Seohyeon noodle restaurant: chlorella chogyeguksu at Gangnam Gyoja

I heard I could find the kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) flavor I used to enjoy in Myeongdong here in Seohyeon, so I stopped by Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch. The place centers on kalguksu but also serves chojegooksu, bibimbap, and seolleongtang, so it seemed good for a light meal too. With its close distance to the station and seating suited to solo dining, it also looked worth noting as a spot for eating alone near Seohyeon Station.

Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch: Myeongdong-style kalguksu by the station

Gangnam Gyoja was created by an owner who has devoted his whole life to kalguksu alone, and it's now a popular brand running dozens of branches nationwide.

The signature menu is, of course, kalguksu, based on the deep, rich chicken broth I remembered from Myeongdong — hearty enough to be a full meal on its own.

Noodles naturally aged for 3 hours, broth simmered for 6 hours, and a garlic salad with a lively garlic aroma — this was exactly the flavor I'd been looking for.

I arrived early before the crowds came, and the restaurant was spacious and comfortable, right in front of the station — a convenient spot to stop by on the way somewhere.

True to its reputation as a spot for eating alone near Seohyeon Station and a well-known restaurant there, there were plenty of 1-2 person tables, and by lunchtime I saw quite a few solo diners.

Spicy seasoning sauce and garlic kimchi, refilled twice

Gangnam Gyoja's kalguksu is plenty tasty with its basic seasoning alone, but adding the provided seasoning sauce suited my taste for rich flavors well.

When the mild chicken broth met the sauce made with garlic and chili, the soup gained just the right amount of spiciness.

Pairing this with the deeply garlicky salad brought out a subtle pungency with every bite, making the meal's flavor even richer.

Maybe because it's so popular, many other diners were asking for refills, and we ended up refilling twice ourselves.

The signature kalguksu, finished with free rice

I ordered the restaurant's signature kalguksu, and I felt it was a must-try if you're visiting Gangnam Gyoja.

It comes topped with generously chopped meat, so you need to mix the noodles and topping well before eating so the oil and flavor from the meat naturally blend into the broth.

The broth uses both chicken and pork, giving it an unusual depth, with a rich savory flavor that lingered in my mouth.

The best way to enjoy it is slurping the bite-sized dumplings along with the concentrated broth.

I was so busy savoring the flavor that I ate the noodles last, and I was surprised they stayed chewy and didn't go soggy even after time passed.

Maybe because they use aged noodles, there was no strong starchy or floury taste — it felt clean and mild.

If you want it spicier, add another spoonful of the seasoning sauce, and finish with the free rice mixed in — it rivals any guk-bap (soup with rice).

If you're coming here as a well-known spot for eating alone near Seohyeon Station, I really recommend mixing in the rice too. The noodles are great, but the combination with rice was especially good.

Juicy gyoza dumplings, 10 pieces per plate

As much a signature dish as the kalguksu, the gyoza dumplings are steamed fresh to order, so they're packed with juice inside.

I ordered it thinking of it as a light side, but one plate came with 10 pieces — plenty to share between two, and overall the portions here were quite generous.

The dumpling skin wasn't thick and had a soft bite, and inside I could feel the juicy broth released from the meat.

A tip: drop a few dumplings into the kalguksu and burst them open — the filling adds even more variety of flavor and texture.

Chogyeguksu: chilled broth and chlorella green noodles for a hot day

While my wife was out searching for restaurants near Seohyeon Station, it was hot out, so she picked the cool chojegooksu, a dish served with a chilled broth.

True to its name, it's topped with chicken, and the unique highlight was the green noodles made with healthy chlorella.

The chojegooksu broth is also made by freezing chicken stock — unlike the hot version, it's clean and mild, light enough to drink without hesitation.

I realized I wouldn't need to travel all the way to Myeongdong anymore. Whenever I think of eating alone near Seohyeon Station, I think I'll be coming back here often.

As someone who missed Myeongdong kalguksu, this place was a welcome discovery. Rich chicken broth, chewy noodles, and juicy gyoza dumplings all added up to a satisfying meal. If you're looking for a good restaurant near Seohyeon Station to eat alone, I'd recommend this one.

What was good about Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch

• Deep chicken broth similar to Myeongdong kalguksu
• The spicy pairing of garlic salad and seasoning sauce
• Generous portions and free rice refills
• Convenient location right in front of the station
• 1-2 person tables that are comfortable for solo dining

Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch: hours, parking and location

• Address: 210beon-gil 10 Seohyeon-ro, Dadu Plaza Room 208, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–21:00
• Break time: Weekdays 15:00–16:30 / Weekends 15:30–17:00
• Parking: Free parking
• Transit: Near Seohyeon Station, Bundang Line