Cabbage-wrapped pollack salad with gomtang in Wangsimni: Geumnyeong

Hi, this is Honchel :)

Whenever I crave a hearty meal these days, a warm bowl of soup is the first thing that comes to mind 🥰 Last weekend I went to Geumnyeong Gomtang near Wangsimni Station. I was looking for somewhere to eat in Wangsimni and ended up here — turned out to be a great spot for a clean, warm bowl of gomtang (Korean beef bone soup).

Geumnyeong Gomtang: location, hours and parking

Geumnyeong Gomtang is at 11 Wangsimni-ro 20-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, about 190m from Wangsimni Station Exit 1.

• Mon–Fri 10:30–22:00
• Break time 15:00–17:00
• Last order 21:30
• Saturday 10:00–22:00
• Closed Sundays

No parking on-site ❌️ please use a nearby public parking lot!

Weekend evening atmosphere and the waiting area

We visited on a weekend evening, and with the sun already down, the exterior had a soft, atmospheric glow. Even from outside, it felt naturally like a proper gomtang restaurant, and it looked like a comfortable place to walk into for a meal :)

Walking in, there was a waiting area right by the entrance 🥰 I liked that they'd set up a space where waiting guests could sit comfortably during meal times, and the whole place felt clean overall.

The interior was neatly organized. Since I visited in the evening, the second floor was already closed up for the night 🥹 We ate on the first floor, and the table spacing was fine and everything felt well kept, making for a comfortable meal :)

The table had a water bottle and cups neatly set out — even the water bottle looked clean and caught my eye :)

Wrapping pollack sashimi salad in cabbage

That day at Geumnyeong Gomtang we ordered minari gomtang and pollack sashimi salad (명태회무침). We tried the pollack salad first 🥰 The seasoning added a nice little kick to the otherwise mild, clean broth, and it was tasty on its own too 👍🏻

I tried piling the pollack salad onto cabbage leaves and wrapping them together — the cabbage and pollack salad worked so well together that I kept reaching for more :) A spoonful of gomtang followed by a bite of the wrap made for a surprisingly addictive combo!

How does Geumnyeong Gomtang's minari gomtang taste?

Next we tried the minari gomtang, and honestly, it was one of the best gomtangs I've ever had. The hot broth was loaded with minari (water parsley), and a subtle, fragrant aroma rose from the bowl.

The minari itself was genuinely better than expected! It kept its crisp texture, and the scent wasn't too strong, so it paired really well with the mild broth. Anyone who likes minari would probably love this.

Eating it together with rice made the broth even more filling, and it was clean and not overly rich — an easy, comfortable dinner.

Rice cakes and dipping sauce in the gomtang

There were even rice cakes in Geumnyeong Gomtang's soup! Eating the rice cakes with the broth was a nice surprise treat. Dipping them into the accompanying sauce gave yet another layer of flavor. With rice on the side too, it felt like a proper, satisfying dinner :)

Is Geumnyeong Gomtang worth it as a Wangsimni restaurant?

If you're looking for a hearty meal near Wangsimni Station, Geumnyeong Gomtang seems like a solid choice 🫶🏻 The minari gomtang in particular was easy to eat, with the warm broth and fragrant minari working well together, and ordering the pollack sashimi salad alongside gave the meal a fun, different pairing :)

If you're craving a soup-based meal in Wangsimni and want something clean and filling, this place is worth a visit. It's close to Wangsimni Station, so it's easy to get to — a good reference point for anyone looking for a place to eat in Wangsimni ❤️