Giheung kalguksu restaurant with Shin Ramyun-level broth: Jangwongap

Hi, this is Dal :) These days when the weather starts making me crave soup, kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) or shabu shabu is the first thing that comes to mind.

This time I went to the Giheung area of Yongin and found a place where you can eat everything from chadol (beef brisket) to minari (water dropwort), kalguksu, and fried rice in one sitting.

The place I visited is Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch. It's a good spot if you're looking for a place to eat near Lotte Outlet or in the Gomae-dong area! We ordered 2 servings of chadol minari ssam kalguksu + a whole shrimp seafood pancake + one meat refill, and it was just right. We enjoyed it so much I'm planning to bring my mom and dad next time. Seems like a lot of people think the same, since there were plenty of families eating out there.

Browsing the Jangwongap Sanghoe snack corner while waiting

Near the entrance of Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch, there's a small self-serve corner called Jangwongap Sanghoe (장원갑상회).

At first I thought it was just a snack shop, but it turns out you can buy snacks there and also eat some while you wait.

They had various retro snacks like gangnaengi (puffed corn snack), and there was even free misugaru (roasted grain powder drink) you could pour yourself. It was a nice spot to chat happily with my mom and dad about old-school snacks while waiting.

When I went, there was a variety of snacks like gangnaengi and colorful retro treats, and you could also pour yourself a cup of misugaru to try. The misugaru was on the sweet side, so it was nice to have a cup before the meal. However, it was posted that the snacks and misugaru here are meant to be eaten in this waiting area only, not taken to the table to eat with your meal. Having a space like this made the wait feel a lot less boring.

Snacks to take home: 3,000 won a bag, 10,000 won for four

The gangnaengi at Jangwongap Sanghoe wasn't just for sampling — you could also buy it packaged to take home. Based on the sign when I visited, individual bags were ₩3,000 each, or 4 bags for ₩10,000.

There were more varieties than I expected, so it seemed like quite a few people picked some up after their meal.

Free perks at Jangwongap: kids, service members and takeout

Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch already has a good menu lineup, but there were also several free perks along the way that made it feel like even better value. For starters, it was posted that free baby rice is provided for preschoolers under age 7, and soldiers, firefighters, and police get a free serving of 5 shrimp mandu once per table.

It was also posted that if you order for 2 or more people and take leftovers to go after your meal, you get a free bag of ppeongtwigi (puffed rice snack). These perks may change depending on store policy, so checking the signage on site during your visit is the most accurate way to know. With so many little extras, it seemed like a good spot for a family meal out.

What we ordered: chadol minari ssam kalguksu for two

That day we ordered 2 servings of chadol minari ssam kalguksu.

On top of that, we added one whole shrimp seafood pancake, and while eating, we added one more round of meat.

To cut to the conclusion, this amount was really just right for two people. At first I wondered if we even needed the extra meat, but once we started eating, the combination of chadol and minari worked so well together haha, and I was glad we added more.

How spicy is the broth? About Shin Ramyun level

I'm someone who really can't handle spicy food, so I always get a little nervous ordering a spicy option.

Jangwongap Kalguksu's spicy broth was, by my standard, about as spicy as Shin Ramyun. It's not intensely fiery so much as it's got a sharp, rich, deep flavor,

so even spice-shy me could keep eating it comfortably. Above all, the broth is just genuinely delicious. As the chadol and vegetables cook, the broth gets richer and richer, so it tasted even better once the noodles went in.

Noodles at 6 minutes on the sand timer, chewy and firm

What was interesting about Jangwongap Kalguksu's noodles is that the texture changes quite a lot depending on how long they're boiled. I generally prefer noodles that are a bit chewy and springy rather than soft and overcooked, so boiling them for about 6 minutes was my favorite.🧡

The noodles soaked up the broth somewhat while still keeping a chewy bite, which was exactly my style.

If you like softer noodles, just boil them a bit longer, and if you're a chewy-noodle person like me, I'd recommend tasting them partway through to get the doneness right.

Uniquely, there's a sand timer on every table, so you can time the noodles and adjust how done they are, haha.

The kimchi at Jangwongap kept us reaching for more

And honestly, kimchi is such a crucial part of a good kalguksu place.

Jangwongap Kalguksu's kimchi is quite fresh and crunchy, which I loved. It's not overly fermented and sour, and the seasoning isn't too heavy either, so it was: noodles, then a piece of kimchi, broth, then another piece haha, I kept reaching for it. Personally, this kimchi paired really well with kalguksu.

The perilla oil soy sauce was also genuinely delicious — such a good oil that the restaurant actually sells it too.

Whole shrimp seafood pancake: worth adding to the order

As a side, we ordered a whole shrimp seafood pancake that was packed edge to edge.

True to its name, it was loaded with seafood and bigger than expected, so paired with the 2 servings of chadol minari ssam kalguksu, we were really full.

The outside was crispy and the inside wasn't too dense, so alternating between the spicy broth and a bite of pancake was a great combo.

And if you have leftovers, you can pack them up yourself at the self-serve corner. Nice that you don't have to force yourself to finish everything when you're full.

Finishing with free perilla oil kkakdugi fried rice

One of my favorite things about Jangwongap Kalguksu is that the perilla oil kkakdugi (radish kimchi) fried rice is free. After eating meat and then the kalguksu, you're already pretty full, but

somehow there's always room for the final fried rice, haha. It had a subtle perilla oil aroma and the kkakdugi kept it from feeling greasy, making it a perfect finish. Personally, including the fried rice, I felt like the meal was really well-rounded.

Jochiwon peach bibim mandu sold out before we could try it

The menu item I was most curious about that day was actually the Jochiwon peach bibim mandu (dumplings tossed in sauce). Jochiwon is famous for peaches, so I really wanted to see how peach would work in bibim mandu. But this item is sold in limited quantity,

and it was already sold out by the weekend evening when I visited, ugh. If you want to try this menu item on a weekend, I'd recommend going a bit earlier rather than at dinner time. I'll definitely try it next time I come back.

The combo to order at Jangwongap if there are two of you

If two of you are visiting Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch, the combo we had was pretty solid.

• 2 servings of chadol minari ssam kalguksu
• One whole shrimp seafood pancake
• If you like meat, add one round of chadol
• Finish with perilla oil kkakdugi fried rice

Eating all of this really fills you up. If you're not big eaters, you'd probably be fine without the meat refill, and if you love meat like us, one refill was just right.

When you're craving kalguksu in Giheung, Yongin

After this visit, I understood why they push chadol minari ssam as their signature dish.

Eating chadol and minari first, then cooking the kalguksu in the broth, and finishing with fried rice — it's one meal, but the experience keeps changing throughout, which I really liked.

If you're looking for a family meal spot near Lotte Outlet Yongin Giheung, or a warm soup restaurant around Gomae-dong in Yongin, this is worth a visit. Next time I'm going to go a bit earlier so I can finally try the Jochiwon peach bibim mandu :)