Wangsimni soup restaurant lunch with extra beef and tendon: Geumnyeong

Why I visited Geumnyeong Gomtang in Wangsimni after ordering delivery

Hi, this is Inna 😊 If you're ever craving something hot and hearty around Wangsimni, I have a place I want to recommend: Geumnyeong Gomtang's Wangsimni flagship store. Actually, I didn't visit in person from the start — I'd ordered gomtang (Korean bone broth soup) for delivery before and it was way tastier than expected, so this time I made the trip to the actual restaurant.

As expected, places that taste great delivered tend to raise expectations when you visit in person, and Geumnyeong Gomtang was a Wangsimni gomtang spot where both the atmosphere and the food made me glad I came. Especially with its hot broth loaded with tender Korean beef, it's a place I'd recommend to anyone looking for a Korean lunch in Wangsimni.

Geumnyeong Gomtang location and opening hours

The Geumnyeong Gomtang flagship store is at 11 Wangsimnino 20-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. It's open Monday to Saturday 10:00–22:00, with a break time from 15:00–17:00 and last order at 21:00. It's closed every Sunday.

• 📍 Location: 11 Wangsimnino 20-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–22:00
• 🕒 Break time: 15:00–17:00
• 🔔 Last order: 21:00
• 🚫 Closed every Sunday
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Group seating available
• 📦 Takeout available
• 🚻 Separate restrooms by gender
• 🚗 No parking
• 💳 Zero Pay accepted

If you're near Wangsimni Station craving a hot Korean soup dish, this is a great option. Since it's open from 10am to 10pm, it works not just for lunch but for a late lunch or dinner too. Just avoid the break time from 3 to 5pm.

A cozy exterior that looks like a converted house

When you arrive at the Geumnyeong Gomtang flagship store, the exterior stands out from your typical gomtang restaurant. It looks like a two-story house that's been renovated, with a small mini garden near the entrance, giving it an overall charming, warm feel. You'd expect an old-school vibe from a gomtang place, but Geumnyeong Gomtang has a clean, sentimental atmosphere from the outside, which made a good first impression.

Inside Geumnyeong Gomtang: two floors for solo diners and groups

Geumnyeong Gomtang is split across the 1st and 2nd floors, and the interior was bigger than I expected. I'd heard there's usually a wait during peak lunch hours, so I intentionally visited slightly after the lunch rush. Thanks to that, I got to eat in a relaxed atmosphere. Lucky 😊

The tables weren't cramped and the space felt clean overall, so it didn't feel awkward to dine solo, and there was also space for groups, making it suitable for office worker lunches, family meals, or group dining.

The restrooms are split by floor — men's on the 1st floor, women's on the 2nd.

High chairs are also available, which felt considerate for guests visiting with children.

Traditional-looking props like meju (fermented soybean blocks) and mustard leaves were placed around the space, and these small touches fit well with the overall atmosphere.

What really caught my eye was a banner and quality label insisting on only the highest-grade Korean beef, 1+ and 1++. You could feel the owner's pride in the meat, and after tasting it, I understood why they emphasize it so much.

Geumnyeong Gomtang menu and prices

The Geumnyeong Gomtang menu was more varied than I expected.

• Gomtang ₩13,000 / large ₩15,000
• Minari gomtang ₩14,000 / large ₩16,000
• Rice noodles (pho-style) ₩13,000 / large ₩15,000
• Pollock sashimi salad ₩14,000
• Boiled meat platter — 2 people ₩39,000 / 3 people ₩57,000 / 4 people ₩73,000

You can eat well with just a bowl of gomtang on its own, or add meat or beef tendon sarl for a heartier meal.

The gomtang arrives fast — careful with the hot brass bowl

It didn't take long for the food to come out after ordering at Geumnyeong Gomtang. That made me think it'd also work well for busy office workers wanting a quick lunch.

But here's something to watch out for! The gomtang is served in a hot brass bowl, and the bowl gets really hot. It was way hotter than I expected when I first received it, so be careful when touching the bowl.

One thing I noticed about the tables was a bit unusual — normally there's a spoon in a table drawer or a utensil holder, but Geumnyeong Gomtang's table drawers didn't have spoons. It turns out the rice comes already mixed into the soup, and the spoon is served along with the food. Since the rice is already soaked in the hot broth from the start, there's no need to mix it in yourself, which was convenient.

Gomtang vs minari gomtang: what is the difference?

My main orders were gomtang and minari gomtang. The most noticeable difference between the two is the topping. Gomtang comes topped with green onion, while minari gomtang comes with fragrant minari (Korean watercress).

Gomtang, 13,000 won

The gomtang was close to the clean, savory taste we're familiar with. The broth was rich but not heavy or thick — warm, light, yet deeply infused. Since the rice is already mixed into the broth, scooping up broth and rice together in one spoonful gives you a warm, filling feeling. The green onion added a subtle onion fragrance that cleanly tied together the flavors of the meat and broth.

Minari gomtang, 14,000 won

Minari gomtang uses the same gomtang broth as a base, with the addition of minari's distinctive fragrant aroma. With minari's fresh scent on top of the savory, clean taste of gomtang, it felt a bit more refreshing. If you're someone who likes minari like me, I'd definitely recommend trying the minari gomtang too.

The rice cake slices (tteokguk-tteok) added in were also fresh and paired really well.

Adding extra meat (5,000 won) and beef tendon (4,000 won)

Extra meat portion for 5,000 won

And here's something that really impressed me at Geumnyeong Gomtang — the meat! I visited because I'd read they use only top-grade Korean beef, and after actually eating it, the meat wasn't tough at all, it was tender. Picking up a piece of meat from the gomtang broth with chopsticks and taking a bite, you can feel a moist yet soft texture. So if you like meat, I'd recommend adding the meat sarl.

Beef tendon portion for 4,000 won

The beef tendon sarl was especially memorable for me. Beef tendon can easily end up tough and require a lot of chewing, but the tendon here had a soft, moist texture. It went down easily after just a few chews, and paired with the broth it was a really great match. A single bowl of gomtang is filling enough on its own, but if you like meat and tendon, adding sarl will make the meal even more satisfying.

The side dishes that pair perfectly with gomtang

The basic side dishes at Geumnyeong Gomtang are seokbakji (radish kimchi) and dried radish strips.

Kimchi really matters at a gomtang restaurant, right? While eating the hot, light gomtang, taking a bite of well-fermented seokbakji adds a tangy, crunchy texture that really wakes up your palate. The dried radish strips had a chewy texture that went well with rice.

The meat also comes with a soy sauce and mustard dipping sauce on the side. Dipping the tender meat lightly in soy sauce with a bit of mustard adds a sharp aroma for another way to enjoy it. A spoonful of gomtang → a bite of seokbakji → a piece of meat — before you know it, the whole bowl disappears.

Geumnyeong Gomtang: my verdict

Geumnyeong Gomtang — a place I first tried by delivery, loved it, and then visited in person! The tender, moist meat paired well with the hot gomtang broth, making for a hearty meal. With a spacious, clean restaurant and food that comes out quickly, I'd recommend it for an office worker's lunch or a solo meal in Wangsimni. 😊

• ✔️ Plenty of tender, moist meat
• ✔️ Hot, clean broth
• ✔️ Quick service, good for lunch
• ✔️ Spacious and clean, easy for solo dining
• ✔️ A must if you love gomtang or guk-bap! 😊