Bucheon kalguksu spot with steamed shrimp for a 7-year-old: Jakdong

Why Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu for a noodle dinner with a child

I asked my son what he wanted for dinner and he said noodles. So we headed to Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu (작동홍두깨칼국수), which is close to our home, tasty, and serves huge portions. I stop by now and then when I want that feeling of eating on a trip, and this time my son was craving noodles, so we went on a weekday.

Is Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu busy on a weekday evening?

There were quite a few customers even in the early weekday evening. I figured it would be nearly empty, but plenty of people had come. And we didn't even arrive right at dinnertime, we came a bit earlier, yet there were already people inside when we walked in.

• Hours: 10:30–21:00 (last order 20:30)
• Address: 63 Gilju-ro 560beon-gil, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, South Korea
• Parking: available

One main dish per person: from what age? Is there a break time?

The kalguksu here is one order per person, counted from age 12 and up. My son is only 7, so he doesn't count. We ordered for two people and added a side dish.

Oh, and the restaurant has no break time, so you can go whenever you like. Occasionally they close for a day, but they post that on Naver, so if you want to check that it's open on the day you're going, look it up there.

Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu menu, prices and what we ordered

The main dishes are clam kalguksu and kongguksu (cold soy milk noodles), and you order one per seated person aged 12 and over. We went for the clam kalguksu, which really settles your stomach, for two people. There are side dishes too, and I debated between dumplings and steamed shrimp, but my son loves shrimp, so we chose the steamed shrimp.

• Clam kalguksu ₩11,000 × 2 = ₩22,000
• Steamed shrimp ₩11,000 (10 pieces)
• Extra barley rice ₩3,000 (if you want a proper bowl rather than the free one)

I love barley rice and thought about ordering extra, but I remembered how big the kalguksu portions are here, so I skipped it. Every time I eat kalguksu at Jakdong Hongdukkkae I leave some behind. It's that generous, and it's the kind of soup that soothes your stomach. The instructions for eating it are written on the table, so just follow them and it'll taste great.

Inside Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu: good for groups and kids?

The interior is spacious, so it works fine for a group, like a company dinner or a get-together. It's also a good place to bring kids. The kalguksu isn't spicy, and the side dishes and other menu items include plenty that kids can eat.

While I was reading this and that, the kalguksu arrived. The pot came with its lid closed, and you open it when the sand in the hourglass runs out, or when an alarm you set goes off. You have to open it on time to get the proper flavor of the kalguksu here.

How does the kimchi at Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu taste?

This is the restaurant's kimchi, and it's really good. It's tasty on its own, but it goes incredibly well with the kalguksu. It's a little more fermented than fresh geotjeori-style kimchi, and that flavor is wonderful. I was also amazed that it tastes the same every time I come. Nicely ripened kimchi goes great with barley rice too.

Are 2 servings of clam kalguksu enough for three, including a child?

Two servings of clam kalguksu fed all three of us, child included, with food to spare. The first time I came here I worried the portion was too small. But once I ate it, it was enough to leave you stuffed with leftovers. The bowl is just so big that the noodles look like less than they are. Ordering for only two, three people can eat until they're really full. Even with three of us eating, including my son, we couldn't finish it all.

How many bowls of barley rice do you get?

When you order kalguksu at Jakdong Hongdukkkae, barley rice comes free, one bowl per main dish ordered. So if you order 2 servings you get 2 bowls, and a child can only have one if you order a main dish for them. If you love barley rice and want more, you can add a bowl for ₩3,000 and eat plenty. It's even better with kimchi, so if you like it, go ahead and order more.

How many times do you turn the hourglass timer?

For the kalguksu here, you flip the hourglass twice while the lid is on. When all the sand has run down, flip it once more. While the noodles cook, you can eat the barley rice and the steamed shrimp you ordered as a side, and before you know it the noodles are done, so there's no waiting around.

Steamed shrimp at Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu: did my son like it?

This is the steamed shrimp we ordered. They give you 2 plastic gloves, so you wear one on each hand and one person can peel them all. I wanted to peel them myself, so I did, but they came straight out of the steamer and were hot. I like my food hot, though, so I kept peeling away going "ow, hot!" The first one I peeled went straight into my son's mouth, and he loved it.

While we snacked on this and that, the kalguksu finished cooking. It's bubbling away, so if you're coming with a child, be careful they don't get burned. Oh, and the clam kalguksu here has shrimp, clams and sea squirt in it. If you want more clams or sea squirt, it's on the menu, so just order it. Extra clams 200g are ₩3,000 and extra wrinkled sea squirt is ₩3,000.

The noodles at Jakdong Hongdukkkae are really soft, so it's great to eat here with kids. My son especially loves clams and shrimp, so if there are any in the bowl, I pretty much hand them all over. Kids need to eat a bit of everything, after all.

Kalguksu and kimchi takeout prices at Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu

Oh, and this kalguksu favorite also does takeout. Takeout kalguksu is ₩10,000, and you can buy 1.5kg of kimchi for ₩20,000, according to the sign. If you'd rather eat at home, takeout seems like a good option.

This is the steamed shrimp. I gave my son one, and he said it was tasty but too big, so I cut it into thirds. He ate about 4 pieces, then said no more, so my husband and I split the rest. I gave it to him without dipping it in the chojang (sweet chili vinegar sauce), and we dipped ours, which was really good. I think we'll order the steamed shrimp again next time we go to Jakdong Hongdukkkae.

Are the snacks at the Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu counter free?

After your meal you can also get snacks at Jakdong Hongdukkkae, but you have to buy them. Kids get distracted by the snacks when they walk in, but on the way out they just walk right past. My son did too. After eating until you're stuffed, I guess you don't think about it.

It was mostly the adults who wanted more and bought something. I love sweet potato sticks, so I bought a pack. I'd been craving snacks lately, and sure enough it was delicious. Picking up a snack you like on the way out, like I did, is a nice idea. They're great to nibble on little by little at home, haha.