Korean restaurant near Gyeongbokgung for a makgeolli pairing: SABAL

I recently visited SABAL, a well-known Korean dining spot near Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno. The meal was so satisfying, full of flavor and care, that I really wanted to introduce it to you all!

What SABAL serves first: pumpkin porridge and three side dishes

After we sat down and ordered, a savory pumpkin porridge arrived first. It was soft and just sweet enough to get our appetites going.

The banchan (side dishes) that came along were kimchi, pickled radish, and rakkyo — three in total. Each one was tidy and clean on the palate, pairing beautifully with the main dishes.

The kimchi was crunchy with a clean, savory depth, while the pickled radish had a refreshing quality that cleansed the palate before it could get too rich. The rakkyo added a bright tang on top of that — all three banchan showed a surprisingly excellent match with the main dishes.

Neungi mushroom chicken gomtang at SABAL: hangover cure or restorative meal?

What I ordered was SABAL's neungi mushroom chicken gomtang. The neungi mushroom (black chanterelle) had been simmered so thoroughly that the first spoonful of broth seemed to reach deep inside my body.

There was a generous amount of chicken meat too, so every spoonful to the last stayed hearty and filling. This broth would hold its own as tonic food for a hangover or for recovering energy.

From the moment the dish landed on the table, the deep, gentle aroma of neungi mushroom hit my nose. The broth, richly drawn out from long-simmered mushrooms, warmed and cleared my stomach at once — I thought it would make an excellent choice for curing a hangover.

On top of that, there was quite a lot of chicken in the broth, giving both heartiness and something to chew on. It was a thoroughly satisfying, tonic-like spread that seemed to nourish body and mind alike.

Is the gamtae perilla oil rice and mini noodle set worth ordering?

My friend who came along ordered SABAL's gamtae perilla oil rice and mini noodle set.

Various well-sautéed vegetables and the nutty aroma of perilla oil spread throughout the whole bowl. Mixed well and wrapped in the crisp, fragrant gamtae (seaweed), the combination was truly excellent.

The mini noodles served alongside had a spicy, refreshing broth that made an impression. It was the perfect side dish to cleanly cut through the nuttiness of the perilla oil, which can otherwise feel a bit heavy.

A mini makgeolli to drink with the meal at SABAL

At SABAL, we added a mini makgeolli and enjoyed it as a drink alongside the meal. You can't have great food without a good drink to go with it! It lifted the flavors of every dish and rounded off the meal perfectly.

If you're looking for a tidy, well-put-together Korean meal near Gyeongbokgung Station, or a proper spot for food with drinks, I highly recommend SABAL!