Basic vs special gomtang at a Wangsimni garden restaurant: Geumnyeong

I found a really good gomtang (beef bone soup) restaurant near Wangsimni Station! The owner was so friendly it gave off this warm, cozy feeling, and the soup itself was genuinely satisfying too, haha. The broth was clean yet deep, so I wanted to share it briefly — this post is about Geumnyeong Gomtang, a Wangsimni restaurant for a solid meal!

Geumnyeong Gomtang hours, parking and amenities

Geumnyeong Gomtang is located at 11 Wangsimni-ro 20-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, and is open Mon–Sat from 10:30 to 22:00, closed on Sundays. Break time runs 15:00–17:00, last order is at 21:30, and there's no parking available.

• Separate restrooms for men and women inside
• Free corkage
• Takeout/delivery available
• Group seating available
• Wifi available
• Baby chairs available

👀 Visit highlights

• A clear, deep gomtang simmered daily with hanwoo shank and medicinal herbs
• A cozy, nostalgic atmosphere in what feels like a converted house
• A hearty meal with plenty of meat, rice, and rice cakes

What is the garden and exterior of Geumnyeong Gomtang like?

Geumnyeong Gomtang looks like a converted house — you walk in through the entrance and climb a set of stairs to reach the restaurant. Even the exterior gave off a warm, nostalgic feeling.

Geumnyeong Gomtang really did feel like a converted house! Even the exterior gave off a warm, nostalgic feeling, and walking through the entrance and up the stairs leads you to the restaurant.

At the top of the stairs is a small garden-like space, with a table and chairs set up on one side and trees around, giving off a cozy, nostalgic feeling even in the middle of the city. There was something about it that felt like it preserved the character of an old house!

Inside Geumnyeong Gomtang: interior and seating

Inside, Geumnyeong Gomtang is decorated in wood tones with traditional touches, and the seating — tables for two, four, and six — is spaced out comfortably. On the wall was even an actual hanwoo (Korean beef) individual identification tag.

The interior is decorated in wood tones with traditional decor, giving it a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere. On the wall, alongside several signatures, there was an actual hanwoo individual identification tag, which gave me confidence in the quality of the ingredients!

The dining area is also done in wood tones, giving it a clean yet warm feel overall! Seating for two, four, and six-person tables was spaced out comfortably, and the outdoor space visible through the windows added to the cozy atmosphere.

Geumnyeong Gomtang menu and prices

Geumnyeong Gomtang's menu centers on gomtang and minari gomtang (water dropwort beef soup), with rice noodle soup, pollack salad, and water-boiled pork also available. Gomtang is ₩13,000, and gomtang (special) is ₩15,000.

Here's the menu! It centers on gomtang and minari gomtang, with rice noodle soup, pollack salad, and water-boiled pork also available. Gomtang dishes can be ordered basic or special size, and you can add meat, tendon, or rice noodles!

Side dishes and table setting

Each table came with a cup, salt, pepper, and scissors as standard, and cold bottled water was provided too!

In the table drawer were spoons and chopsticks, along with a paper chopstick rest. The chopstick rest paper explained that the soup is made daily with hanwoo shank and medicinal herbs!

Basic vs special gomtang at Geumnyeong Gomtang: size and taste

That day, I ordered one basic gomtang (₩13,000) and one special gomtang (₩15,000), and the special size was noticeably bigger. The basic side dishes were napa cabbage kimchi and dried radish kimchi.

• Gomtang 13,000
• Gomtang (special) 15,000

For basic side dishes we got napa cabbage kimchi and dried radish kimchi! A clean pairing that went well with the gomtang, haha.

Before long, both the gomtang and the special size gomtang arrived!

Here's a side-by-side shot showing the size difference between regular and special. Haha, the special size was clearly bigger.

This is my regular size — plenty of green onion piled on top of the clear broth, and it looked hearty just from the sight of it, haha.

Is the herbal aroma in the gomtang broth strong?

Geumnyeong Gomtang's broth feels clear and clean, but since it's simmered with medicinal herbs, there's a subtle herbal aroma and a deep savory depth. That said, the herbal scent doesn't come on too strong, so it was easy and comfortable to eat!

What's in the bowl: rice, hanwoo beef and rice cakes

The soup was packed with rice, and there was plenty of meat too — since it's made with carefully selected top-grade hanwoo simmered daily, the meat was incredibly tender and delicious!

It's plenty tasty on its own, but dipping it in the house sauce brought out even more layers of flavor, haha.

There were also rice cakes mixed in throughout, offering a chewy texture that contrasted nicely with the tender meat!

Is Geumnyeong Gomtang a good lunch spot in Wangsimni?

Geumnyeong Gomtang gets your food out fast and lets you eat quickly, so the turnover is quick — it seems perfect for a Wangsimni lunch. It's a place near Wangsimni Station where you can enjoy a clean, deep gomtang broth.

They simmer it daily with carefully selected hanwoo shank and medicinal herbs, and between the tender meat and generous fillings, it was a satisfying, hearty meal. The cozy, house-like atmosphere and the friendly owner made for a comfortable dining experience! ((Would visit again))