Itaewon restaurant with handmade soybean noodles: Nuri Maeul Gamjatang

Here's my review of Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch, a spot I visited when I wanted a hearty meal near Itaewon Station. If you're looking for a good gamjatang (pork bone stew) restaurant in Itaewon, this might be worth checking out.

Where is Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch, and what is the restaurant like?

The restaurant is a short walk from Itaewon Station, so getting there by public transit was easy. Right from the building entrance, big photos of gamjatang and bone soup dishes caught my eye from a distance. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor, reached by stairs, and the interior was bigger than expected with generous spacing between tables.

Ordering at the kiosk

Once inside, ordering was done through a kiosk. The screen was large and the menu layout intuitive, so even a first-time visitor could order without confusion. That day, we ordered 1 galbitang (special), 1 spicy bone ramen soup (special), 1 king meat dumplings (4 pieces), 1 handmade soybean noodles, and added 1 boiled egg, coming to about 50,000 won in total. Ordering a variety of dishes for our group made for a nice shared spread.

Once the order was placed, the order details and total appeared on screen right away, which made it easy to double-check, and since the order ticket printed straight to the kitchen, the food didn't take long to come out.

Side dishes: unlimited refills at the self-serve bar

This place runs its side dishes as a self-serve bar. Kimchi, cubed radish kimchi, braised soybeans, and more were laid out on a stainless steel serving counter, so you could take as much as you wanted. With spicy dishes like bone soup or gamjatang, you naturally keep reaching for more kimchi or radish kimchi, and thanks to the self-serve setup, I could refill freely without feeling awkward about it.

The mains: special galbitang and special bone ramen hangover soup

First, the galbitang (special) came in a stone pot, and the broth was clear and had good depth. It was packed with big chunks of rib meat, topped with scallions and bean sprouts, which made the broth taste even cleaner.

It wasn't intense in flavor and was on the mild side, which seemed perfect for a day when you need to recover from drinking or just want something gentle and filling.

On the flip side, the spicy bone ramen soup (special) came with a spicy broth and instant noodles mixed right in. The rich broth simmered from the bones combined with the chewy texture of the noodles made for a satisfying, filling dish on its own. The spicy broth went well with rice mixed in, and eating just the noodles on their own was also a treat. Both dishes had that fun of picking meat off the bones, so scissors and tongs were set on every table.

Meat king dumplings and handmade soybean noodles

The king meat dumplings came in a set of 4 pieces, and the wrapper was so thin and chewy you could almost see the filling through it. The filling was packed with meat and vegetables, and dipping them in the soy sauce that came alongside made them taste clean, not greasy at all. They were big enough that even one was quite filling.

The handmade soybean noodles came with noodles heaped in a thick soybean broth, and the nutty flavor was strong. Sprinkling on extra soybean powder and sesame seeds doubled the nuttiness. The soybean broth was thick enough to hold its own as a summer specialty, and it was also a nice palate cleanser between bites of the spicy soup dishes.

Who should eat at Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon?

• Anyone near Itaewon Station looking for a hearty soup dish
• Anyone who needs a spicy or clean broth to recover from drinking
• Anyone who wants to enjoy a variety of dishes together, like dumplings and soybean noodles
• Anyone who wants to eat plenty of side dishes

Final verdict on the 50,000-won spread

If you're near Itaewon Station and craving bone soup or gamjatang, Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch is worth a visit. Kiosk ordering was convenient, and thanks to the self-serve side dish bar, I ate well without holding back. Worth remembering as a good gamjatang spot in Itaewon.