Insa-dong hanok Seoul restaurant: ₩40,000 two-person set at Goshine

I visited Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, an Insa-dong restaurant. When you're looking for a place to eat in Insa-dong, there are tons of Korean restaurants, but once you actually try to pick one, so many look similar that it's hard to decide where to go. This time, while wandering around Insa-dong, I found a place with a nice hanok (traditional Korean house) atmosphere where I could try several menu items at once — makguksu (buckwheat noodles), sundubu (soft tofu) stew, and bossam (boiled pork). Let me tell you why this is a solid pick if you're searching for Insa-dong restaurant recommendations.

Where is Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, and what are its hours?

• 📌 Address: 3 Insadong 12-gil, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:30 (break time 16:00 - 17:00)
• 🚗 No parking available

• 👶 Baby chair available
• 🍷 Corkage: Free
• 📞 Reservations, orders, and delivery available

It's the first shop in the alley right next to Ssamziegil, across from the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, so it's easy to find while wandering around Insa-dong. It's about 5 minutes from Anguk Station and about 10 minutes from Jonggak Station, so accessibility is pretty good.

What the Insa-dong hanok dining room feels like

Goshine Donghae Makguksu started as a two-generation noodle shop at Gangmun Beach in Gangneung. This Jongno branch in Seoul is their first directly-run branch, and unlike most makguksu places, it's set in a traditional hanok building — that really caught my eye.

There are quite a few restaurants in Insa-dong that use hanok buildings, but personally I've been to some where only the atmosphere feels hanok-like while the interior is cluttered. This place, though, felt bright and neatly organized overall, so my first impression was good.

What comes in the 40,000 won two-person set with bossam?

We visited as two and ordered the 2-person meal + bossam set. I chose mul-makguksu, and my friend went with spicy Chodang sundubu. We also had bossam together, and the total came to ₩40,000.

When you're two people, sharing several different dishes like this is so much more satisfying than each ordering just one bowl of makguksu. Especially at a place you're visiting for the first time, if you only try the signature dish you leave curious about the rest — but ordering as a set let us try the makguksu, sundubu, and bossam all at once, which was great.

The basic side dishes were kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi), mu kimchi (radish kimchi), and pickled onions, and you can grab more from the self-service bar if you run out.

Mul-makguksu in a kelp and soy sauce broth

The dish I was most curious about that day was the mul-makguksu. Usually when I think of makguksu, I picture a refreshing dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth or a tangy-sweet flavor, but Goshine Donghae Makguksu's mul-makguksu went in a different direction than what I was used to.

The broth is deeply steeped with kelp and soy sauce as the base, so from the first sip it felt less like the makguksu I knew and more like a mix of makguksu and soba. I actually loved that. After visiting a lot of makguksu places, the flavors start to blend together at some point, but the broth here definitely had its own character.

They apparently make the buckwheat noodles fresh to order, and the clean, springy noodles paired really well with the savory, deep broth.

So if you're the type who usually thinks,

Doesn't makguksu taste about the same everywhere?

I'd say give this one a try. It was different from what I expected, and that's exactly why it stuck with me.

Where to eat sundubu-jjigae in Insa-dong

My friend ordered the spicy Chodang sundubu, and it was delicious. It's made with handmade tofu from Chodang in Gangneung plus a special seasoning, and I stole a spoonful or two — it was totally my taste.

Whenever I've had sundubu-jjigae in Insa-dong before, something always felt a little lacking. But the spicy Chodang sundubu we had that day filled in exactly what was missing. The spicy broth with the soft tofu paired really well with the makguksu, too.

Honestly, it's one of the best sundubu-jjigaes I've had in Insa-dong. I think I'll be back for it once the weather turns cooler.

Don't skip the bossam at Goshine Donghae Makguksu

If I had to pick just one dish that stuck with me most that day, it would be the bossam.

The bossam was insanely good. It comes sliced thick, but it wasn't dry at all — moist and tender.

Take one bite and the meat fills your mouth completely — it had way more presence than I expected for what I assumed would be a side dish at a makguksu place.

Pairing it with myeongtae sikhye (fermented pollock) and green onion kimchi made it even better.

I felt like coming to Goshine Donghae Makguksu and not eating the bossam would be a real shame.

Who will enjoy Goshine Donghae Makguksu most?

Based on my own visit, here's who I think would enjoy this place:

• ✔ Anyone looking for a clean, hanok-style restaurant in Insa-dong
• ✔ Anyone who wants to share several dishes rather than just makguksu
• ✔ Anyone looking for a slightly different take on makguksu
• ✔ Anyone looking for a date spot or family meal place in Insa-dong
• ✔ Anyone who wants bossam and makguksu together
• ✔ Anyone looking for a place good for solo dining or group meals

The restaurant also has an annex-style private room and can accommodate groups, so it looks great for family gatherings or work dinners with several people. On the other hand, if you just want a quick bowl of makguksu in Insa-dong, ordering a single dish works fine too. If you're like me and want to try a little of everything, the 2-person set is the most practical choice.

Is this Insa-dong hanok restaurant worth a second visit?

On this visit I tried the mul-makguksu, spicy Chodang sundubu, and bossam, and all three had their own distinct charm, which made for a satisfying meal overall. The kelp-based broth of the mul-makguksu and the moist bossam stuck with me the most. Insa-dong has so many restaurants that it can be hard to choose, but if you want makguksu along with a proper hanok atmosphere, this place is worth a stop. Next time, once the weather gets cooler, I'll probably come back for the spicy Chodang sundubu and bossam again. If you're planning to explore Insa-dong and head toward Ssamziegil or the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, this makes a good addition to your meal itinerary.