Baby-friendly pork jowl gukbap without spicy sauce: Boseung Hoegwan

Today I'm bringing you a review of a family meal with my kids at Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch, which I found while searching for a good suyuk gukbap (boiled pork soup) spot in Bangi-dong, Jamsil. I've had plenty of suyuk gukbap before, but this was my first time trying hangjeongsuyuk gukbap (pork jowl soup), and I'd heard so many recommendations for it around me that I was curious :)

Location and hours of Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch

🍚 Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch 🍚

• 📌 Location: 101 Ogeum-ro, 1st floor, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea (476m from Jamsil Station Exit 10)
• 📌 Hours: Open 24 hours, Monday–Sunday
• 📌 Parking available, baby chairs available, group seating available, reservations available

Finding it from Jamsil Station, parking, and the atmosphere inside

Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch sits right on the main street at the entrance of the Bangi-dong restaurant alley, near Jamsil Station and the east side of Seokchon Lake, so it wasn't hard to find. We went during a weekend lunch after a walk around Seokchon Lake, and customers kept streaming in the whole time! The interior is spacious, and since we came with a baby, the friendly staff even set up a baby chair and tableware for us. There's parking space right in front of the restaurant for about two cars.

What we ordered via table-side ordering

Ordering is easy and convenient through the table-side tablet. We ordered the best-selling menu items — hangjeongsuyuk gukbap and spicy hangjeongsuyuk gukbap — plus self-serve rice balls and boiled pork slices. The menu had a really wide variety, but since we were eating with a child, we stuck to the non-spicy items haha 🤣 There was even a 'hell gukbap' that looked pretty fiery...? If you like spicy food, give it a try!!

How spicy is the spicy hangjeongsuyuk gukbap?

The spicy hangjeongsuyuk gukbap came out first. To me, the spiciness felt like the sharp kick of cheongyang chili peppers! It wasn't an artificial heat but a slow-building spiciness, which was exactly the kind of spicy gukbap flavor I was hoping for!

They serve garlic chives as a side dish, and adding them to taste brings out even more chive aroma, making the flavor richer :)

Eating hangjeongsuyuk gukbap with a 6-year-old and a 9-month-old

The suyuk gukbap topped with perilla seed powder was something both adults and kids could enjoy. My 6-year-old ate a hearty portion with rice, broth, and meat all together, and my 9-month-old happily nibbled on shredded bits of the pork. The meat was so tender that even my baby, who only has four teeth, managed to chew it well with just her gums :)

When we ordered the hangjeongsuyuk gukbap, a staff member came over and asked if we'd be eating it with the baby. When I said yes, they thoughtfully left out the spicy sauce! Apparently the sauce normally comes with the dish. Something to keep in mind!

The side dishes included diced radish kimchi and napa cabbage kimchi, which paired perfectly with the gukbap.

Self-serve rice balls and boiled pork slices as sides

The self-serve rice balls with flying fish roe and pickled radish, along with the boiled pork slices we ordered as sides, were great for the whole family to share. At Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch, the meat had no off-flavor at all and was so tender :)

They had a wide variety of side menu items too — next time I'd like to try some others.

Why it's a good spot to visit with kids

Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch, a well-known gukbap spot in Bangi-dong, is close to the east side of Seokchon Lake, making it a great stop during a walk or a date, and it's also very accessible for a family outing or meal while out and about in Jamsil. The restaurant is fairly spacious and comes with baby chairs, so visiting with kids felt totally manageable. Most of all, with a wide range of choices beyond just gukbap — like rice balls and boiled pork — it was a great spot for adults and kids to eat together. Definitely a place I'll remember as easy to enjoy a relaxed meal with a child :) Next time I'd like to try the sundae gukbap (blood sausage soup) and some other sides.