Insa-dong Korean restaurant with stone pot bibimbap: Goshine Donghae

I hadn't wandered around Insa-dong in a while, so on a date near Anguk Station we walked through the neighborhood. Insa-dong has so many alleys worth exploring and so many cafés and restaurants that it's a great area for a walking date. This time, while poking around the alleys, we ended up at Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch!

Where is Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, and what are its hours?

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Anguk Station, tucked in an alley right beside the main Insa-dong street. It's open daily from 11:00 to 21:30, with a break time from 16:00 to 17:00 and last order at 21:00. There's a restroom inside, and you can book a table through Naver Reservation.

I loved that the alley still has that distinct Insa-dong hanok atmosphere going on!

Apparently Goshine Donghae Makguksu carries on a tradition started in Gangneung, now in its second generation, and was the first place to develop buckwheat gimbap!

There's a menu board set up outside, so you can see what's on offer at a glance before even stepping in.

Inside the restaurant and the window seats you can reserve

The inside of Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is spacious and clean, with seating ranging from 4-person tables to group seating, so it was easy to settle in comfortably depending on our party size.

Since we'd booked ahead, they had a window-side reservation seat ready for us, which made the meal even more comfortable.

✅ To order, use the tablet on the table. (Prepayment)

The menu lineup and the self-serve side dish bar

Makguksu (buckwheat noodles) is the signature dish here, but the menu is actually quite varied — stone pot bibimbap, chodang sundubu (soft tofu), boiled pork, buckwheat gimbap and more. So even if you're going with someone who isn't a makguksu person, there's plenty to choose from, which I think is a real plus!!

For extra side dishes, just help yourself and refill freely at the self-serve bar!

What we ordered: cheese roll-katsu, 16,000 won

• Cheese roll-katsu ₩16,000
• Flying fish roe stone pot bibimbap ₩13,000

A dish that'll catch the eye of any cheese lover

The cheese roll-katsu comes rolled up into a long shape, so it grabs your attention visually right away!! Packed with cheese under a crispy coating, it was cut into pieces that made it easy to enjoy.

The outside fries up crispy while the cheese inside blends in smoothly once you cut into it.

How was the flying fish roe stone pot bibimbap at 13,000 won?

The flying fish roe stone pot bibimbap at Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is ₩13,000, and the appeal starts with the rice arriving in a sizzling hot stone pot.

Beyond the flying fish roe, it's generously loaded with lettuce, danmuji (pickled radish), kimchi, seasoned laver flakes and more. Mix it all together well and the ingredients come together for an even better bite!

The flying fish roe adds a nice little pop of texture, and mixed together with all the other ingredients it had that hearty, satisfying quality Korean food does so well. At ₩13,000, it's not a bad price at all if you're looking for a meal in Insa-dong!!

Is Goshine Donghae Makguksu worth it near Anguk Station?

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is a good place for an easy meal tucked into the Insa-dong alleys. For anyone like us wandering around after an Anguk Station date and looking for somewhere to eat in Insa-dong, it's conveniently located and the varied menu made it easy to pick something. I especially liked that they had such a range of Korean dishes. Since it's a makguksu specialist, next time I'll definitely have to try the makguksu itself!