Yeouido clam hot pot vs seafood boil, main branch guide: Gaetbeol-ui

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch (갯벌의조개 여의도본점) is at 15-1 Gukhoe-daero 70-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd floor of Geukdong VIP Building. It's open Monday to Sunday, 11:00–22:00. You reserve through Naver Reservation, and parking is listed as available (free).

When the weather turns chilly, I always crave a hot broth packed with clams,, so this time I went with a friend to Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch, a famous Yeouido clam spot!! We ordered the giant clam hot pot for two and happily finished it off with a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) add-on, hehe. There are several Gaetbeol-ui Jogae branches in Yeouido, so for anyone wondering which to visit and what to order, I've put together a menu comparison too!!

Where is Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch?

It's very close to National Assembly Station!! Just head up to the 2nd floor of Geukdong VIP Building.

When you step into the 2nd floor, you'll see the menu and a sample of the giant clam hot pot like this.

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch interior and private rooms: good for team dinners?

The inside was so pleasant, and with private rooms available, I thought it would be a good spot for a Yeouido company dinner too.

If you're looking for a Yeouido spot for a team dinner, I think Gaetbeol-ui Jogae works,, and some of the rooms fit 8 or more people!!! It's good for group gatherings and also great for wedding invitation get-togethers (a Korean custom where couples treat friends and hand out invitations).

Giant clam hot pot, seafood boil or clam kalguksu: which should you order?

The main dishes are the giant clam hot pot (₩59,000–119,000), the seafood boil (₩59,000–149,000), and the lunch clam kalguksu (₩22,000–44,000). Broth lovers should pick the giant clam hot pot, those who want the fun and look of cracking shellfish by hand should pick the seafood boil, and the clam kalguksu is the lunch value pick.

That's the full menu at Gaetbeol-ui Jogae!! Here's how the main dishes compare.

• Giant clam hot pot (₩59,000–119,000): recommended for broth lovers and anyone who likes the natural flavor of clams. Perfect for a hot meal on a chilly day.
• Seafood boil (₩59,000–149,000): for those who enjoy cracking open seafood by hand more than sipping broth. Suits gatherings or anniversaries where looks matter.
• Clam kalguksu (lunch ₩22,000–44,000): for a light meal, or if you want good value at lunch.

I'm a broth person, so choosing the giant clam hot pot made me so happy! You need the broth to enjoy the kalguksu add-on, so for a first visit I recommend hot pot plus noodles. On a weekday lunch, try the giant seafood kalguksu or the cockle bibimbap! Anyway, our order was the spicy giant clam hot pot for ₩59,000 and a kalguksu add-on for ₩3,000.

Basic table setting at Gaetbeol-ui Jogae

At Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch, each table already has chojang (sweet-and-sour chili sauce), soy sauce, paper cups and small plates set out, which was super convenient.

Lots of places make you fetch your own small plates,,

Is the self-bar yeolmu barley rice worth it?

The self-bar at Gaetbeol-ui Jogae has yeolmu (young radish kimchi) and barley rice, so you can make your own yeolmu bibimbap. Do not walk past this self-bar!!

The bibimbap made from the self-bar's radish kimchi and barley rice is honestly so so good ㅠㅠ

Mix tangy radish kimchi into fluffy barley rice, then eat it with a spoonful of clam broth, and it's out-of-this-world amazing.

My friend loved it and ate 2 bowls haha. If you eat too much before the hot pot arrives you'll get full, so portion control is a must.

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae giant clam hot pot: portion size and taste

The giant clam hot pot comes out as soon as you order, and the size makes it obvious why it's called giant. Even though it's for 2 people, the portion is huge, and when you lift the lid a staff member comes over and prepares it for you.

Tips for the giant clam hot pot

After a while,, when the lid comes off, it's a sight that makes you reach for your camera first! A staff member comes over and starts by preparing the giant pen shell,,

Next up, a whole squid, slurp. And I didn't know this, but the giant clam hot pot comes with cheese too! So touching,,

My friend shelled the clams for me,, and even though we hadn't finished shelling them all, look how much there is. The broth is also insane. It's made from the clams, so it tastes refreshing and clean. The clam meat is big too, and every piece I picked up was plump and chewy. Eating it on a chilly day, I felt my whole body melting.

When should you add the kalguksu noodles?

When we were almost done with the giant clam hot pot, we added the kalguksu noodles (₩3,000)!! Putting noodles into the broth after the clams had fully flavored it made the soup richer and the noodles soaked up the clam taste.

Eating it with Gaetbeol-ui Jogae's geotjeori (fresh kimchi) is so good.

Put a piece of crunchy geotjeori on top and slurp, and honestly the kalguksu add-on is the right way to finish a meal at Gaetbeol-ui Jogae. Hot pot → radish barley rice → kalguksu add-on, perfect from start to finish with no gaps.

And at the counter on the way out, they've set out candies to freshen your mouth,, plus hair ties, dental floss, mouthwash and more, which is amazing,,!!!

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch vs Yeouido Station branch: how to tell them apart

In Yeouido there's a separate Yeouido Station branch besides the Yeouido Main Branch! The one I went to is the Main Branch on the 2nd floor of Geukdong VIP Building on Gukhoe-daero 70-gil. When you search on Naver Map, definitely check the branch name and address! Reservations are also separate for each branch, so don't get them mixed up!!

Who should go to Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch?

• Anyone craving hot clam broth in Yeouido
• Anyone looking for a spot for a team dinner or gathering
• Anyone looking for a seafood date with great visuals
• Broth lovers: giant clam hot pot + kalguksu add-on is my top pick
• Bibimbap fans (definitely try the self-bar radish barley rice)

A few things to keep in mind.

• On the pricey side (lunch menu is the better value)
• Check the Main Branch address so you don't mix up branches
• Call ahead about parking before you visit

A Yeouido clam spot that comes to mind on chilly days, and it was perfect from start to finish, so I'm planning to go back!!! Everybody give it a try, try, try~~