Goyang Korean restaurant for beef tendon gomtang: Doonjeong

After finishing a trip, we wanted a warm meal, so we went to Doonjeong (도온정), a restaurant specializing in clear Korean beef gomtang in Hyangdong. We had gomtang with tendon and a meat kimchi pancake, and the lightly seasoned broth suited our usual preference for mild food.

Where are Doonjeong and its parking options?

Doonjeong is on the first floor at 130 Kkotnaeeum 1-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The original post listed its hours as 11:00–21:00 daily, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00. Last orders were listed as 14:30 and 20:30.

We were told that parking directly in front of the restaurant was not available. After checking with the restaurant, we learned that they could register parking time at Hyangdong 1st Public Parking Lot, about a four-minute walk away, so we parked there and walked over. During our visit, the lot was spacious and had spaces available, so we did not have to search around for parking.

There was a parking sign and a standing sign introducing the signature menu in front of the restaurant.

What were the seating and atmosphere like with a reservation?

When we arrived, all the tables were full. Since we had reserved ahead, we could sit at a two-person table right away.

The country-of-origin notice indicated that most ingredients were domestic, and I noticed that it even listed the regions. They also sold several kinds of traditional Korean liquor. There were several high chairs, and during our visit there were many families dining with children.

How much are gomtang and meat kimchi pancake for two?

Looking at the small menu, we ordered two servings of clear Korean beef gomtang with tendon and one meat kimchi pancake. The gomtang was ₩16,000 per serving and the meat kimchi pancake was ₩18,000, for a total of ₩50,000.

Kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) came out first. They were neatly served in containers resembling ceramic bento boxes, and even the salt and pepper shakers were ceramic, which gave me the impression that they had paid attention to the tableware.

What were the broth and meat like in the beef tendon gomtang?

The gomtang broth was very clear. It contained generous amounts of Korean beef and tendon, with rice already mixed in.

There was plenty of green onion, too. When we tasted the broth first, it was lightly seasoned, nutty, and delicately flavored, with no unpleasant meat smell. It was good as it was for us because we prefer mild food, and we could adjust the seasoning with the salt and pepper on the table if needed.

The rice was moderately sticky and had absorbed the broth, making it easy to eat by the spoonful. Since it was not heavily seasoned for my taste, I thought it could also be suitable to eat with children.

What were the size and ingredients of the meat kimchi pancake like?

The meat kimchi pancake was much larger than the gomtang bowl. It was bigger than the kimchi pancakes we usually eat, so its size alone made the price feel understandable at first.

When we cut it with scissors, we bit into a chewy ingredient and initially thought it was squid. Later, when we looked more closely at the pancake we had packed up and brought home, we found that it was tendon. It was filling, with generous amounts of the beef and tendon that also went into the gomtang.

How did we get extra broth and pack up leftovers?

We also dipped the tendon from the gomtang in the mustard dipping sauce that came with it. Some pieces were plump and chewy, while others softened gently in the mouth. The Korean beef was moist and tender as well.

As we kept spooning up the broth, we started to run short, so we asked a staff member. That day, we were able to receive one additional serving of broth.

After drinking almost all of the extra broth, we were full and regretfully left a little rice. We could not finish the meat kimchi pancake either, but they packed up the remaining pancake for us.

What we liked most about this meal was the lightly seasoned yet savory broth and the generous meat. With two bowls of gomtang and the pancake, it was such a filling meal for the two of us that we had leftovers.