Namyangju Korean restaurant with crisp cuttlefish fritters: Gojip

A friend who lives in Byeollae told me about Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu Byeollae Byeolgaram Station Branch (고집통문어칼국수 별내별가람역점), so I visited this Namyangju favorite for weekend lunch. I knew it was popular, but I went leisurely and ended up waiting😭 Still, once I ate, it was so good that the wait did not feel wasted. Let me introduce Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu!

Parking and the weekend walk-in wait

For parking, I used the lot above the restaurant building. It is divided into two areas, so there were quite a few spaces, and a parking attendant was there too—easy parking!

We arrived at noon for weekend lunch, and there was a wait. Our ticket was number 17, with 11 parties ahead of us. We got in after waiting about 50 minutes.

They said you can eat without waiting if you visit at 11 a.m. opening or at 5 p.m. after break time.

Maybe because it is such a busy place, there was a separate waiting area. There were seats outside, and the indoor waiting area had air conditioning, so waiting was more comfortable than expected. The staff also took our order in advance, so we could eat as soon as we entered. You do need to decide on your menu beforehand.

And one convenient thing while waiting: the restrooms were outside. There was one by the parking lot and another beside the entrance, so it was easy to pop to the restroom during the wait!

Inside and the menu

The restaurant is on the cozy side, with about 10 tables. It is not huge, but everything was neatly organized, so I was comfortable throughout the meal. It also felt well kept, and the staff were kind!

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu's signature dishes are whole-octopus seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and cuttlefish bulgogi! The lunch special has less cuttlefish but comes with rice, while the regular cuttlefish bulgogi has more cuttlefish but no rice. We wanted to properly enjoy the cuttlefish, so we ordered the regular menu.

The basic side dishes were kalguksu kimchi, yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi), seaweed that pairs nicely with cuttlefish bulgogi, and bean sprouts.

• Small cuttlefish bulgogi ₩37,000
• Mulchong clam kalguksu ₩9,000
• Cuttlefish fritters ₩16,000

The cuttlefish fritters that changed my mind

The cuttlefish fritters came out freshly fried, so we ate them right away while they were piping hot. Honestly, I am not usually a squid-fritter person, but one bite of these changed my mind.

The cuttlefish itself was quite thick, with a bouncy, springy bite. The batter was crisp and substantial without feeling greasy. Best of all, it was seasoned just right, so it was delicious even without mayonnaise. My Byeollae friend who recommended this place said the fritters were a must, and I understood immediately after eating them.

Sweet cuttlefish bulgogi and mild kalguksu

The small cuttlefish bulgogi is stir-fried over high heat with cuttlefish and vegetables. It was coated in a rich sauce and looked like something that would instantly make you want rice.

The cuttlefish was thick and satisfying to chew, while the onions were golden as if char-grilled—pure sweetness. The cuttlefish texture was insane. We ordered the standard flavor; it was not spicy for me, just sweet.

Place cuttlefish on seaweed with bean sprouts and sauce, and the crunchy bean sprouts make it even better.

Instead of the whole-octopus kalguksu, we ordered mulchong clam kalguksu. It had seaweed, napa cabbage, and clams, and the flavor was clean rather than intense. Its appeal was the mild, refreshing broth rather than heat.

There were more mulchong clams than expected, so it was fun picking out the meat one by one.

Food lovers, you all know this is how you have to eat it, right? Lift out the kalguksu noodles, mix them with the seasoned sauce, and it is pure bliss.

They even gave us mouthwash according to our group size, which felt so thoughtful. The sides and food all arrived neatly, and I was pleased with every dish, from the cuttlefish bulgogi to the fritters and kalguksu. I do not normally eat squid fritters much, but these cuttlefish fritters were thick and chewy, and I really loved them.

There tends to be a wait on weekends, so I think it is best to arrive at opening if you want a relaxed meal. I keep thinking about those cuttlefish fritters/// Recruiting party members to go here with me.

• Aprons and high chairs are available too.