Jung-gu, Daegu soup restaurant: childhood ttaro-gukbap, Hanwoojang

A gukbap institution near Dongseong-ro: Hanwoojang

We were in downtown Daegu around Dongseong-ro and I suddenly craved a piping hot bowl of gukbap (rice soup), so we headed to Hanwoojang (한우장) on Gukchaebosang-ro in Jung-gu. A hearty brunch is the best, right? My husband and I both love gukbap, so here we go again, gukbap addicts on the move!

What are Hanwoojang's hours and parking like?

Hanwoojang is open 24 hours, every day of the year (00:00–24:00). The restaurant is on a main road, so there's no private lot. You use a nearby paid parking lot instead.

We parked in a paid lot in the back alley behind the building, then walked out along the main road until we spotted the balloon sign and went in.

Two generations since 1968: what kind of place is Hanwoojang?

Hanwoojang has been listed in the Blue Ribbon Survey for 12 years in a row, and I heard the family has kept the doors open for 50 years across two generations, since 1968. The owners are truly amazing. They moved locations and renovated, so it's now a clean, hygienic space.

I spent my childhood in Jung-gu, so ttaro-gukbap (rice and soup served separately) is pure nostalgia for me: the Bukseong-ro bulgogi udon street stall, and the ttaro-gukbap my mother sometimes brought home in a big pot. Those days still feel so vivid.

From the entrance, with its old-style lettering, you get a strong old-school vibe, and the wood interior feels calm and cozy. The autographs of the many celebrities who've visited got me excited, too.

The signature dishes seem to be ttaro-gukbap, suyuk (boiled beef slices), seolleongtang (ox bone soup), and oxtail soup (kkorigomtang).

Is it good for going with a baby or parents?

We ordered the special ttaro-gukbap and the special seolleongtang. Hanwoojang has a baby chair and disposable aprons, so it seems fine to bring a baby or your parents.

The menu has big pictures and large text, so older folks can pick easily. The self bar had kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and basic side dishes, and the decor is full of old-fashioned props that made it feel as cozy as grandma's house.

How was the blood curd in the special ttaro-gukbap?

Three side dishes arrived along with the steaming hot bowls. The special ttaro-gukbap had big chunks of seonji (congealed ox blood) plus extra noodles, perfect as a hangover soup.

Daegu's ttaro-gukbap is described as beef bone and brisket broth simmered with scallions and radish, served with seonji. With seonji it's called ttaro-gukbap, and without it, it's sometimes called yukgaejang or beef gukbap.

The seonji was really big, clean, and had no gamey smell, so it was delicious, and eating it after a long time made me so happy! The broth is refreshing yet rich, and the special comes with extra noodles too, so noodle lovers should definitely order the special. Stir in a little minced garlic and some chili powder and it's the perfect hangover soup. My husband added kkakdugi to his, and that seems like a fun new flavor too.

Is the special seolleongtang okay for kids?

Hanwoojang's special seolleongtang has a clear, mild broth with lots of scallions that cut the richness. The base flavor isn't harsh, so even our 6-year-old could eat it, which I loved. Add a few shakes of pepper and salt and the savoriness goes up a level!!!!

The thin, tender slices of meat have little fat, which is exactly my style. With the special's extra noodles you get about 1.5 times the portion, so it's really filling. Women might be full with the regular size. Bite into the clean, refreshing kkakdugi, then the freshly made kimchi, and slurp your gukbap: the best!

A Good Price Shop, finished with instant coffee

We scraped the bowls clean. Hanwoojang is a Good Price Shop (착한가격업소, a local government-designated affordable restaurant), so we left having had a tasty, filling meal at great value. A cup of instant coffee on the way out was the perfect finish ♡