Gangseo Seoul Korean restaurant for plump nakgopsae: Gungmin

A nakgopsae restaurant between Balsan and Ujangsan stations

The exterior and inside

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch (국민낙곱새 강서점) is a restaurant located between Balsan Station and Ujangsan Station. It is between the two, but it was closer than I expected—only about a four- to five-minute walk from either station.

They sell drinking snacks such as dried filefish as well as nakgopsae (spicy octopus, tripe, and shrimp stew), so it looked like a great place for a company dinner too! But it would be a shame to come all this way and not eat nakgopsae... 🤭

There were at least seven tables, including seats for six or more people! They even had a beam projector, so it would be so nice to put on baseball or a movie. The atmosphere was good, and with both Balsan and Ujangsan stations nearby, it would be perfect for a company dinner or a second-round drinks spot.

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch menu

As you would expect from a nakgopsae specialist, the main dishes at Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch were Korean beef abomasum or beef tripe nakgopsae. There were also lots of hot pots, including beef brisket, beef tripe, and dumpling hot pot ✨ And for a side, the almost-essential flying-fish-roe rice balls!!

Beef tripe nakgopsae: a hearty spread of plump ingredients

I ordered the beef tripe nakgopsae. Honestly, since the ingredients in nakgopsae are generally pricey, I was not expecting a huge amount. But when it arrived and I saw the plump shrimp, octopus, and tripe, I was whispering to myself, “This place is good.”

Can you see how plump the octopus is...? 🥺 It was not tough at all either, which made it so enjoyable to eat.

After a little stirring, it cooked in no time. The owner kindly came around and helped us out. They were so kind and warm that it put me in a good mood.

I saw the tripe was packed with rich filling and thought, “I absolutely have to photograph this,” so here it is... Honestly, tripe in nakgopsae is often a bit tough, so I tend not to eat it. But this one was full of rich filling and wonderfully chewy; over rice, it was a total rice thief.

Even the big, plump shrimp were perfect... The sauce was not overly spicy—just spicy enough to make me go “whew whew” as I ate!

My ultimate perilla leaf, pickled radish, and mayonnaise combination

The basic side dishes included white kimchi, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), pickled radish wraps, mayonnaise, and perilla leaves. And that is where I found my ★ultimate combination★.

Perilla leaf + pickled radish wrap + a trio of octopus, tripe, and shrimp + a dab of mayonnaise!

Please make sure no one misses out on this combination... Put tangy pickled radish on an aromatic perilla leaf, add bouncy octopus and shrimp with nutty beef abomasum, then top it with a little mayonnaise and pop it into your mouth. The spice, richness, and tang all came together—it was the best combination.

Especially, the mayonnaise was not just a store-bought product—it tasted like it had extra sauce mixed in, so it was unique and delicious!!!

Flying-fish-roe rice balls to mix by hand

I also ordered flying-fish-roe rice balls, which are practically an essential pairing. You all know the fun of mixing up flying-fish-roe rice balls with your own hands before eating them, right...

I was already about to burst, but once I mixed them up and tried them, they tasted just like the delicious flying-fish-roe rice balls I know!!!! A combination that cannot possibly taste bad...

Overall, Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch seemed generous with its ingredients, and it made me hope the restaurant does well for a long time. Ujangsan and Balsan stations are not usually packed on weekends, yet there were already quite a few people in the restaurant. I thought, of course—people really do recognize a good restaurant.

If you are looking for a good restaurant or a company-dinner spot near Ujangsan or Balsan Station, do visit Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch, where everything from the side dishes to the generously filled tripe was perfect! It was the most delicious nakgopsae I have ever had, haha.