Weekday lunch bossam set for parents: Todamok, kalguksu in Ansan

A Seonbu-dong, Ansan restaurant I visited on a weekday lunch — I'd heard so many reviews praising the kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) that I took my noodle-loving dad and my mom along to check it out. Both my parents were so happy with the meal that we're already planning to go back soon. Let me introduce Todamok.

The first thing I noticed was the quiet, hanok (traditional Korean house) feel of the place — Todamok in Seonbu-dong is a restaurant I'd especially recommend for visiting with parents. The weather was so nice on the day we went that it almost felt like a little outing.

Todamok is known as a kalguksu spot, and there are lots of reviews raving about the algoni kalguksu (roe and milt noodle soup) and chicken kalguksu. I'd never heard of algoni kalguksu before, so I couldn't really picture it — I figured I just had to try it myself.

Where to park at Todamok in Seonbu-dong

Todamok's parking lot is right in front of the restaurant, so it's easy to park even if you drive over. These days you pretty much need a car everywhere, so checking for parking beforehand has become a must for me.

Todamok menu: how the two-person set works

My mom loves spicy food, so she ordered the algoni kalguksu, while my dad and I ordered chicken kalguksu! They also serve chogyeguksu (cold noodles in spicy vinegar sauce), the ultimate summer dish, so definitely try that too if you visit.

I figured ordering a set would be the smart move, so I went with the two-person bossam (small) set and added one extra bowl of kalguksu. I loved that the set came with bossam and potato pancake, both of which pair really well with kalguksu.

Inside Todamok: hanok-style interior and seating

Since it's a fairly new restaurant, the cleanliness stood out right away, and there's plenty of seating for groups, making it a good spot for family gatherings or get-togethers with friends.

There are also window seats that are great for solo dining, so I'd recommend it for eating alone too.

What's on the self-serve bar at Todamok

They bring out the basic side dishes, but you can grab extra refills from the self-serve corner. It seems like most places these days have a solid self-serve setup, and I really appreciate that.

The aprons are disposable rather than reusable, which is a nice touch hygiene-wise.

With kalguksu, honestly you don't need much else — as long as the geotjeori (fresh cabbage kimchi) is good, that's really all that matters. At Todamok in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, you could tell at a glance the geotjeori was homemade, and I couldn't wait to try it with the noodles.

The two-person bossam (small) set with minari salad

Think of the two-person bossam set as about half a plate of bossam. My dad said good bossam calls for a drink, so he asked for a bottle of soju, and we ordered that too.

Fresh minari (water dropwort) salad paired with tender bossam. The pork had zero gamey smell and was so soft — it went perfectly with the minari salad.

Dad looked a little lonely drinking solo, so mom and I clinked our water glasses with him for a cheers.

Two bowls of chicken kalguksu, one algoni kalguksu, and bossam — the spread was just perfect. I already love kalguksu, so whenever I see good reviews about it, I make a habit of going to try it myself.

What does algoni (roe and milt) kalguksu taste like?

This was my first time seeing algoni kalguksu, and it truly lived up to its name. It was generously loaded with gonni (fish milt) and al (roe) — I tried a few bites, and the spicy, punchy flavor was really appealing. I think algoni kalguksu will be my order the next time I come back to Todamok.

The chewy noodles paired nicely with the minari inside, giving a good texture with every bite — and the portion was pretty generous too.

Slurping through a bowl, I could feel myself getting fuller and fuller.

I also had the gonni and broth together — it almost felt like a hangover cure. If you like a spicy kalguksu broth, I'd definitely recommend the algoni kalguksu.

Chicken kalguksu: a mild broth kids can eat

The egg garnish on top felt like it took more care than your average kalguksu. I tasted the broth first, and it wasn't harsh at all — I could see young kids enjoying it happily. Another reason I'd recommend this as a family dining spot is that there are dishes everyone can share, including kids, while dads can enjoy the drinking snacks too.

It's great to order the two-person set for two people, and if there are three of you like us, I'd recommend ordering the set plus one extra bowl of kalguksu.

Even while we were eating, customers kept streaming in, and it really showed why Todamok is known as the go-to kalguksu restaurant in Seonbu-dong, Ansan.

Since it's chicken-based, the broth is light and not overpowering, making for a proper, satisfying meal at Todamok in Seonbu-dong.

House-made geotjeori kimchi and dadaegi chili seasoning

The geotjeori was so good that eating it alongside the kalguksu made for a great combo — the kimchi was delicious enough that I went back to the self-serve corner for an extra plate. The mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad) was seasoned just right too, and it was great even piled on top of the bossam.

You could tell at a glance the geotjeori was homemade, and my kimchi-loving mom enjoyed it so much that I found myself thinking we should come back soon. There's a spicy seasoning sauce on the table, and if you want your chicken kalguksu spicier, I'd recommend adding some. I added a little myself, and since I like it spicy, it definitely tasted better with the sauce mixed in.

Why Todamok is easy to visit with kids

It's a great place to bring kids not just because of the fish tank inside, but because there's a separate animal farm right outside — perfect for taking photos of the kids.

I can't even imagine how much thought the owner put into the interior design. There were more fish down below too, so I snapped some photos of those as well.

Dessert at Todamok: plum tea and coffee

Once we stepped outside, plum tea and coffee were ready for us. We were headed straight to a second café afterward, so we skipped the coffee, but ice was available separately, so it looked like a great spot to enjoy iced coffee too.

The animal farm outside Todamok, for kids and parents

Right after finishing our meal, we spotted the animal farm and were pulled in like magic.

It had been a while since I'd seen a rabbit, and I was genuinely happy to see one — I couldn't even remember the last time I'd seen animals up close. My dad seemed to enjoy it too, saying it had been a long time since he'd seen a rabbit.

On the other side, guinea pigs were having their meal, and it was so cute watching them all dive into their food haha.

I'd highly recommend Todamok, a kalguksu restaurant in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, for visiting with kids to see the animals and enjoy delicious kalguksu.