Pork bone soup spot near Suwon City Hall Station: post-workout refuel

Why we ended up at a bone soup place after dinner near Suwon City Hall Station

On Wednesday, September 30, we finished a meal of pasta and yurinki (Korean-style fried chicken in a tangy sauce) near Suwon City Hall Station, then headed for a second round at Eolkeunhan Ppyeo Haejangguk Suwon Ingye Branch (얼큰한뼈해장국) in Ingye-dong. As we walked out, I suddenly craved something hot and brothy. I'd planned to just go home, but my companion said they wanted bone soup for the first time in ages, so off we happily went.

I also needed to hit my daily protein target after working out, so a hearty plate of meat was exactly what I wanted. Rumor has it that Eolkeunhan is a genuinely great local spot from Cheonan that has landed in Ingye-dong, specializing in spicy bone soup. The moment I stepped inside, I loved it: the space was roomy and comfortable.

Parking and facilities at Eolkeunhan Ppyeo Haejangguk Suwon Ingye Branch

The restaurant offers free parking in the building's underground car park, with 2 hours free. There are separate men's and women's restrooms, plus Wi-Fi, high chairs and a waiting area.

• Parking: free in the building's underground car park (2 hours free)
• Facilities: separate men's/women's restrooms, Wi-Fi, high chairs, waiting area
• Other services: takeout and delivery, reservations, wheelchair-accessible seating

With parking and facilities this well covered, it's easy to visit by car or with a group.

The menu and our order: mild bone soup and mild ox blood soup

The menu is simple but leaves a definite impression. Every item can be packed for takeout, which sounds great for enjoying at home.

This time we wanted to try different broths, so we each ordered to our own taste. I wanted something clean and mild, so I got the mild bone soup, and my companion chose the mild ox blood soup.

Are the dessert ice cream and drip coffee free?

Eolkeunhan Ppyeo Haejangguk Suwon Ingye Branch gives diners ice cream for dessert. Honestly, this ice cream service is what makes the place special!

They had Nugabar (a nougat ice cream bar), which I hadn't seen in ages, so I ate one first, before the meal, as a sweet start.

There was also the small joy of deciding between Melona (a melon ice bar) and Bibibig (a red bean ice bar),

and after the meal, warm drip coffee is ready for you too.

House-pickled onions and Korean-grown kkakdugi

The basic side dishes here are onions the owner pickles in the restaurant and 100% Korean-grown kkakdugi. After we ordered, the owner kindly brought warm rice, crunchy side dishes and small plates.

One of the signature touches here is that the owner pickles the onions in the restaurant himself.

The cool, crunchy kkakdugi is also 100% Korean-grown, so we could eat it with peace of mind. The sweet-and-sour onions and the kkakdugi cut right through the richness of the meat and went together neatly.

How were the broth and meat in the mild bone soup?

The mild bone soup had a deep, rich broth, and the meat came easily off the bone. Soon the main dish arrived at the table in a bubbling earthenware pot (ttukbaegi). They say the pork broth is simmered for more than 24 hours, and maybe that's why I tasted the deep, rich flavor from the very first spoonful.

The meat in the pot is scorching hot, so you have to move it onto the small plate they bring and let it cool. The meat slid off the bone so tenderly that picking it off was no trouble at all.

When I dipped a thick piece of meat in the special wasabi sauce, the sharp kick made it taste even cleaner, with no greasiness. It felt like solidly filling my day's protein, which kept me in a great mood the whole meal.

My companion's mild ox blood soup

My companion's mild ox blood soup (seonji haejangguk) also had a savory, rich broth with no gamey smell, and it was packed with fresh ox blood curd, enough to soothe the stomach with warmth.

Would I recommend this bone soup near Suwon City Hall Station?

Eolkeunhan Ppyeo Haejangguk Suwon Ingye Branch was a great Ingye-dong find, with a rich pork broth simmered for 24 hours and tender meat. Along with the friendly service, the house-pickled onions and the self-serve bar of Korean-grown kkakdugi show a lot of care for customers.

If you want a hearty meat refuel near Suwon City Hall Station, or you're craving a rich soup, I'd recommend it without hesitation. It warms you up and gives you a solid dose of protein, so I'll definitely be back.