Korean restaurant on Imun-ro with two rib bones: Hoegi Wang Galbitang

Hi, this is Chugu, traveling while running. I was looking for something hearty to eat near Hoegi Station and ended up at Hoegi Wang Galbitang (회기왕갈비탕). There are tons of restaurants around Hoegi Station because Kyung Hee University and HUFS are nearby, but that day I wasn't in the mood for noodles or bunsik (Korean street food) — I wanted a hot broth with plenty of meat, so I went with galbitang (short rib soup).

• Hoegi Wang Galbitang
• 54 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 10:30 – 21:00

Where is Hoegi Wang Galbitang, and what is the restaurant like inside?

Hoegi Wang Galbitang is on the 1st floor of 54 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, right between Hoegi Station and Kyung Hee University — a spot dedicated to galbitang. Right from the entrance, a huge photo of galbitang grabs your attention immediately.

Stepping inside, it had the relaxed vibe you'd expect from a galbitang place. The tables were fairly spacious, and there were window seats good for solo dining, so eating alone here didn't feel awkward at all.

Sometimes it's hard to decide what to eat alone near Hoegi Station, but galbitang is a menu you can comfortably enjoy solo — that's one of its perks.

So it seemed like a great fit for office workers or students looking for a lunch spot near Hoegi Station or in Hwigyeong-dong.

What the self-serve bar at Hoegi Wang Galbitang offers

Here's the self-serve corner tucked into one side of the restaurant. They even had 17-grain misugaru (grain drink) available for free.

Fresh vegetables and kimchi — looked like the perfect match to enjoy alongside the galbitang.

Hoegi Wang Galbitang menu and how to order

I ordered the meat-packed beef shank galbitang, priced at 19,000 won. Sometimes with galbitang, there's plenty of broth but disappointingly little meat, right? So this time I decided to go all in on meat and ordered the meat-packed aronsatae (beef shank) galbitang.

Meat-packed beef shank galbitang ₩19,000

The side dishes came out.

I wanted some napa cabbage kimchi and a herb salad similar to doraji (bellflower root), so I grabbed extras from the self-serve bar.

Meat-packed beef shank galbitang, 19,000 won: two rib bones and free rice refills

After a short wait, the aronsatae galbitang arrived. Rice comes as half a bowl, but you can grab as much extra as you like for free at the self-serve bar.

The galbitang arrived piping hot in a stone pot (ttukbaegi). The first thing that caught my eye was, of course, the generous amount of meat. Being able to enjoy both galbi (short ribs) and aronsatae made this a lot more fun to eat than a regular galbitang.

There were two overwhelmingly large rib bones sitting in the stone pot, and the amount of meat clinging to them was incredible.

The chewy yet tender texture unique to aronsatae was especially good, and being able to eat the ribs alongside it made this a great fit for anyone who loves meat.

I tried a spoonful of the broth first, then started fishing out pieces of meat one by one. Eating the warm broth together with the tender meat really felt like a proper meal!

At first I mostly ate the meat, but once I'd had my fill, I mixed rice into the broth. As the hot galbitang broth soaked into the rice grains, the satisfaction level shot right up.

Galbitang with rice, plus a bit of seokbakji (radish kimchi), is always a great pairing. There are days when you want a lunch that leaves you truly full — this was exactly that kind of lunch spot near Hoegi Station.

Who should eat at Hoegi Wang Galbitang?

Around Hoegi Station, being a university area, there are plenty of affordable restaurants, bars, and bunsik joints, but sometimes you just crave a proper Korean meal. Galbitang in particular, with its hot broth and generous meat, works well for both lunch and a light dinner. What stuck with me most about the meat-packed aronsatae galbitang I tried this time was that it truly lived up to its name — plenty of meat to enjoy. So among people searching for good food near Hoegi Station, I'd especially recommend this one to meat lovers.

It also seems like a solid choice for students or office workers looking for a meal near Kyung Hee University. Pasta or pork cutlet are fine too, but when you're eating with your parents or craving something warm and brothy, Korean food is always the comfortable choice. Galbitang itself is easy for people of all ages to enjoy, so it also seemed like a good pick to visit with family.