Korean restaurant, Gangdong Seoul: gukbap at Boseung Hoegwan

How close is it to Cheonho Station, and can you eat late?

My husband and I went to Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch (보승회관 천호역점) for a bowl of gukbap on the weekend. It was just a short walk from Exit 3 of Cheonho Station, so it was easy to reach by public transit. The address is Unit 1, 1F, 654 Olympic-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

At the time of our visit, it was listed as open 24 hours daily. Parking, free corkage, and group dining were available, and Naver reservations were listed for groups of 4–34.

The restaurant was larger than I expected. At the time of our visit, it was also running a nighttime summer event with discounted soju from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day.

Is it comfortable for solo or group meals?

There was plenty of waiting space, so even if I had to wait, I would not have needed to stand outside.

There were several kinds of tables inside, with wide gaps between them, which made it comfortable to eat. There were also seats for dining alone, and I saw many solo diners.

Tables continued into the back, where there were cushioned sofa seats as well. I thought it would work well for a group meal if tables were joined together.

What gukbap is available, and can one person order the special?

The meal menu included sundae-gukbap, suyuk-gukbap, pork jowl suyuk-gukbap, and giblet gukbap. There were extra-large and spicy options, as well as set meals with small portions of pyeonyuk (pressed pork) and sundae (Korean blood sausage). Naengmyeon was available as a seasonal dish.

For dishes to have with alcohol, there were gamjatang, sundae-gopchang-jeongol, suyuk, and sulguk.

The set meal required an order for at least two people, but the special could be ordered for one person. We ordered the one-person sundae-guk special and basic giblet gukbap.

How were the side dishes and the sundae and pyeonyuk in the special?

The basic spread included chives, kimchi, kkakdugi, jeotgal, and salt. I do not usually like kimchi much, but I liked the kimchi here enough to get a refill.

The special came with three kinds of sundae and pyeonyuk. I had gone a long time without eating and was very hungry, so it was good for taking the edge off before the gukbap.

There were two pieces of each kind, so it was easy for the two of us to share. The pyeonyuk was chewy, light, and savory.

The sundae reminded me of the Cheonan-style sundae that I like, so I enjoyed it.

How were the fillings and seasoning in the giblet gukbap and sundae-guk?

The giblet gukbap arrived bubbling hot. When ordering, I could choose to leave out ddaegi seasoning paste, scallions, and perilla seed powder; I ordered it with all three.

I could also choose whether to add ddaegi seasoning paste, scallions, and perilla seed powder to the sundae-guk.

The sundae-guk had plenty of sundae and pork head meat. Since we ordered the extra-large version, it seemed to have more fillings.

The broth in my giblet gukbap was seasoned just right. It suited my taste without adding salt or salted shrimp.

There were plenty of giblets, and the meat had a good chew. Since I usually like giblets, I was satisfied with it.

There was also a generous amount of rice, so I mixed some into the soup and ate some separately. It was a good combination with kimchi or kkakdugi.

It was convenient to request water and side dishes with the staff call button. Even though we went a little after the dinner rush, customers kept coming in while we ate. With its tidy interior, spacious seating, and gukbap that suited my taste, I would like to return when I am craving gukbap near Cheonho Station.