Dongseong-ro, Daegu gukbap first visit: kkakdugi broth, Hanwoojang

Today I visited Hanwoojang (한우장), a gukbap (rice soup) place in Dongseong-ro, Daegu that people have loved for a very long time. It's a great spot when you want a hearty meal late at night, or just a warm bowl of soup with no fuss. It's been around since 1968 and still draws crowds, so I went to find out why. Shall we go on a gukbap adventure together!?

Where is Hanwoojang, and what are the hours?

Hanwoojang is a 24-hour, open-every-day gukbap restaurant in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, and it's an easy walk from Exit 4 of Jungangno Station. It's close to the heart of Dongseong-ro, so it's very easy to get to.

Best of all, it's open 24 hours a day all year round, so breakfast, lunch, dinner, a late-night snack or a hangover cure, any time works.

A traditional Daegu gukbap restaurant since 1968

Hanwoojang isn't just an old restaurant. It's one of Daegu's signature traditional gukbap places, and it has held its spot for a very long time.

It has been running since 1968, and it's known for 12 years in a row of Blue Ribbon Survey recognition and for being a Good Price Business (착한가격업소) designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

A Good Price Business is a model restaurant for stable prices, chosen by the government and local authorities for reasonable prices, a clean shop and good service, so it felt trustworthy.

Thanks to its unchanging flavor and steady operation, it's loved by locals and tourists alike.

Hanwoojang's atmosphere: is it good for eating alone?

The Dongseong-ro branch has fairly roomy spacing between tables, so it's comfortable whether you're eating solo or with family or friends. The exterior had that familiar feel of a long-established gukbap place, and the inside was kept neat and clean.

With the tables spaced out, I wouldn't feel awkward coming alone, and it also felt relaxed for a family meal or a get-together with friends.

The old-school charm and the tidy interior blend well, and it felt comfortable to eat in.

Hanwoojang menu and prices

Hanwoojang's signature dishes are seolleongtang (ox bone soup) and ttaro-gukbap (rice served separately from the soup), ₩11,000 each. Here are the gukbap and gomtang (beef soup) options.

• Seolleongtang ₩11,000
• Ttaro-gukbap ₩11,000
• Special seolleongtang ₩13,000
• Special ttaro-gukbap ₩12,000
• Hanwoo ox head soup ₩14,000
• Oxtail soup ₩17,000

There's also a good range of suyuk (boiled sliced meat).

• Boiled beef suyuk ₩40,000
• Dogani (ox knee cartilage) suyuk ₩40,000
• Yang (tripe) suyuk ₩40,000
• Assorted suyuk ₩60,000
• Oxtail suyuk ₩60,000

It works well for a meal of a single bowl of gukbap, and also for a group sharing suyuk alongside.

What to order on a first visit to Hanwoojang

If it's your first time at Hanwoojang, the first things I'd recommend are, naturally, ttaro-gukbap and seolleongtang.

They've been loved for so long that I wanted to start with the basics, and it was a meal that made me understand why so many people keep coming back.

Ttaro-gukbap (11,000 won): how spicy is it?

Hanwoojang's ttaro-gukbap has a spicy but not harshly hot broth with deep savory flavor. The red color of the broth alone whets the appetite, and it arrives in a boiling-hot ttukbaegi (earthenware pot), so it stays warm down to the last spoonful.

The broth has a deep, rich savoriness rather than a sharp heat. It's spicy without being overwhelming, the kind of soup where your spoon just keeps going.

The generous fillings and soft seonji (congealed ox blood) go together nicely, making it a properly filling meal. It's good with the side dishes, but if you like, add a little kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) broth and some pepper for a different charm.

Seolleongtang (11,000 won): broth and meat portion

Hanwoojang's seolleongtang has a milky, rich broth and a satisfying amount of meat, so it felt hearty for ₩11,000. The creamy, rich broth stood out from the first look.

The broth was clean yet deeply simmered and easy to enjoy, and there was a satisfying amount of meat inside, so it was filling for the price.

Try it first with nothing added to taste the broth itself, then add salt and pepper to your liking. Topping it with a well-fermented piece of kkakdugi goes really well with the mild broth.

It isn't overly strong, so anyone of any age can enjoy it, and I'd happily recommend it to first-timers.

What I liked about Hanwoojang

My strong impression was that Hanwoojang is a Dongseong-ro gukbap place that serves a meal true to the basics rather than anything flashy or over the top. There are lots of new hot spots these days, but I think a restaurant that has held the same spot for so long definitely has its reasons.

Being open any time, 24 hours, the easy prices and the long tradition all add up, and I could really see why it's so loved in Dongseong-ro.

Final verdict on Hanwoojang

If you're looking for a hearty meal in Dongseong-ro, it's well worth recommending.

• ✔️ Traditional gukbap restaurant since 1968
• ✔️ 12 years in a row of Blue Ribbon Survey recognition
• ✔️ Good Price Business designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety
• ✔️ Open 24 hours, every day of the year
• ✔️ Comfortable for solo diners and family meals alike
• ✔️ Wide menu: seolleongtang, ttaro-gukbap, ox head soup, suyuk and more

If you want to feel for yourself why it's been loved for its consistent flavor over so many years, a warm bowl of gukbap at Hanwoojang in Dongseong-ro sounds like a good idea.