Brass-bowl pork gomtang and lime cold pork in Myeongdong: Baekok

Where is Baekok Myeongdong?

Baekok Myeongdong sits at 8-23 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, tucked a little way into an alley off Myeongdong's bustling main street. Rather than a restaurant you'd spot straight from the main road, it feels more like a hidden gem set quietly just off the crowded energy of Myeongdong.

Even we found ourselves thinking, "Wait, is there really a gomtang place down here...?" as we walked toward it — it was almost more fun for being tucked away in the alley like that. Hahahaha.

If you're shopping or wandering around Myeongdong, this seems like a great spot to duck out of the crowded main street for a warm bowl of gomtang before heading back in.

Inside Baekok Myeongdong: interior and seating

Stepping inside Baekok Myeongdong, the vibe is completely different from the alley outside — clean and neatly arranged. Rather than a flashy dining room, it's a clean, simple space that's easy to sit down in for a comfortable bowl of gomtang.

There's table seating that was comfortable for the two of us dining together, and there are also tables big enough for families or larger groups.

The low-temperature-cooked pork gomtang seen on KBS Saengsaeng Jeongbo

It turns out Baekok Myeongdong was featured on KBS's Saengsaeng Jeongbo, which made me even more curious. Rather than the usual pork gukbap (soup with rice) style, they said it's made using a low-temperature cooking method, so I was excited to see what it would taste like ❥❥❥❥

Here's what we ordered that day.

• 2 pork gomtang
• 1 cold pork slices (naengjeyuk)

Baekok's pork gomtang is made cleanly with domestic pork foreleg and a broth simmered for a long time from sagol (beef leg bone) stock. Rather than the thick, heavy broth of a typical pork gukbap, Baekok's version leans toward clean and light, which made me even more curious to try it!!!

What stood out most was the low-temperature cooking method — the pork comes out tender, and you eat it together with the clear broth, which felt quite different from the pork gomtang I usually know...!

Search around for good gomtang near Myeongdong Station and you'll mostly find beef gomtang or seolleongtang spots, so if you're after a pork-based gomtang, somewhere with its own twist like Baekok is really worth it!!?

How does the clear broth in a brass bowl taste?

Rather than a heavy soup ladled into a stone pot or a big bowl, Baekok's pork gomtang comes in a clean brass bowl topped with meat and scallions, and it looked quite neat and tidy. The broth is very clear, and there's a generous pile of finely sliced scallions on top.

I scooped up a spoonful and tried the broth first — much lighter than I expected! Instead of a strong, gamey pork smell, it was clean, with the savory flavor of the sagol stock coming through gently.

Cold pork slices (naengjeyuk), better with a squeeze of lime

We ordered the cold pork slices (naengjeyuk) since gomtang alone felt like it might not be enough. Eating pork cold was a new experience, so I was curious going in, but it turned out lighter and cleaner than I expected.

With a little squeeze of lime especially, the savory pork got a bright, fresh lift, and it wasn't greasy at all — I just kept eating hahahaha.

Is Baekok Myeongdong a good lunch spot in Myeongdong or Euljiro?

If you're like me and love a clean, light broth dish, I think Baekok Myeongdong's pork gomtang is really worth trying at least once. It's also a manageable distance for anyone looking for lunch around Eulji-ro who's willing to walk over to the Myeongdong side, so it seems like a solid pick for office workers' lunch or a meal before or after shopping :)

We ate so, so well... I basically had my whole face in the bowl haha.

And on the way out, dental floss, mouthwash, even candy!!!! Such a nice touch~~~

I found this place while looking for good Korean food in Myeongdong, and visited after hearing it had been on Saengsaeng Jeongbo, but honestly it wasn't the broadcast — the food itself just won me over. Next time I'm hunting for a lunch spot between Myeongdong and Eulji-ro, I know I'll be thinking about this pork gomtang again ㅠㅠ! For pork gomtang near Myeongdong Station, I strongly recommend Baekok!~~