Couple regulars' chili-spiced rib soup in Seomyeon: Gang Galbitang

Why Gang Galbitang is my pick for the best galbitang in Busan

Gang Galbitang (강갈비탕) in Seomyeon, Busan is one of the places my husband and I go to again and again. I've tried a lot of places, but I'm proud to say Gang Galbitang is the number one galbitang in Busan!! Haha. Some of that is just my own taste, but honestly, they serve a galbitang that pretty much everyone enjoys. It's my go-to spot, so let me introduce it to you.

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon: hours, location and parking

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon is open from 9:20 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a break from 3 to 4 p.m. and last order at 8:20 p.m. The address is 33 Saessak-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 1st floor, about a 7-minute walk from Seomyeon Station Exit 11.

• Hours: 09:20 - 21:00
• Break time: 15:00 - 16:00
• Last order: 20:20
• Location: 33 Saessak-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 1st floor, Gang Galbitang Seomyeon (7-minute walk from Seomyeon Station Exit 11)
• Parking: 30 minutes covered at the Blue parking lot (399-8 Bujeon-dong), one car per table

Is it a good galbitang spot for eating alone in Seomyeon?

Gang Galbitang is a perfect place to eat alone in Seomyeon. There are lots of tables for one, so it's well known as a solo-dining favorite, and when you go you'll see plenty of people dining on their own.

Kiosk ordering and a Naver coupon tip

You order at the kiosk. And here's a tip for anyone heading to Gang Galbitang! If you search on Naver and open the page, you can get a coupon for ginseng/wild ginseng (yagwanmun) infused liquor or a hand cream coupon. I actually got a hand cream, haha.

Soup boiled fresh every morning

Gang Galbitang takes pride in boiling its soup fresh every morning. Apparently nothing is made ahead of time. No wonder it tastes so good, haha.

Gang Galbitang meal kits and the Smart Store

Gang Galbitang also sells meal kits to take away at the shop. And for those who can't make it to Seomyeon, there's a way to enjoy it too!! The Smart Store. The meal kits are sold there, so go ahead and order some.

The side dishes are at the self-bar, so help yourself.

What does the signature Gang Galbitang (₩14,000) taste like?

The signature dish is, just as the name says, Gang Galbitang, at ₩14,000. Ribs and Korean beef (hanwoo) broth made fresh that morning!! It looks so delicious already.

The meat is so tender that it comes right off the rib bone with just a little tug! Oh, and the price is ₩14,000.

There are also glass noodles (dangmyeon) in the soup, and the taste is clean! Delicious clean?? Galbitang can feel a little greasy, right? But Gang Galbitang seems to handle that really well.

What does the spicy galbitang (₩15,000) taste like?

What I ordered was the spicy galbitang (eolkeun galbitang), at ₩15,000. I really love this one, haha. I think it's perfect for my taste. I looked up what secret they put in the soup, and apparently they make this flavor with chili powder alone, which is honestly almost mysterious, haha.

Thick noodles instead of thin ones for the add-on

The noodle add-on (sari) at Gang Galbitang isn't the thin kind of noodle, it's thick noodles (jungmyeon)! Even the basic add-on noodles are good ones.

Wow~ the spicy galbitang is a proper hangover cure. I hadn't been drinking, and honestly it's the kind of taste that makes you want a drink, haha. I think I could finish a bottle of soju with it in no time! The price is ₩15,000.

A Seomyeon galbitang spot that never gets old

A totally clean-bowl Gang Galbitang, haha. It's the place I always think of when I go to Seomyeon, and even though I go often, I never get tired of it and it's always delicious. Also, it's a real plus that such a tasty place sells on the Smart Store and offers meal kits! If you're eating in Seomyeon, I recommend giving Gang Galbitang a try.