Self-bar somyeon noodles at a Gangnam pork soup restaurant: Sinju Okmi

I was looking for something hot and filling near Gangnam Station and ended up at Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch. Whenever the weather gets awkwardly chilly or I just want a hearty bowl of soup, sundaeguk (pork blood sausage soup) is the first thing that comes to mind. This time, instead of the plain sundaeguk, I tried both the myeongin sundaeguk set and the eolkeun (spicy) sundaeguk set.

Where is Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch? A short walk from Gangnam Station Exit 3

Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch is in Yeoksam-dong, an easy walk from Gangnam Station Exit 3, so it's simple to reach. It's actually a convenient spot for anyone looking for sundaeguk near Gangnam Station.

Inside Sinju Okmi: a wide hall with the sound of running water

Walking in, the space was much bigger than I expected, making it comfortable to eat. You might picture a sundaeguk place as a bit cramped or old-fashioned, but

the interior was really spacious, which made for a great place to eat haha.

Overall it had a clean feel, so it seemed good both for eating alone and for a group meal together. An unusual space where you eat while listening to running water, haha.

The self-bar at Sinju Okmi, with free somyeon noodles

What I liked most was the self-bar. Besides the basic side dishes, there were various extras to pair with the sundaeguk. What I especially liked was the somyeon (thin wheat noodles). You could add the noodles into the soup separately, giving a different experience from just eating it with rice.

The ppeong-gwaja (puffed rice snack) was a review event item, haha!

And this is the basic side dish spread, haha.

Myeongin sundaeguk set: can you really finish the soup and the rice?

The first menu I ordered was the myeongin sundaeguk set. Seeing the soup arrive piping hot in a stone bowl was filling just to look at. There was plenty in the broth, and the portion of a single bowl was substantial enough that I wondered from the start whether I'd manage to finish the rice too.

Sundaeguk really tastes best hot, so I tried a spoonful of broth first. It was nice to taste the broth on its own before mixing in rice, adding perilla powder, salted shrimp, or chili paste to taste along the way. Partway through I added the somyeon noodles, and this combination worked really well too. Putting noodles into the sundaeguk broth let me slurp it up like noodle soup, which was a fun change.

How spicy is the eolkeun sundaeguk set?

I also can't skip the eolkeun (spicy) sundaeguk set I ordered alongside. It's definitely different from the regular sundaeguk, so if you like spicy, fiery broth, this menu would suit you well.

With gukbap (soup-and-rice dishes), the broth temperature matters a lot, and it came out piping hot, so I could enjoy it warm all the way to the end even eating slowly. Personally, when I eat sundaeguk, rather than mixing in rice right away, I like to eat some of the broth and ingredients first before adding rice or noodles — and eating that way this time, the portion was really large.

Was the meal worth it? A very filling two-set order

Eating the sundaeguk plus rice plus noodles made for a really hearty meal. What stuck with me most from this visit to Sinju Okmi was, as expected, the generous portions.

A single bowl of sundaeguk is already filling enough, but enjoying it as a set and adding noodles on top made it truly satisfying. There are plenty of simple options when eating near Gangnam Station, but on a day like this when you really want to fill up, a hot bowl of sundaeguk is a solid choice.

This is the assorted boiled pork (suyuk) that came with the set. If you're searching for good restaurants near Gangnam Station or Yeoksam Station and love gukbap dishes, I felt this is a place worth stopping by.

Open 24 hours: late-night hangover soup in Gangnam

Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch is currently listed as operating 24 hours, so it's convenient to visit for a late-night meal or hangover food too.

The broth was hot and generously filled, and the fun part was being able to bring the noodles over yourself and add them into the sundaeguk. A single bowl of sundaeguk is already filling, but adding the noodles made it a truly hearty meal. It's a good place to visit around Gangnam Station or Yeoksam Station when you're craving a generous bowl of sundaeguk. If you like spicy broth, go for the eolkeun sundaeguk set, and if you prefer the classic version, try the myeongin sundaeguk set — pick according to your taste.

1F 103, A-dong, 21 Teheran-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea / Near Gangnam Station Exit 3 / Listed as open 24 hours