Yeongdeungpo clam hot pot with hourglass kalguksu timer: Gaetbeol-ui

I had plans at The Hyundai Seoul over the weekend, and decided to have dinner nearby at a Yeouido favorite, Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch. Yeouido tends to be quieter on weekend evenings than on weekdays, so it was a relaxed spot for a meal.

I walked over from The Hyundai Seoul, passing through Yeouido Park, and by subway it's close to Gukhoeuisadang Station, so it counts as a Gukhoeuisadang Station favorite too.

First impressions of the space

This Yeouido favorite, Gaetbeol-ui Jogae, has two locations in the area — the Yeouido Main Branch and the Yeouido Station Branch. This time I visited the Yeouido Main Branch.

Going up to the 2nd floor of the Geukdong VIP Building in Yeouido, the storefront was clean and the space was much bigger than I expected.

Inside, the tables were spaced generously and the whole place felt spacious and tidy. The staff were friendly too, which made a good first impression.

What I especially liked was that there were several private rooms toward the back of the restaurant.

At Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch, using a room makes eating more comfortable for family gatherings, company dinners, or group meals with friends. If you're looking for a Yeouido favorite or Gukhoeuisadang Station favorite for a group meetup, this is worth keeping in mind.

What I ordered and prices

• Giant clam hot pot, small (for 2) — ₩59,000
• Kalguksu noodle add-on — ₩3,000

For the giant clam hot pot at this Yeouido favorite, you can choose between a clear broth and a spicy broth. I wanted to really taste the seafood itself, so I went with the clear broth.

This Gukhoeuisadang Station favorite also has a separate lunch menu, from kalguksu (noodle soup) to bibimbap and rice bowls.

Tasting the giant clam hot pot

After ordering, it wasn't long before the giant clam hot pot arrived in a huge pot.

True to its name, the pot itself was enormous — it looked like plenty even for two people. Inside were various clams like razor clams (keyjogae), Manila clams, and scallops, along with whole squid, shrimp, mung bean sprouts, and radish — it looked delicious just to look at.

What satisfied me most while eating was how fresh the clams were. This Yeouido favorite, Gaetbeol-ui Jogae, reportedly sources live clams and seafood daily from a nearby coast.

Manila clams in particular can sometimes have a gritty, sandy bite, but the clams here had almost none of that. They were well de-sanded, so they were easy to eat, and the clams themselves were plump and delicious.

With so many varieties of clams, it was fun picking through and trying each one.

The clam and cheese combo

On one side of the hot pot was melted cheese, gently warmed through so it stayed chewy until the last bite. Dipping a well-cooked clam lightly into the cheese added a savory richness to the clam's clean flavor — a great combination.

The cheese was already tasty on its own, but eating it this way, swirled together, was even more fun.

The broth was also refreshing — as the fresh clams, squid, mung bean sprouts, and radish simmered together, the broth deepened in flavor without becoming heavy, staying clean and light with a seafood taste. After eating some of the clams, the broth got even tastier, so I kept spooning it up.

Finishing with kalguksu and the hourglass 'golden time'

It would feel like something's missing to stop after the clam hot pot, right? The finishing touch is kalguksu (noodle soup). I added the noodle add-on.

There was a random hourglass on one side of the table, and I wondered, 'What's this for?' It turned out to be a 'Golden Time' timer for cooking the kalguksu noodles perfectly!

Once you add the noodles and the broth is boiling hard, you flip the hourglass over. Wait until all the sand runs down, then dig in! No need to time anything yourself — the moment the sand runs out is exactly when the noodles turn out plump and perfectly cooked. Such a convenient, clever touch.

Adding kalguksu to the broth that had steeped in all that seafood made the broth taste even deeper, and the noodles were chewy and delicious. If you order the clam hot pot, I'd definitely recommend adding the kalguksu noodles at the end.

Self-serve bar and other amenities

On one side of the Gaetbeol-ui Jogae restaurant was a self-serve bar. It was nice being able to grab a bit of barley rice and mix it with yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) while waiting for the hot pot to boil.

Mixing the barley rice with seasoning and sesame oil made a simple little dish that was great for whetting the appetite while waiting for the hot pot.

At this Yeouido favorite, Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch, I was able to check the country-of-origin labeling.

There was also a high chair available on one side of the restaurant, and the counter had dental floss, hair ties, and mouthwash — a thoughtful touch for tidying up before or after the meal.

With several private rooms available, if you're planning a company dinner, family gathering, or group meal as a Yeouido favorite or Gukhoeuisadang Station favorite, it's worth booking ahead.

Location

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch is on the 2nd floor of the Geukdong VIP Building at 15-1 Gukhoedae-ro 70-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's an easy walk from Gukhoeuisadang Station and close to Yeouido Park, making it a nice spot for a stroll before or after the meal.

Wrap-up

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch, this Yeouido favorite I visited for dinner after a weekend trip to The Hyundai Seoul, delivered a generous portion, fresh seafood, a light broth, and a perfect finish with kalguksu — a complete course. If clam hot pot comes to mind in Yeouido, this is a place worth visiting at least once.

Nearby things to do

• The Hyundai Seoul — great to pair with dinner after browsing shopping or pop-up stores.
• Yeouido Park — close to Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch, good for a light stroll before or after the meal.
• Yeouido Hangang Park — a good place to head to after the meal for a relaxed riverside walk to end the day.