Insadong gomtang restaurant, solo 3 PM meal and sogokju: Wolhadong

Today I'm introducing Wolhadong (월하동), a great Korean spot for eating alone near Anguk Station and Insadong. I was wandering around Insadong and suddenly wanted a bowl of clean, clear broth, and I got a tidy pork gomtang (pork bone soup) in a space full of hanok (traditional Korean house) charm. So satisfying! It's good for a solo meal, for dining with your parents, or for bringing a foreign friend. There were actually lots of foreign visitors when I went!

Wolhadong

Where is Wolhadong? A short walk from Anguk Station and Insadong

Wolhadong is an easy walk from Anguk Station and the main Insadong street, which makes it a convenient place to eat.

As you walk down the Insadong alley, the strongly hanok-style exterior is the first thing you notice. It's a hanok styled in a modern way, so you'd want to step inside even just passing by!! It seems popular with tourists and with office workers nearby, too.

The in-house fermentation room and hanok interior

Right as you enter, there's an in-house fermentation room by the entrance.

Seeing a space like this, you can feel even more the care put into the food and the sincerity about ingredients!

The wood-tone interior blends nicely with the hanok feel, so the atmosphere was comfortable, and it was kept clean, which made it a nice place to eat.

The tables are spaced generously so it didn't feel cramped, and many guests came alone, so eating solo felt totally comfortable. It was also quiet enough for a calm meal!

Wolhadong menu and what to order when dining alone

As a pork gomtang specialist, Wolhadong sells gomtang along with cold jeyuk (chilled seasoned pork) and suyuk (boiled pork slices).

If you come alone, one bowl of gomtang is plenty filling, and if there are two or more of you, it would be nice to add cold jeyuk or suyuk.

I came alone that day and ordered the 'Wolhagomtang (₩12,000)', the 'taster cold jeyuk (₩5,000)' and 'sogokju' (traditional Korean rice wine).

Wolhagomtang, ₩12,000

Just looking at it, the broth seemed really clear and clean. Rice, pork and finely sliced green onions sit on top, and it looked neat and tidy from the first glance.

I tried the broth first, and there was none of that typical pork gamy smell. Even though it's a clear broth, it had real depth, and my spoon just kept going back. It isn't harsh, so it's easy to eat, and I think it would work for a hangover cure or just a hearty meal.

The meat was really tender too. Not dry but moist, with a nutty flavor the more I chewed, and the portion was just right. Eating it with the green onions brought out an even cleaner taste. Dipping it in the doenjang (soybean paste) they prepared alongside boosted the savoriness a lot, so I enjoyed it ◜⤙◝

And with rice-soup dishes like this, kimchi matters, right?!? The kimchi was so delicious too . .🤤

Taster cold jeyuk, 40g, ₩5,000

The portion is just a taster, but it's a satisfying setup for anyone curious about cold jeyuk! And it's perfect for people eating alone like me👍🏻

I dipped it in the special sauce they provide, and the meat was really tender and moist!! Since it's pork eaten cold, it's mild, and the sauce adds savoriness, giving it a different charm from the gomtang.

A glass of sogokju at 3 PM

They also sell sogokju alongside the gomtang. It's a traditional liquor that goes well with Korean food, so the meal tasted even better! I visited around 3 PM, so I became that person drinking alone in the daytime, on top of eating alone. . haha

Wolhadong as a solo Insadong lunch: how was it?

If you're looking for clean Korean food near Anguk Station and Insadong, I absolutely recommend Wolhadong! The hanok-feel space has a lovely atmosphere, and above all the pork gomtang broth was clear yet deep, so I enjoyed it to the last spoonful ♡ It's easy to eat alone and nice to visit with your parents too, so I recommend it as an Insadong lunch spot!!