Pufferfish soup and stew near Cheongdam Station with valet parking

Ever have trouble deciding what to eat for lunch near Cheongdam Station? I was looking for a good hangover-soup spot and came across a place called Bogi-o Boguk (복이오복국). Doesn't the name alone sound like it's packed with good fortune?

I'd heard it was famous for pufferfish soup and that parking was easy, so my expectations were high. Honestly, finding a place with easy parking in Cheongdam isn't simple. So I went straight to this Cheongdam favorite, Bogi-o Boguk!

Bogi-o Boguk location, hours, and parking info

• Address: 2F Deokyoung Building, 540 Dosan-daero, Cheongdam, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Hours: Daily 11:00 – 22:00
• Reservations, group seating, takeout, Wi-Fi, separate men's/women's restrooms, baby chair, parking, valet parking

5 minutes on foot from Cheongdam Station Exit 8, the storefront

This Cheongdam favorite is about a 5-minute walk from Cheongdam Station Exit 8. Access was really convenient. It's open daily from 11am to 10pm, with a break time from 3pm to 5pm — worth keeping in mind if you're planning a visit.

I went right at lunchtime, timed perfectly with opening, so I could walk right in. And the crucial thing for any Cheongdam Station restaurant — parking! Valet parking was available right in front, so I had no worries bringing my car. The valet fee was ₩3,000. The storefront had a clean, hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal restaurant) kind of feel.

A spacious dining room that's easy for solo diners, plus a private room and wine

Traditional atmosphere coexisting with modern polish, kind of? The sign was easy to spot too, so I found it without any trouble. Stepping inside, it was much more spacious and pleasant than I expected.

The tables were spaced generously apart, so I felt comfortable the whole meal. Even eating alone, the atmosphere was completely unpressured.

There's also a private room for group customers, which seemed like it'd be great for gatherings. The overall wood-tone interior with soft lighting gave the place a warm, cozy feel.

So you can even enjoy wine here!

The menu and my order — milbok jiri and milbok spicy stew

The tables were neatly set and the staff greeted me kindly, so I could start my meal in a good mood. I sat down and looked over the menu. True to a pufferfish specialty restaurant, there was a wide range of pufferfish dishes, but I was craving something cool and brothy, so I ordered one serving of milbok jiri (clear pufferfish soup) and one of milbok spicy stew. The price was ₩24,000.

Besides the soups, there were dishes like fried pufferfish and steamed pufferfish too — I thought I'd have to come back with a group and try a variety next time. Not long after ordering, the banchan (side dishes) arrived.

Kimchi, anchovies, pickled vegetables — neat, tasty side dishes, each one good enough that I nearly finished a whole bowl of rice before the main dish even arrived, haha.

The bean sprout salad especially had a nice crunchy texture and just the right seasoning, so my chopsticks kept going back for more.

How was the milbok jiri broth for a hangover cure?

Finally, the milbok jiri I'd ordered arrived! A milky-white broth loaded with water celery, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and chunky pieces of pufferfish meat. Just looking at it, it seemed cool and refreshing, and it made my mouth water. One spoonful in and I let out an involuntary "ahh."

The broth was truly outstanding! Clean yet cool-tasting, with the distinct clean flavor of pufferfish still intact. I thought this would be perfect as a hangover cure the morning after drinking. The pufferfish meat was soft and chewy, satisfying to bite into. Dipping it lightly in wasabi soy sauce made it even better. The water celery and bean sprouts were crunchy too, so the textures worked beautifully together with the fish. The broth was so good that I forgot to eat it with rice and just kept spooning up broth. It was a truly filling and satisfying meal.

You might think pufferfish dishes are pricier than expected, but with this level of taste and quality, it didn't feel overpriced at all. It seems especially perfect when you need a hangover cure or a nourishing meal.

Honest overall verdict

Now I understand why Cheongdam's Bogi-o Boguk is talked about as a local favorite. The clean, pleasant dining atmosphere was great, and the friendly staff made the meal comfortable.

Most importantly, the taste of the pufferfish soup itself was, without question, excellent! Cool, clean broth with tender pufferfish meat made for a truly satisfying meal.

Parking was easy too, so bringing the car wasn't a hassle. If you're looking for good pufferfish soup in Cheongdam or a place to cure a hangover, I really recommend Bogi-o Boguk! I'd like to come back and try other pufferfish dishes next time.

For dessert, I even got to buy some Häagen-Dazs, haha.