Gangnam family dinner: shaomai and shrimp fried rice at Namsogwan

When you're eating out as a family, it's not easy picking a restaurant when all three of you want something different. But there's one place near Gangnam Station our family keeps coming back to — Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon.

We first visited thanks to my husband, who loves Taiwanese beef noodles, and we've been back many times since. This time it was our son who said "I want shaomai!" so off we went again, haha. What started as a place we went to for my husband's favorite noodles has now become the restaurant our son asks for first. It's affordable enough to visit anytime without a second thought.

Where is Namsogwan near Gangnam Station, and what are its hours?

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon sits in an alley close to exits 11 and 12 of Gangnam Station. It's not far from the subway, making it convenient whether you have plans in Gangnam or you're just heading out for a family meal.

The restaurant uses both the first and second floor. It can get busy during meal times, so if you're visiting with kids, it's worth picking a slightly less crowded time slot.

• Address: 19 Teheran-ro 1-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st & 2nd floor)
• Transit: Near exits 11 and 12 of Gangnam Station
• Hours: Listed as 11:00–22:20; check before visiting
• Parking: Check for dedicated parking in advance; public transit recommended

Beef dosakmyeon: the hand-shaved noodles that first brought us here

We discovered Namsogwan because of my husband's love for Taiwanese beef noodles. We were looking for a place to eat beef noodles near Gangnam Station, and we've kept coming back whenever the craving hits.

Namsogwan's beef dosakmyeon (hand-shaved noodles) stands out for its wide, thick noodles, unlike the usual thin variety. The width and thickness vary slightly noodle to noodle, which makes for a fun chewy texture, and it pairs well with the broth's rich beef and spice flavor.

For my husband, who loves the distinct aroma of Taiwanese-style beef noodles, it's a welcome dish, but it might not suit everyone if you're not used to the spices. In our case, my husband orders the beef noodles and we order other dishes alongside to share.

Shaomai (steamed pork dumplings), the dish our son asked for again

The real reason we came back to Namsogwan this time was the shaomai. Our son specifically said he wanted the shaomai he'd had recently, so deciding on where to eat out didn't take long at all.

Shaomai (bite-sized dim sum dumplings) are easy to order alongside noodles or fried rice. If beef noodles are my husband's go-to order, shaomai was the dish our son was most looking forward to this visit.

When you go out to eat with a kid, it's hard to only order what the adults like. What I appreciate about Namsogwan is that alongside the beef noodles, they also have dim sum and rice dishes, so each of us can pick something to our own taste. Just a tip — the shaomai comes out piping hot, so let it cool a bit before giving it to your kid.

Shrimp fried rice, easy to share alongside the beef noodles

This time we also ordered the shrimp fried rice. When noodles and dim sum alone feel like they're not quite enough for a full meal, adding a rice dish rounds things out nicely.

For a family like ours, with someone who loves beef noodles and a kid who's after dim sum, fried rice is a great dish to share. Between the rich beef noodle broth, the bite-sized shaomai, and the rice dish, we could each enjoy what we wanted while still sampling a bit of everything at the same table.

Why Namsogwan is an easy family dinner in Gangnam

The first time we came, it was to suit my husband's taste for beef noodles, but after so many visits, it's become our family's go-to spot for eating out. Whenever our son asks for shaomai, like this time, Namsogwan naturally comes to mind.

Beef noodles, shaomai and shrimp fried rice made a great combination for the three of us to share different dishes. If the aroma of Taiwanese-style beef noodles feels unfamiliar to you, ordering dim sum or fried rice alongside is another option.

If you're looking for beef dosakmyeon or dim sum near Gangnam Station, give Namsogwan a try. For our family, it started as a place we visited for my husband, and now it's the repeat family dinner spot our son asks to return to too.