it stick in my head even more! It fit well with the vibe of this place, serving up a warm, filling bowl of gomtang.

On one side there was also a sign about the ideal temperature for gomtang!! Soup dishes are disappointing when too cold, but if it's too hot to even taste, that's a letdown too. Seeing them care about the exact temperature of each bowl made the whole thing feel pretty thoughtful hahaha.

Inside Baengni Gomtang: mood and seating

The inside of Baengni Gomtang is done up neatly in wood tones. Traditional touches like brassware pieces blend in naturally, adding to the atmosphere. Rather than the usual chaotic feel of a soup restaurant, it's a calm space that's easy to eat in.

There were also side-by-side window seats good for sitting together haha. And today's special guest — my mom!! Haha. It was nice sitting comfortably with her, chatting over the meal. The vibe felt totally fine for solo dining too!

Baengni Gomtang menu and the free lunch makgeolli

You order right at your table with a tablet! The menu is varied — from beef gomtang and special beef gomtang to soy yukhoe bibimbap and yukhoe hahaha. They also have beef hot pot and tteokgalbi, so it'd be great for enjoying sides together if you come in a group.

From 11:00 to 15:00, there's a lunch service offering a free glass of Jangsu makgeolli! Next to it was also info about a review event haha. Plus there was an old-school desk fan sitting there, which added a cute retro touch! Looking around, there were small fun details to discover.

How was the beef gomtang broth and meat?

Finally, the beef gomtang I'd been waiting for arrived~! The clear, clean broth loaded generously with meat won me over right away hahaha. Instead of a heavily seasoned taste, it's the kind where the savory flavor of the beef comes through subtly. If you like a mild, non-spicy broth, this would work well as your go-to Hongdae gomtang restaurant!

On one side of the table, salt and pepper are set out separately. You start by tasting the broth as it is, then season to taste if needed haha. Personally I like that soup dishes like this let you adjust the flavor yourself!

The basic side dishes were kkakdugi (radish kimchi), potato salad, and jeotgal (salted seafood)! Not too many side dishes, which kept the focus on the gomtang itself. Especially the perfectly ripened kkakdugi — it really goes well with a warm broth hahaha.

Right in the center of the gomtang sat a piece of sprout ginseng that caught my eye right away! Adding sprout ginseng on top of the familiar gomtang gave it a signature Baengni Gomtang touch haha. It looked neat and tidy too, so the whole bowl felt pretty well put together when it first arrived.

Looking inside the broth, there was more Korean beef than I expected!! It wasn't just a couple of pieces to fish out — there was plenty to eat along with rice. Eating the tender meat together with the broth made for a really filling meal hahaha. A good reason to recommend this as a Hongdae gomtang restaurant if you love meat!

I love pepper so of course I sprinkled it on generously hahaha. With the pepper's aroma, the once-clean broth got a slight kick that suited my taste perfectly! I'd recommend not adding too much at first, but seasoning to taste as you go.

With one spoonful, you get the clear broth, rice, and meat all together. The more I ate, the more I liked how comfortable and mild it was rather than intense. That kind of warm, gentle, filling meal is exactly what you crave sometimes! Eating it with my mom made it feel even more like a proper home-cooked meal haha.

Is the tteokgalbi worth adding?

Feeling like gomtang alone wasn't quite enough, I also ordered tteokgalbi!! Having a meat side alongside the soup dish made the table so much more filling. It was also the perfect side to split with my mom hahaha.

Splitting the tteokgalbi into bite-sized pieces let the meat's texture really come through! It has a salty edge that pairs well against the mild gomtang haha. One sip of broth, one bite of tteokgalbi — the combo was pretty great! Anyone who finds gomtang alone a bit lacking should add this on at this Hongdae gomtang restaurant.

In the end, my mom and I both cleared our bowls right down to the bottom lol!! With bowls this empty, I don't think I need to say much more about how today's meal was. We finished even the broth and both gave it a thumbs up haha.

The free photo zone on the way out

On the way out of Baengni Gomtang, there's also a free photo zone that prints out instantly like a receipt! Instead of just leaving after eating, snapping a keepsake photo with my mom was surprisingly fun haha. It was a nice touch that they set up a trendy photo zone that matches Baengni Gomtang's vibe!

Instructions are posted right beside it, so it's easy to use!! You can grab a free photo, so I'd recommend trying it on your way out after eating. Getting a hearty meal in with my mom and a photo to remember it by made for a really solid finish to the day hahaha.

Is Baengni Gomtang worth a visit in Hongdae?

The clear, clean broth with generous Korean beef made for a really filling meal! The sprout ginseng, the story behind the restaurant, and the small retro touches all gave Baengni Gomtang a distinct personality haha. When you're craving a mild, comfortable bowl of soup, this Hongdae gomtang restaurant is worth a visit! We left having cleared our bowls completely and feeling great.