Double-portion perilla oil makguksu at Insa-dong restaurant Goshine

Why a reservation at Goshine Donghae still means queuing

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is a Gangwon-do style makguksu (cold buckwheat noodle) restaurant tucked into an alley off Insadong 12-gil, and even though I had a reservation timed for the 5pm break-time reopening, I ended up joining the waiting line anyway. Neighbors~ when you make a reservation ahead of time, don't you all imagine strolling in with your shoulders back, all confident? 😆 I showed up feeling completely relaxed too, but the moment I turned into the alley, I couldn't believe my eyes.

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch

It wasn't even opening time yet, and there was already a long line stretched out in front of the door 🫢 "Wait... I have a reservation, do I still stand in line? Or do I stand next to the entrance and yell that I have a reservation?" My brain short-circuited for a second, and after some flustered back-and-forth I quietly slipped in at the back of the line.

Seeing not just Koreans but foreign visitors who'd sniffed out a proper K-food hotspot, plus groups of Koreans clearly showing friends around, I knew instantly: "Ah, I found the right place."

Goshine Donghae Insa-dong location and opening hours

• Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch / 3 Insadong 12-gil (68 Gwanhun-dong), 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30
• 🍷 Free corkage available — yes, even free corkage!
• 🅿️ Nearby public parking lot

Inside the hanok: exposed rafters and a self-serve banchan bar

Inside Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, cozy hanok rafters blend with warm lighting for a genuinely lovely atmosphere. The walls are packed with charming framed pictures, and there's a neatly kept self-serve bar too.

It's the perfect look for bringing your parents along, or even for a date.

But my sightseeing didn't last long — the tables filled up in no time, and a line started forming outside 🫢

True to its Gangwon-do Donghae makguksu name, there's even a corner selling Gangwon-do regional specialty gifts 😃

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch menu and prices

• Sets: 1-person set ₩21,000–29,000 (makguksu + bossam) / 2-person set ₩38,000–54,000 (2 makguksu + bossam)
• Makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles): ✅ Water makguksu ₩11,000, ✅ Perilla oil makguksu ₩12,000, Spicy mixed makguksu ₩12,000, Pollock jeotgal mixed makguksu ₩13,000
• Sundubu (soft tofu): Pine nut sundubu makguksu ₩14,000, Clear chodang sundubu ₩10,000, ✅ Spicy chodang sundubu ₩12,000
• Stone pot bibimbap: Eggplant ₩12,000, Flying fish roe ₩13,000, Avocado ₩14,000, Pork jeyuk ₩15,000, Beef bulgogi ₩16,000, Eel ₩20,000
• Buckwheat gimbap: Salad ₩6,500, Flying fish roe ₩7,000, ✅ Cream cheese ₩7,500, Spicy fish cake ₩8,000, Green chili ₩8,500, Avocado ₩9,000, Soy sauce pork ₩9,000, Spicy pork ₩9,000, Snow crab stick ₩9,000, Eel ₩14,000, Salmon ₩15,000
• Bossam / hot pot / soup / pork cutlet: Kkamak-jang bossam medium (2-3 people) ₩31,000, large (3-4 people) ₩43,000, Tofu samhap ₩36,000, Tofu mushroom hot pot ₩35,000, Beef bulgogi mushroom hot pot ₩43,000, Galbitang ₩18,000, Cheese pork loin cutlet roll ₩16,000
• Buckwheat pancakes: Kimchi buckwheat pancake ₩9,000, Gondre buckwheat pancake ₩9,000, Half-and-half buckwheat pancake ₩9,000, Kimchi pancake ₩10,000
• Drinks & alcohol: Rice/corn/pumpkin/omija/buckwheat dongdongju (half bottle) each ₩6,000, Dongdongju by the glass ₩1,000, Jim Beam highball ₩8,000, Terra (4.6%) ₩5,000, Chamisul Fresh (16%) ₩5,000, Chum Churum (16%) ₩5,000, Saero (16%) ₩5,000, Donghae Bam Bada (17.2%) ₩6,000, Gangneung soju (25%) ₩8,000

What two people ordered at Goshine Donghae

Even though I had a reservation, I made sure the wait was worth it by ordering a table full of food 🐷🐷🐷

1. Sikhye (sweet rice drink) and the banchan

Sikhye (sweet rice punch) came out to open up the stomach. Basic banchan (side dishes) arrived along with the broth meant for the perilla oil makguksu. This broth-sauce combo is important ⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Cream cheese buckwheat gimbap (7,500 won)

Instead of rice, this gimbap (seaweed rice roll) uses buckwheat noodles aged with black vinegar, topped generously with soft cream cheese and nuts — a keto-style gimbap. It was my first time trying buckwheat gimbap and it tasted healthier than I expected.

Crisp vegetables and chewy buckwheat noodles get wrapped in the heavy, nutty richness of the cream cheese, and it's a party in your mouth. An absolute banger disguised as a diet dish.

3. Water makguksu (11,000 won)

Served with a kelp-and-soy-sauce broth topped with floating ice shards, the water makguksu is the perfect refresher that washes away the richness of the perilla oil.

Perilla oil makguksu: was the double portion worth it?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4. Perilla oil makguksu, double portion (base ₩12,000) — everyone, listen up. This is the day I met the perilla oil makguksu of my life. The moment it landed on the table, the aroma of cold-pressed organic perilla oil hit hard. I ordered the double portion and the amount was massive — and wow, so good. I fully commend myself for ordering the double portion 🐽🐽🐽

I inhaled the trio of dried seaweed flakes, sesame seeds, and perilla oil — the perilla oil was insane, the peak of rich, nutty aroma — so I scraped up every last bit of sauce with my spoon.

Partway through, I poured in a generous splash of the broth from earlier and it turned slightly tangy — so, so good.

There used to be leftovers

There are none 🐽🐽🐽 An Insa-dong, Jongno restaurant recommendation 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Ending with spicy chodang sundubu (12,000 won)

And now the final dish! This added the spiciness we hadn't had yet. Goshine Donghae Makguksu's spicy chodang sundubu (soft tofu stew) is ₩12,000.

The spicy chodang sundubu has a fiery, deep broth flavor! Going back and forth between the cold pool of makguksu and the hot pool of sundubu created the perfect balance 🐷🐽💡

Loaded with egg and meat, yum yum. The two of us cleared everything out. We packed up the leftover buckwheat gimbap to take home 🐷🐷🐷

After the meal, a sip of sweet, cold sikhye gave a clean, perfect finish!

Tips to know before visiting Goshine Donghae in Insa-dong

Patting my full stomach as I walked out, I saw the waitlist and crowd outside had already grown into chaos. Turns out there was a reason I felt nervous even with a reservation. If you want to enjoy refined Gangwon-do style buckwheat dishes and chodang sundubu inside a hanok-style setting in Jongno, I recommend this Insa-dong restaurant! (Just make sure to arrive early, timed with the opening!!)

• ✔️ Location: 3 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch (hanok interior with self-serve bar)
• ✔️ Tip: A queue forms before the 5pm evening reopening — even with a reservation, arrive 10-15 minutes early
• ✔️ Recommended: Buckwheat gimbap (₩6,500–15,000), Perilla oil makguksu (₩12,000)
• ✔️ Notes: The diet-friendly buckwheat gimbap made with noodles instead of rice and the nutty perilla oil makguksu are standouts; a well-known Jongno spot with frequent waits from foreign tourists and local office workers