Solo dining lunch spot near Hapjeong-Mangwon with 10% off for public

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Location and hours of Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch

• 📍 481-5 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• ➏ 427m from Mangwon Station Exit 1
• 🅿️ No parking ❌ → Donggyo Public Parking Lot or Eoulmadang Public Parking Lot

< Business hours > Daily 11:00–22:00 Break time 15:00–17:00 Last order 14:30 / 21:30

I visited Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu, located between Hapjeong and Mangwon stations. It's within walking distance, so it's really accessible haha 😊 As the sign suggests, it's known for kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), and the menu has plenty of variety to choose from.

In 2017, in a remote suburb of Paju, Gyeonggi-do, we first introduced 'ppyeo kalguksu' (bone broth kalguksu) under the name 'Gyoha Jemyeonso.' Word of mouth alone made us known, and we were thoroughly tested by customers for two years. In 2019, we relaunched as 'Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu.'

At the entrance, along with an explanation, there was a note about a 10% discount for firefighters, soldiers, police, and public officials.

Solo or group friendly interior, and how fast is the lunch turnover?

The tables are laid out efficiently, using the whole space well, making it a good spot for both group gatherings and solo dining 🤎 The interior turnover is relatively fast, so I'd recommend it for office workers on tight lunch breaks!

What we ordered and the price range

• ✔️ Bossam (boiled pork wraps)
• ✔️ Namhae anchovy kalguksu

💵 Overall price range: ₩15,000–₩49,000 (excluding alcohol)

As soon as we ordered, they brought fresh geotjeori (lightly seasoned cabbage) and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) to the table, and you can just ask the staff separately if you need more side dishes.

The medium bossam, and how strong is the pork smell?

They use ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly) with a good fat-to-meat ratio, boiled until tender. I immediately understood why this place is popular as a Hapjeong bossam spot. There wasn't a strong pork smell, which made it very easy to eat!

Aside from the kalguksu menu, bossam is by far the most popular dish here. It's boiled thoroughly, sliced, and served with steam still rising! The side dishes were solid basics that paired well with the tender bossam, and the mu-saengchae (seasoned radish salad) was excellent 🤎

The mu-saengchae that goes with bossam is one of the highlights — the seasoning wasn't overly strong!

It's also delicious with the basic salted shrimp or ssamjang (dipping sauce). The bossam itself is faithful to its true flavor, so it's great eaten on its own! The cabbage leaves provided were fresh too, and they went really well with the bossam.

Namhae anchovy kalguksu, and the ₩5,000 tip when ordering bossam

The broth is made from Namhae anchovies, giving it an impressively deep umami flavor — it's the restaurant's signature kalguksu 🙂 Here's a tip: if you order bossam, you can get the anchovy kalguksu for a cheap ₩5,000! (Does the owner even make money on this?)

Add some spicy seasoning paste to the broth and it transforms into a spicy kalguksu. The umami is amazing! I liked that you could experience two versions of the rich anchovy broth in one meal — not spicy at all, just extra umami.

The noodles had a nice chewy texture. Wheat noodles can sometimes make the broth feel heavy, but the clean anchovy broth paired with it really well.

The geotjeori that's essential with kalguksu also wasn't overly seasoned, with a refreshing umami and texture that kept me reaching for more 🤎 This place is also known for its ppyeo kalguksu (bone broth noodle soup), so I'm planning to come back alone and try it. Bookmarking this place for sure!

Who I'd recommend this to

• ① Anyone looking for a great bossam spot near Hapjeong Station
• ② Foodies who want both kalguksu and bossam in one meal
• ③ Anyone looking for a solo-dining-friendly restaurant in Hapjeong