Myeongdong Korean restaurant for cabbage dumplings: Baekok Myeongdong

Now that autumn is arriving, I was craving a steaming bowl of soup, so I went looking for a gomtang place. I found this Myeongdong gomtang gem through a search: Baekok!! 😋

Baekok Myeongdong in a quiet alley in the heart of Myeongdong

Baekok had more branches than I expected, including the Myeongdong branch. There are branches in trendy areas such as Yongsan and Seongsu too, but this time I visited Baekok Myeongdong!! It is right in the middle of Myeongdong, but tucked one alley in, which was nice because it felt a little quieter away from the bustling main street.

Like Baekok's signature clear pork gomtang (Korean slow-simmered soup), Baekok Myeongdong was incredibly clean. Its hours are 11:00–22:00 daily! Baekok is said to be a pork gomtang restaurant founded on the idea that food can be delicious without being overpowering. Clear but deep in flavor—that is Baekok.

Baekok Myeongdong has seats for solo diners, so it is perfectly fine to come alone; of course, it also seems great for a filling meal with family or friends. And because it is in Myeongdong, it would be perfect for bringing international visitors and showing them the deep flavor of clear pork gomtang too, haha.

Ordering pork gomtang and cabbage dumplings

Baekok does not have a huge menu. For gomtang, you can choose pork gomtang, yak gomtang, or spicy gomtang, while the sides include cabbage dumplings, cold boiled pork, and spicy pork tail. I debated between the pork gomtang and spicy gomtang, but since it was my first time at Baekok, I thought I should start with the signature dish. Spicy gomtang next time!!

The two of us ordered two pork gomtang bowls and cabbage dumplings: ₩30,000. Ordering is easy through the QR code placed at every table. You pay when you leave. Only the ordering is by QR code! The world these days is really convenient ☺️

Clear yet deep pork gomtang

Our pork gomtang arrived before long!! Baekok's pork gomtang is mildly flavored with Korean pork shoulder and a beef-bone broth simmered for a long time. Unlike gomtang at other places, the broth was really clear. Or should I say milky-white!

If you are debating it, order the cabbage dumplings

Then came four cabbage dumplings!! They are wholesome dumplings generously filled with meat and kimchi. I loved that the wrapper was cabbage rather than flour~ I seriously debated whether to order them, but if you are having the same debate, order them!!

Everything we ordered was finally on the table! It was a generous, filling Korean spread~ While eating, I thought this place would probably be packed with office workers at weekday lunch. Lunch is such an important choice for office workers, after all, haha.

Baekok's pork gomtang broth is not flashy, but it is not overpowering, and it is the kind of flavor that stays on your mind. If you want to enjoy a mild yet deep broth, Baekok is the place. The rice does not come separately in a bowl; it is mixed into the gomtang. Still, there was more than enough rice to fill even one adult man!!! (Of course, it may differ by person, but I am an adult woman and I actually left some... haha.)

Above all, the pork in the gomtang was tender with no unpleasant smell. There was a lot of it, and it was delicious even eaten on its own. It is truly the kind of flavor you could eat every day without feeling weighed down. It makes your stomach feel satisfyingly full, I suppose.

A harmonious meal, down to the kkakdugi and cabbage dumplings

Baekok only serves kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) as a side, but topping the soup with it is all you need. The kkakdugi was beautifully fermented and went so well with the pork gomtang.

And the cabbage dumplings were honestly so delicious. They were really packed with filling. The kimchi made them slightly spicy, but it all came together beautifully with the meat. The mildness that cabbage brings instead of flour took the flavor up another level.

On the way out to pay, I noticed Baekok Myeongdong's thoughtful touches: dental floss, mouthwash, and even red ginseng candy!! Baekok definitely earns its place as a great Myeongdong gomtang restaurant~ If you are looking for a neat Korean meal near Myeongdong, I recommend Baekok! 👍