Weekend lunch wait at a Myeongdong gomtang restaurant: Baekok

Today I'm sharing my review of Baekok, a pork gomtang (pork bone soup) specialist my wife and I stumbled onto while wandering around Myeongdong — we walked out completely full and satisfied.

Myeongdong is packed with tourists, street food, and flashy restaurants, but when lunchtime rolls around and you actually want a clean, tidy bowl of Korean food, it can be surprisingly hard to think of a good spot.

We were craving something warm and hearty, and right then a pork gomtang place tucked in an alley caught our eye — it had that unmistakable air of a real local favorite, so we headed straight in without hesitation.

Where is Baekok Myeongdong and how do you get there?

• Address: 8-23 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st floor)
• Transit: About 380m from Myeongdong Station Exit 6, Line 4 (5-minute walk)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
• Amenities: Group seating, takeout, Wi-Fi, solo dining seats

How long is the weekend lunch wait at Baekok Myeongdong?

If you follow Naver Maps to Baekok Myeongdong, you'll find yourself in such a quiet alley that you might wonder, "Was there really a hidden food street like this in Myeongdong?"

During weekend lunch peak or office workers' lunch hour, the place fills up and there's a bit of a wait, but because gomtang restaurants tend to have fast table turnover, we got seated fairly quickly.

Inside Baekok Myeongdong: calm dining room and tablet ordering

Stepping inside, the warm wood-toned interior was neat and inviting overall. It wasn't a huge space, but the tables were spaced efficiently enough that it never felt cramped, making for a pleasant meal.

Notably, there were plenty of one- or two-person solo seats, making it an ideal spot for office workers near Myeongdong to quietly grab lunch alone.

You can order easily via the tablet at each table or by scanning the QR code (Toss Order) on your phone. True to Myeongdong's commercial district vibe, foreign language support was cleanly built in, and I noticed foreign tourists using it with no trouble.

Pork gomtang in brass bowls and the spicy yeolgomtang

The basic side dish was crisp, refreshing kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), neatly set down first. Kkakdugi is really the lifeblood of a gomtang restaurant, and this one was cut into perfect bite-sized pieces, perfectly ripened — a wonderful match for the clear broth.

After a short wait, the food arrived neatly plated in elegant brass bowls.

Original pork gomtang, 11,000 won

Baekok Myeongdong's original pork gomtang is ₩11,000 — a clear, milky broth with no gamy smell at all, topped generously with scallions. The rice comes soaked toremstyle beneath the broth, and every grain was moist with deep, savory flavor from the broth.

Best of all, the thinly sliced pork on top — 100% domestic pork shoulder and belly — was generous and tender, growing softer with every chew. The broth itself was already lightly seasoned, so a simple sprinkle of pepper showed off its clean simplicity perfectly. Midway through, we asked for spicy dadaegi (chili paste) to stir in, giving the broth a whole new, punchy kick for a second round.

Yeolgomtang, the spicy version, 12,000 won

The yeolgomtang is ₩12,000, and its striking red broth catches your eye immediately. It's not artificially spicy with capsaicin — it's a rich, heavy broth cleanly sharpened with cheongyang-style chili heat.

Generous meat and scallions mingle with the spicy broth, and every spoonful delivers that deep, refreshing feeling like it's clearing out last night's drinks. I'd strongly recommend this one if you're desperate for a hangover cure or generally prefer a spicy guk-bap (soup with rice).

Cabbage dumplings, 8,000 won: wrapped in cabbage, not dough

Baekok Myeongdong's cabbage dumplings are ₩8,000. We ordered them as a side alongside the gomtang, and they turned out to be a must-try signature specialty here.

Instead of the usual wheat-flour dumpling skin, blanched cabbage leaves are wrapped thickly around a meat-and-kimchi filling and steamed. Bite in and there's no heaviness or greasiness — just the sweet, moist juice of the cabbage itself bursting out, pairing perfectly with the spicy kimchi-meat filling packed inside.

It went perfectly with the clean, light pork gomtang too — the moment we each took a bite, we both gave a thumbs up, saying, "This is genuinely the best!"

Mouthwash and interdental brushes at the Baekok Myeongdong counter

On the way out, we noticed the counter thoughtfully stocked with disposable mouthwash, interdental brushes, and even sweet candies for customers — a nice touch of consideration all the way to the last moment before leaving.

If you're tired of greasy, over-seasoned franchise meals, or you're looking for a comforting, tidy Korean meal in Myeongdong, give Baekok Myeongdong a try — the combination of clear pork gomtang, spicy yeolgomtang, and those unique cabbage dumplings is truly excellent!