Gangdong Korean restaurant for pork jowl gukbap: Boseung Hoegwan

A filling lunch in Cheonho that brought back memories

After taking Maru for an ultrasound, I went to Cheonho for the first time in ages. It is a neighborhood full of memories for us, so it was strangely lovely to be back—and it brought up so many thoughts of the old days. My husband used to pass by here often when he lived in Cheonho, and I had always thought we should visit someday. We finally did! I wanted a hearty lunch today, so we went to Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch (보승회관 천호역점)!

A 24-hour gukbap spot in Cheonho: parking and atmosphere

Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch is a gukbap restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of gukbap (rice soup) dishes alongside neatly presented drinking-food dishes. I loved that it is open 24 hours, so you can visit without worrying too much about the time when you are craving a satisfying meal. It felt like an easy place to stop by when a warm bowl of gukbap calls in Cheonho.

Parking is available too, which made visiting by car convenient. There is a ground-level parking lot and mechanical parking behind the building, so keep that in mind if you are driving.

There were plenty of menu choices, making it easy to pick according to your taste, and the many gukbap options created a comfortable setting for anything from a solo meal to dining with a group. The restaurant was spacious and pleasant overall, with generously arranged seating, so it looked suitable for groups too. We arrived a little before lunchtime and ate fairly leisurely, but as noon approached, nearby office workers began coming in one by one. Seeing guests of all ages made it feel like a popular neighborhood place for a meal.

Gukbap and sides chosen on the tablet

Each table has a tablet, so we could browse the menu slowly and order comfortably. With so many kinds of gukbap, deciding what to have was part of the fun. I ordered the new pork jowl boiled-pork gukbap, and although I could choose the spice level, I chose the regular version because it already came with seasoning paste. My husband ordered spicy osori gukbap as a single-person special set, and since gukbap alone felt a little incomplete, we also ordered seasoned boiled dumplings as a side.

The complimentary sides that go with gukbap

The basic sides were kimchi, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), salted shrimp, and chives. You can add the salted shrimp and chives to your gukbap however you like, while onions or garlic can be ordered separately if needed. Since the gukbap itself already had some seasoning, I think it is best to taste it as it comes first, then add salted shrimp or chives to suit your palate. I always add chives to gukbap, and I loved how they added their fragrance and made the broth taste even fuller!

Boiled pork and sundae in the single-person special set

The side dishes from my husband's single-person special set came out first. It included boiled pork and sundae (Korean blood sausage), which were great alongside the gukbap.

The boiled pork was served cold, and with a little salted shrimp on top, it was mild and savory.

Three kinds of sundae came together, and personally, I liked the vegetable-filled one best. I loved its springy texture, and it had a flavor distinct from regular sundae, which made it fun to eat. If you want to enjoy boiled pork or sundae as well as gukbap, the single-person special set seemed like a very satisfying choice.

Springy, moist seasoned boiled dumplings and rice

The seasoned boiled dumplings we ordered as a side came next. It had been such a long time since I last ate boiled dumplings, and they were much tastier than I expected, so I was very pleased. The dumplings arrived with seasoning drizzled on top, so they were already nicely seasoned without dipping them in soy sauce. The springy, moist dumplings and seasoning worked beautifully together, making them a great side for gukbap.

A bowl of rice comes with the gukbap, and it was packed down so firmly that the portion was quite large. Even just one bowl of gukbap and the rice was enough to fill us up properly.

Spicy osori gukbap

My husband's spicy osori gukbap arrived first. It was a fiery gukbap generously filled with chewy osori, or pig womb, and the broth had a definite peppery kick. I am not very good with spicy food, so even one taste felt quite hot to me. It had the distinctive heat and aroma of Cheongyang chili peppers, so anyone who does not handle spice well might prefer the regular version. On the other hand, it would suit anyone who loves a hot, peppery broth or wants a satisfying hangover meal.

Rich yet clean pork jowl boiled-pork gukbap

Finally, my pork jowl boiled-pork gukbap arrived too. It was generously filled with pork jowl, and even at first glance it looked like a substantial bowl. The broth was rich yet clean, with a deep flavor. As I ate, I felt like I finally understood why people describe gukbap as refreshing after finishing it.

There was plenty of pork jowl, so it was fun to eat the meat together with the broth. Unlike ordinary boiled pork, the pork jowl was a little richer and had an appealingly tender texture. I would recommend this pork jowl boiled-pork gukbap to anyone looking for a gukbap generously loaded with meat.

Gukbap really feels incomplete without chives. After trying a few pieces of pork jowl first, I added a generous amount of chives, and the same broth took on a completely different feel with their aroma. Once I had eaten a bit, I mixed the rice into the soup too. A heaping spoonful of tender pork jowl and chives over rice was so satisfying.

The pork jowl was also delicious wrapped in kimchi. The pork's tender, nutty flavor paired with the crisp, clean taste of kimchi kept me reaching for more. I also recommend having your gukbap with chives and kimchi, then adjusting the flavor with salted shrimp and more chives to your liking!

A satisfying meal, right down to the kimchi and kkakdugi

Personally, I think a gukbap restaurant becomes much more satisfying when its kimchi and kkakdugi are delicious. Both suited my taste perfectly at Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch. They were especially good—I refilled the kimchi and kkakdugi twice! Kimchi paired beautifully with the boiled pork, while kkakdugi was perfect with the gukbap.

It was such a lovely lunch: revisiting Cheonho after a long time, remembering old days, and enjoying a filling bowl of gukbap. The pork jowl boiled-pork gukbap particularly suited my taste, with its rich yet clean broth and generous amount of tender pork jowl. The spicy osori gukbap had a real kick, so I think it would suit spicy-food lovers, but if I visit again, I will probably choose the pork jowl gukbap again. It was a great way to begin or finish the day with a comforting, filling bowl of warm gukbap.