Myeongdong Korean restaurant, four dishes for a foreign friend: Baekok

Looking for Korean food to eat with a foreign friend near Myeongdong Station, I searched for gomtang (pork bone soup) restaurants and ended up at Baekok Myeongdong, famous for its pork gomtang.

Finding Baekok Myeongdong: the alley entrance and storefront

Baekok Myeongdong is a pork gomtang specialty restaurant tucked into a Myeongdong 8-gil alley, and it wasn't hard to find from Myeongdong Station. The exterior alone radiates Korean atmosphere.

I think this would also be a good spot for anyone looking for a hearty soup for lunch in Myeongdong, or a lunch place while exploring Myeongdong and Euljiro ^_^

The gomtang restaurant that appeared on KBS 2TV

Baekok Myeongdong was also featured on KBS 2TV's Saengsaeng Jeongbo.

Being on TV doesn't automatically mean it's delicious, but since this place specializes in gomtang, I was even more curious how the broth would taste 😋

Inside Baekok Myeongdong: seating and solo-dining spots

The interior of Baekok Myeongdong was neatly arranged in wood tones, giving off an overall cozy and warm atmosphere.

Along with the table seats, there were also spots that looked comfortable for eating alone, so anyone looking for a solo lunch spot in Myeongdong could visit without worry ~!

Korean hospitality (jeong) at its best~🇰🇷🥰

The menu at Baekok Myeongdong and what we ordered together

Baekok Myeongdong's signature menu items are pork gomtang and yeolgomtang, and there are also dishes that pair well, like cabbage dumplings and cold pork.

I visited while traveling in Seoul with a foreign friend, and it was great to be able to try a quintessentially Korean dish like gomtang together.

Since we wanted to try a variety of dishes, this is what we ordered.

• Pork gomtang ₩11,000
• Yeolgomtang ₩12,000
• Cabbage dumplings ₩8,000
• Cold pork ₩10,000
• Pepsi Zero

Pepper and salt were also provided, so you can sprinkle them into the gomtang to your taste.

The side dish: kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi)

The basic side dish at Baekok Myeongdong was kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). This place is great for kkakdugi ❤️ You can't have gukbap or gomtang without kkakdugi!

It was ripened just right — cool and crunchy — and good to eat alongside the broth every few bites.

On the wall, there were also explanations about the meat, rice, and broth Baekok uses. You could feel that this place pays close attention to ingredients and cooking methods, which got my expectations up before the food even arrived haha

Doesn't the spread already look super hearty just from the visuals?

If you're looking for a pork gomtang restaurant in Myeongdong and want to properly enjoy the side dishes too, this combo seems like a good way to order.

Pork gomtang, 11,000 won: the choice for a mild broth

Baekok Myeongdong's pork gomtang is ₩11,000, and reportedly uses domestic pork shoulder and bone broth simmered for a long time.

The broth was milky and mild, and the pork was more generous than I expected. It's a clean, comfortable flavor rather than an intense one, so if you usually like a non-spicy broth, pork gomtang would suit you better. 🌟Highly recommended🌟

Yeolgomtang, 12,000 won: my top pick of the visit

My top pick this visit was this yeolgomtang (₩12,000)!

It's the basic gomtang broth with spicy seasoning and cheongyang chili added — even before mixing in the seasoning, meat and chili peppers were piled generously on top haha

Once you stir the seasoning evenly into the broth, the once-clear soup turns an appetizing red.

From the first spoonful, a spicy and tangy kick hits you right away, but it's not just about heat — you can also taste the deep, savory flavor unique to gomtang.

The pork was thin and tender, pairing really well with the seasoned broth. Eating a piece of meat with a spoonful of broth was genuinely delicious, and as someone who likes a spicy broth, I kept reaching for yeolgomtang more than the pork gomtang.

It would also be great as a hangover cure dish on a rough morning haha

Cabbage dumplings, 8,000 won: cabbage leaves instead of wrappers

Baekok Myeongdong's cabbage dumplings are ₩8,000 for 4 pieces, and instead of a regular dumpling wrapper, they're wrapped in cabbage leaves, which made them unique right from the look.

A healthy cabbage dumpling packed full with meat and kimchi. Inside, the filling made of meat and vegetables was packed in tightly without any gaps.

The filling was moist and savory, and it was even better dipped lightly into the accompanying sauce.

The cabbage was mild and clean, and since the filling inside was like kimchi dumplings, the combination worked really well.

Cold pork, 10,000 won: lighter with a squeeze of lemon

Baekok Myeongdong's cold pork is ₩10,000, sliced thin into bite-sized pieces and served with lemon and a seasoning sauce.

It's made with pork cheek cooked until tender, served with salted shrimp (tohajeot) and lime.

Adding a bit of the seasoning sauce or squeezing on some lemon gives it a refreshing lift that made me keep going back for more.

There was almost no off-putting smell, and the pork's own clean, mild flavor came through nicely haha

Since it's pork served cold, I thought it might be dry, but it was surprisingly moist and tender.

If ordering just gomtang feels like something's missing, or you want a light meat dish on the side, try adding cold pork too.

Mouthwash and red ginseng candy by the counter

There was also mouthwash and red ginseng candy thoughtfully set up at the counter, so I rinsed before heading out.

Who Baekok Myeongdong is worth a visit for

If you're looking for a Korean restaurant in Myeongdong, want to introduce a foreign friend to hearty Korean food, or want a warm soup for lunch in Myeongdong, give Baekok Myeongdong a try :) If you're especially into spicy gukbap, you have to try the yeolgomtang!