Gimpo sundae-guk spot seen on YouTube, ₩38,000 for two: Paldam Sundae

I'd seen Paldam Sundae (팔담순대) on the YouTube channel 'Gwajang Malgo Sajang' and kept saying "I have to go eat there!!" until I finally made it, hahaha. I was so curious because they make their sundae by hand. It was a weekend lunch, so I worried about the wait, but I joined the waitlist on Catchtable beforehand, timed my arrival, and got in almost right away.

Where is Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch, and is there parking?

Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch is on Ungok-ro, where Janggi-dong meets Seokmo-ri in Yangchon-eup. So you can find it whether you search for restaurants in Janggi-dong or in Seokmo-ri.

You park in the lot next to the restaurant. I got there around 1pm and it was almost full, so I squeezed in somehow, ugh.

Paldam Sundae hours and the Catchtable waitlist

Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch opens at 10am and closes at 3pm, with last order at 2:30. It's open for lunch only and closed every Thursday. You can join the waitlist on the Catchtable app from 9:30am, so it's great to sign up at home and then set off! I did that too, and since people cleared out faster than expected, I extended my wait a few times along the way.

There's a Catchtable waitlist tablet at the entrance. When we arrived around 1pm, it showed 10 teams waiting and an estimated 33 minutes.

If you couldn't join the waitlist ahead of time, there's a greenhouse where you can wait after signing up. There are also outdoor tables and potted plants, and the garden path is prettily decorated.

Further along the path there's a water purifier and a coffee machine too, so I think your turn would come quickly while you sip a cup of something.

Inside Paldam Sundae: what does 'Paldam' mean?

Inside, the dining hall is laid out so you can see all of it at a glance. The menu and "Today's Omakase Sundae" hang on the wall.

I wondered what the name 'Paldam' meant, and it turns out to be "containing the flavors of the eight provinces": they make handmade sundae, a fading craft, from seasonal local specialties across the country. There's even a map of Korea marking where the ingredients come from, which I thought was neat.

There's also a country-of-origin board and two patent certificates on the wall. They're patents on how the sundae is made, apparently.

Paldam Sundae menu and price for two

At Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch, two of us ordered clear lean-meat sundae-guk, 211 spicy sundae-guk, roasted nut sundae, a handmade sundae platter and a Chilsung Cider Zero, and the total was ₩38,000. You order on the tablet at the table.

Every menu item is available for takeout, and if you order one per person, the self-bar organ meat and extra rice are free, it says!

There was also a notice about the head meat. They use only domestic top-grade breed sows, don't add extracts or powders, and simmer the bones for a long time so the broth has no impurities. If the broth is too spicy or salty, they'll swap it for clear broth. With so many thoughtful touches, it felt very meticulous.

What's on the Paldam Sundae organ-meat self-serve bar?

The self-bar has organ meats and side dishes, with a sign reading "Several kinds of organ meat are prepared, so take as much as you like and enjoy." Isn't the owner just giving everything away?! Wow, haha. The sign also says that for sundae-guk takeout, rice is excluded and the seasoning is packed separately. Organ meat to go is an extra ₩5,000.

There was quite a variety: liver, lung, osogamtu (pig stomach), heart and windpipe.

For side dishes, they bring some at first, and if you run out you get more from the self-bar. There's napa cabbage kimchi, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), Cheongyang chili peppers, two kinds of seasoning sauce, and chili dadegi (seasoning paste).

Omakase handmade sundae platter: which sundae came that day?

Paldam's omakase handmade sundae comes on a bamboo steamer lined with bean sprouts, with six pieces of sundae and boiled head meat (suyuk). That day it was three kinds: Cheongyang chili sundae, blood sundae and ginseng sundae. Each sundae has a little flag stuck in it so you can tell right away which is which. You get two of each flavor, so it was great for two people to share.

Cheongyang chili pepper sundae

Cut open, the Cheongyang chili sundae shows white glass noodles and glutinous rice, with bits of Cheongyang chili studded throughout.

Pi-sundae (blood sausage)

The blood sundae has glass noodles, chives and carrot mixed into dark red sun-ji (congealed blood). The sign calls it "blood sundae, good for anemia and detox."

Ginseng sundae

In the ginseng sundae, you can see grains of glutinous rice and glass noodles right in the cross-section. The sign says "ginseng sundae for restoring energy."

211 spicy vs clear lean-meat sundae-guk: which should you order?

I wanted both the clear and the spicy sundae-guk, so I ordered one 211 spicy sundae-guk and one clear lean-meat sundae-guk. If I had to pick, I was more drawn to the clear one.

211 spicy sundae-guk

The 211 spicy sundae-guk is described as made with "a special dadegi created with chef Lee Won-il's consulting, a spicier, deeper flavor than the dadegi on the table." The menu name is literally "Chef 211's Spicy Sundae-guk", lol. You feel the kick right away, and it's more intense than hot. Like the YouTube video, it seems great for making a strong first impression.

Clear lean-meat sundae-guk

For the clear lean-meat sundae-guk, I chose the version with the fat removed and only lean meat. When I fished around with my spoon, there was a lot of meat all the way down to the bottom of the earthenware bowl. It's a warm soup you'll keep thinking about and want any time. If it's your first visit, try the clear one first, and if you like a kick, go for the spicy one.

What does Paldam Sundae's roasted nut sundae taste like?

Paldam's roasted nut sundae is grilled golden on the outside and topped with pumpkin seeds and almonds. Maybe thanks to the dish, it stayed warm for a long time while we ate. The nutty aroma rises up richly, and you taste that same nuttiness as you eat. It was a flavor I'd never had in sundae, so different that I want to bring my mom and dad and eat it together.

Extra rice is free

At Paldam Sundae, extra rice is free if you run out. Did you know the lid has a 福 (fortune) character pattern, haha? A note says the bowl is hot, so don't carry it yourself and ask the staff.

Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch: pros and cons

• Pro: At the organ-meat self-bar you can take as much as you like
• Pro: With ingredient origins, country-of-origin labels and even patent certificates, it inspires trust
• Pro: Extra rice is free
• Pro: There's a parking lot next to the restaurant, so it's easy by car
• Con: Open for lunch only. It closes at 3pm, and I gave up on coming a few times
• Con: Closed every Thursday
• Con: If you just show up, the wait is long. Better to join the Catchtable waitlist beforehand
• Con: The parking lot isn't roomy, so at busy times you may have to circle around

Would I go back to Paldam Sundae?

Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch makes its own sundae, lets you take as much organ meat as you want, and offers rich, varied flavors. As long as you join the waitlist first, it's a good spot for a family meal or weekend lunch. If anyone asks me to recommend sundae-guk nearby, I'd totally recommend Paldam Sundae! If it weren't so far from home, I'd bring my mom and dad here and treat them.

Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch FAQ

What are Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch's opening hours?

10am to 3pm, with last order at 2:30. It's open for lunch only and closed every Thursday.

Is there parking at Paldam Sundae?

There's a lot next to the restaurant. It isn't roomy, though, and it was almost full during the busy lunch hour.

Is there a wait at Paldam Sundae?

Around 1pm on the visit day, it showed 10 teams waiting with an estimated 33 minutes. You can join the waitlist on the Catchtable app from 9:30am.

Does the organ-meat self-serve bar cost extra?

The menu says that if you order one per person, the self-bar organ meat and extra rice are free. Organ meat taken to go is ₩5,000.

Clear or spicy sundae-guk: which is better?

It's a matter of taste. The spicy one has a kick that hits the back of your throat, while the clear one is a warm soup you'll keep thinking about. I liked the clear one better. If you're curious about both, order two bowls and share.