Cheonho gukbap spot, Hell Gukbap after Hyundai shopping: Boseung

Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch, a 24-hour hangover soup spot at Cheonho Station with spicy sundae soup and pork jowl gukbap.

Where is Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch, and where can you park?

Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch (보승회관 천호역점) is at 654 Ollimpik-ro, Gangdong, Seoul, and it is open 24 hours. If you drive, you can park for free in the surface lot or the mechanical parking lot behind the building.

I was heading back from shopping at Hyundai Department Store in Cheonho, wondering what to have for a late lunch, and suddenly craved spicy hangover soup, so I stopped by. It is right next to the department store, close to Cheonho Station Exit 3, so it is easy by public transport, and parking was easy too, since the lots behind the building are free.

Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch menu and prices

The gukbap (rice soup) is ₩11,000 for sundae gukbap, boiled pork gukbap and bone hangover soup, ₩13,000 for pork jowl gukbap, ₩12,000 for Hell Gukbap, and ₩16,000 for the solo special set. There is everything from a single lunch bowl to hotpots and boiled pork for drinking.

• Sundae, pork jowl and boiled pork set ₩16,000
• Sundae gukbap (blood sausage soup) ₩11,000
• Boiled pork gukbap ₩11,000
• Pork jowl gukbap ₩13,000
• Offal gukbap ₩11,500
• Bone hangover soup ₩11,000
• Hell Gukbap ₩12,000
• Hangover ramyeon ₩12,500
• Badger gukbap ₩11,500
• Solo special set ₩16,000
• Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) ₩14,000
• Pork bone potato stew medium ₩32,000 / large ₩41,000
• Sundae and gopchang (intestine) hotpot medium ₩32,000 / large ₩41,000
• Assorted boiled pork ₩34,000
• Stir-fried sundae and gopchang ₩31,000
• Sundae and head meat boiled pork ₩33,000
• Sundae and pork jowl boiled pork ₩34,000
• Mung bean pancake and seafood scallion pancake ₩15,000
• Sul-guk (soup for drinking) ₩21,000

The sundae, pork jowl and boiled pork set comes with two bowls of gukbap plus tasting portions of pork jowl and sundae, so it can be ordered by two or more people. Switching assorted gukbap to spicy costs ₩1,000 more. Seasonal menu items are mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth), bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and pollack naengmyeon, and extra sides include pressed head meat, grilled bulgogi, a plate of sundae, pollack salad, seasoned dumplings and self-serve rice balls. It works for a lunch bowl and for a full drinking table, and with 24 hours a day you can eat whatever you like.

They say you get a free bottle of a soft drink if you write a review on Instagram, Facebook, a blog or a Naver receipt review, so go for it.

Is there a wait, and what is the seating like at Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho?

There is a wait at peak meal times, and the restaurant was busy even though I came a little after lunch. Inside, there are seats for group gatherings and tables that suit solo diners.

I was surprised by how many people were there even after the lunch rush. Being a 24-hour hangover soup place, it seems popular at every hour. When the place is full of middle-aged men, you know it is a real gukbap spot! At the back there is room for group gatherings, and there were also good tables for eating alone.

The basic banchan (side dishes) are kkakdugi, kimchi, chives, salted shrimp and salt.

Hell Gukbap in the solo special set: worth switching to pork jowl?

I chose the solo special set (₩16,000) with Hell Gukbap and swapped the sundae gukbap for pork jowl gukbap. I added grilled bulgogi and pollack salad on the side, and the food came out really fast.

It is a well-known hangover soup spot near Cheonho Station, so I had high hopes, and since I love spicy food and spicy gukbap, I picked Hell Gukbap. Instead of sundae gukbap, I swapped to pork jowl gukbap, packed with lean pork jowl.

I even piled the side chives on top. The gukbap here comes seasoned by default with seasoning paste and perilla powder, so tell them when ordering if you don't want those. Add salted shrimp or chives to taste, and sliced garlic and onion are also available, so just ask the staff if you want them.

Among all the spicy gukbap I have had, the Hell Gukbap's sharp, peppery broth stood out. I worried the pork jowl would be greasy, but it was cleaner than expected. There was really a lot of pork jowl, and it is the gukbap I will want every time I need a hangover cure.

Sundae (blood sausage) and head meat in the solo special set

The solo special set comes with sundae and head meat alongside the gukbap. The combination and portion are really great for eating alone.

The sundae came in several kinds, so picking among them was fun. Personally, I liked the Byeongcheon-style sundae best.

Hot boiled pork is good, but it is just as appealing cold, and it was great dipped in a bit of salted shrimp.

Are the fire-grilled meat and spicy pollack salad worth adding?

The grilled bulgogi (직화구이) is sweet soy-based bulgogi with a generous amount of meat. I ordered it because I have a big appetite, and it would go well with the seasonal naengmyeon.

It would also work as a rice side dish if you come with a kid. The marinade is sweet and soy-based, so I put it on top of my rice.

The tangy, spicy pollack salad is good with chives, works as a rice side dish or a drinking snack, and surprisingly went well with the gukbap. It also paired nicely with the sundae from the set. It is not fishy, so it would go well with naengmyeon too.

From the pork jowl gukbap to the sides, I was happy with all of it, which made this Cheonho spot, Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch, a good place to eat alone. I will drop by again whenever I crave spicy gukbap.