Deodeok gochujang rice lunch at SABAL, a Seoul Korean restaurant

On a day out in Jongno that doubled as a date, we were trying to figure out what to eat for lunch and ended up at SABAL, a Korean restaurant near Gyeongbokgung.

From bibimbap to noodles to soup-and-rice dishes, this is a place where you can enjoy Korean food menus cleanly done, which makes it a good stop when you're out around Jongno, Gyeongbokgung, or Gwanghwamun. In particular, the tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice we had that day was way more delicious than expected, so it really stuck with me. :)

Where is SABAL, and what are its hours?

• 📍 Location: 1F, Gyeonghuigung-ui-achim Complex 3, 34 Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• ⏰ Hours: Sat–Sun 11:30–19:50 (break time 14:50–16:30) / Mon–Fri 11:30–20:50 (break time 14:50–17:00)
• 🚗 Parking: 1 hour free at Gyeonghuigung-ui-achim Complex 3, discount parking tickets sold at ₩1,500/hour (cash only)
• 🚇 Public transit: about 5 minutes on foot from Exit 7, Gyeongbokgung Station

How to walk to SABAL from Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 7

SABAL is within 5 minutes walking distance from Exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Station. It's located inside the ground-floor commercial building of Gyeonghuigung-ui-achim Complex 3, and since it's tucked inside the building, it can be a little confusing on your first visit. Once you go in through the 1F entrance, there are floor signs pointing the way to SABAL, so you can follow them without much trouble.

The SABAL space isn't one continuous unit — it's actually split into two spaces with a hallway in between.

A staff member was out in the hallway, confirmed we were there for SABAL, and showed us to our seats.

Parking at SABAL: 1 hour free plus discount tickets

If you're driving, you can use the parking lot at Gyeonghuigung-ui-achim Complex 3. Since SABAL is on the ground floor of that same complex, parking was convenient while eating. You get 1 hour free, and the restaurant also sells parking discount tickets — ₩1,500 per hour, cash only.

Inside SABAL: terrace seats and the mood of the restaurant

Walking inside, the atmosphere felt clean and calm.

Since it's a Korean restaurant, I expected a more traditional vibe, but it was actually modern and comfortable, making it a good spot for a date or just lunch. SABAL also has outdoor terrace seating, and now that the weather's getting a bit cooler, eating out on the terrace would probably feel really nice.

It was a bit warm during the day so we sat inside where it was cooler, haha. As soon as we sat down, they brought us a cold tea first.

What's on the SABAL menu near Gwanghwamun?

SABAL serves both rice dishes like bibimbap and rice-and-soup, along with noodle dishes, so it was easy to pick according to what you're in the mood for.

That day we ordered the tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice with mini noodles, SABAL's signature chicken noodle soup, and SABAL's mini tteokbokki.

Looking at the menu, the tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice just looked so good visually that I ordered it without a second thought, haha. Then I also added the chicken noodle soup, which seemed to be the signature dish, and since it was two of us eating, we threw in the mini tteokbokki too.

The sweet pumpkin porridge served before the meal

After ordering, it wasn't long before pumpkin porridge arrived first.

It felt like a light appetizer before the main dishes — sweet and smooth, good for waking up the appetite. There was a subtle, gentle sweetness particular to pumpkin, and it was the perfect little bowl to have before the mains showed up.

Tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice with mini noodles

The dish I was most looking forward to that day! The tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice. Just from how colorful it looked in the bowl, it felt like eating with your eyes first, haha.

The toppings were arranged so prettily on the rice that it almost felt a shame to mix it all up — but you've got to mix it well to really enjoy it! The octopus was cooked tender rather than chewy, so the texture with the rice was really good.

The bouncy yet tender octopus came together with savory rice and vegetables, and adding the deodeok (bellflower root) gochujang brought a slightly sweet, spicy kick that really pulled the whole dish together.

The gochujang seasoning wasn't overly spicy or harsh — it leaned sweet-spicy, which suited the rice well. With the octopus's springy texture plus the subtle aroma of deodeok gochujang, it felt like a totally different experience from a regular bibimbap. And on top of that, mini noodles came along with it too — anchovy-broth thin wheat noodles that were genuinely delicious eaten alongside the bibimbap.

Of everything we had that day, this is the dish I'd especially recommend — the tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice.

SABAL's signature chicken noodle soup

Second dish: SABAL's signature chicken noodle soup.

It's noodles and chicken in a warm broth, and one sip in, the broth was richer and deeper than I expected. Clean but never bland, with a savory note lingering underneath. Perilla seed powder in particular gave the broth an extra nutty flavor.

Eating the noodles together with the broth was warm and filling, making it a solid lunch option.

Ordering it alongside a seasoned dish like the bibimbap was a nice combo, too — the broth-based chicken noodle soup gave a clean, refreshing break in between bites.

SABAL mini tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)

And the side dish we ordered: mini tteokbokki.

I honestly wondered what tteokbokki would taste like at a Korean restaurant, but this was better than expected, haha. The sauce was just spicy enough without being too sweet, so I kept reaching for more.

A lot of tteokbokki these days leans heavily sweet, but this wasn't overly sweet, and the spicy sauce soaked well into the rice cakes, so it was easy to keep picking up a piece here and there between bites of rice or noodles.

If just the mains feel like they're not quite enough, this mini side works well as an add-on.

Is SABAL a good Korean lunch after visiting Gyeongbokgung?

Overall, SABAL is the kind of place that comes to mind when you want clean, tidy Korean food rather than anything too heavy or strong-flavored.

In particular, it seems like a solid pick if you're looking for the following:

• ✔️ A Korean restaurant near Gyeongbokgung Station
• ✔️ A good lunch spot around Jongno, Gwanghwamun, or Gyeongbokgung
• ✔️ A place to have bibimbap and noodles together
• ✔️ A date or casual meal
• ✔️ A good-atmosphere Korean restaurant with a terrace
• ✔️ A restaurant with parking near Jongno/Gyeongbokgung

It's a good place to stop by when you're out around Gyeongbokgung, Gwanghwamun, or Jongno and want something clean for lunch rather than anything too heavy. I had the combo of tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice + chicken noodle soup + mini tteokbokki, and personally, the tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice is the one I'd want to order again — the octopus and the sweet-spicy deodeok gochujang went together really well. :)