Itaewon hot-plate soy-braised bones with broth: Nuri Maeul Gamjatang

Today I want to tell you about a filling, satisfying Korean meal I had on Itaewon's main street. This time I visited a gamjatang (pork bone stew) specialist with 22 years of tradition — Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch.

Where is Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch, and when is it open?

Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch is located at 176 Itaewon-ro, 2nd floor, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. It's about a 1-minute walk from Itaewon Station (Line 6) Exit 4, and it's open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Sitting right in the middle of Itaewon's main street, it's incredibly easy to drop by before or after meeting up with people. Even the entrance banner, plastered with mouthwatering photos of various Korean dishes, caught my eye right away.

Inside the second-floor dining room: mood and seating

Heading up to the second floor and stepping inside, I was greeted by a bright, pleasant interior overall. The tables are spaced generously and there's plenty of seating, so it works well whether you're eating solo or gathering with friends.

Ordering the soy-braised bone stew from the table tablet

Every table at Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch has a modern tablet menu installed, so you can browse and order at your own pace. The signature dishes are gamjatang and ppyeodagwi haejangguk (pork bone hangover soup), both simmered for over 6 hours for a deep, rich broth, and you can add various toppings to your taste, like ramen noodles, udon noodles or sujebi (hand-torn dough) noodles.

This time, we were craving something special, so after some deliberation we went with the soy-braised bone stew (ganjang ppyeojjim)! For reference, bone stew and grilled bone dishes start cooking the moment you order, taking about 15 to 20 minutes.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar at Nuri Maeul Gamjatang

After ordering, the neatly arranged basic side dishes came out — crisp, well-fermented kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) alongside spicy-sweet, savory geotjeori (fresh cabbage kimchi). The kimchi was delicious enough to make the main dish even better.

Off to one side of the restaurant is a well-maintained self-serve bar, so you can freely grab extra side dishes, water or utensils whenever you need them — a genuinely satisfying touch.

How do the soy-braised bones and rich gamjatang broth taste together?

Finally, today's main dish, the soy-braised bone stew, arrived piled generously on a huge square hot plate! The overwhelming presentation, paired with a subtle sweet-and-salty aroma, powerfully stirred my appetite.

A nice touch was that a savory, spicy gamjatang broth came along with it, so we could enjoy both together. True to a secret sauce recipe carrying 22 years of know-how, the deep, rich flavor felt like it thoroughly settled my stomach. I'm planning to come back just for the gamjatang next time!

Inside the soy-braised bone stew were thick spine bones along with chewy glass noodles, rice cake and vegetables, all piled generously. Taking a bite of the sauce-soaked glass noodles, the sweet-and-salty balance was truly perfect. Above all, the meat, slow-boiled for a long time, pulled apart tender along the grain in every bite, and the savory juices, with no gamey smell at all, filled my mouth. The bones and meat separated so easily that it was a top-tier delicacy anyone, young or old, could enjoy without hassle!!

Final verdict on Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch

Between the deep, rich broth and the care put into the dish, it was easy to see why this is a go-to gamjatang spot in Itaewon. If you're after a hearty meal in Itaewon, a spicy hangover cure, or a good place to have a drink, I'd recommend Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch without hesitation 👏🏻👏🏻