Gansuk-dong sundaeguk restaurant with XL soup: Gukdam, Incheon

Gukdam Sundaeguk

Just yesterday for lunch, I visited Gukdam Sundaeguk with my husband — a well-known gukbap spot in Gansuk-dong!

Where is Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch, and is there parking?

Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch is in Gansuk-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, and it's close to Gansuk-ogeori Station if you're taking the subway. The building itself is a clean, standalone structure that catches your eye from a distance — you'll be able to spot it easily and think, that must be the place.

We didn't drive since it's close to home, but it looks like there isn't a dedicated parking lot!! If you need parking, definitely call ahead before you visit~

Inside Gukdam Sundaeguk: the room and the self-serve bar

The inside of Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch is spacious with plenty of seating, so you can eat comfortably without feeling rushed. The tables are spaced out well too, giving it a pleasant, uncramped feel. Whether you're coming with a group or a family, you really don't need to worry about finding a seat.

On one side of the restaurant, there's a neatly organized self-serve bar where you can help yourself to the side dishes you need.

Right next to this self-serve bar, there's warm, savory nurungji (scorched rice tea) waiting for you. Scooping up a bowl of this after your meal warms your stomach and leaves you feeling refreshed — a real treat.

Disposable aprons are hung in a visible spot on the wall too, so even if you're wearing white, you can eat comfortably without worry,

and the store's Wi-Fi info is posted in large text as well, so you don't need to worry about your data.

Gukdam's menu and when suyuk orders start

Sitting down and looking through the menu, there was a full range of sundaeguk varieties, hot pots, and other dishes. There seemed to be some new items too, which made it hard to decide what to order.

Oh, and there's a helpful tip to keep in mind before you visit. We originally wanted to order suyuk (boiled pork) to share, but it turns out suyuk is only available to order starting at 11:30am. Since we visited a bit early, it wasn't ready yet, so we didn't get to try it. If you're hoping to have suyuk, I'd recommend checking the timing before you go.

What we ordered for lunch at Gukdam

On the table, they set out perilla powder and salt to add to the sundaeguk! If you'd like, be sure to add them in when you eat!

Side dishes at Gukdam, pork skin included

Once we ordered, the basic side dishes came out neatly arranged, and the spread was really generous. There were crisp, fresh cucumber peppers and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) that pair perfectly with gukbap, along with salted shrimp, ssamjang, and dadegi (chili paste) — and interestingly, pig skin came out as a basic side dish too. It was perfect for whetting your appetite before the main dishes arrived, or as a snack with soju.

Chalsundae served on a mini brazier

The first thing we tried, jjal sundae (glutinous blood sausage), was chewy through and through, exactly as the name promises.

There was no dryness at all — the more you chewed, the more savory and full-flavored it got. It was delicious on its own, but dipping it in salted shrimp or adding a bit of ssamjang made it even better. There was no funky smell at all, so it was clean and kept us reaching for more.

And they serve the sundae on a mini brazier to keep it from going cold, which was a nice fresh touch~! haha

Extra-large sundaeguk: a milky, deep broth

Next was the extra-large sundaeguk. True to its size, the stone bowl itself was noticeably bigger than usual.

The broth wasn't the cloudy, one-note flavor you get from meal kits or powdered mixes — it was a milky, deep broth like a richly simmered bone soup.

The moment I took a spoonful, I let out an involuntary 'wow.'

There was really no funky smell at all, so it's clean enough that even people who aren't usually into sundaeguk could dig right in. The bowl was piled high with meat and sundae, so you never ran out no matter how much you scooped.

I enjoyed the broth on its own for a bit, then stirred in some dadegi to make it spicy — I could see this being an excellent hangover cure too.

Gopchang jeongol sold by the single portion

Last was the single-portion gopchang jeongol (tripe hot pot) we'd been looking forward to. It's rare these days to find a place that sells tripe hot pot in a single portion, so it's a great option if you're dining solo and craving hot pot.

Even as a single portion, the pot came packed full of fresh vegetables and tripe, so there was nothing lacking at all.

Once it came to a boil, I tasted the broth and found the tripe's distinct nuttiness balanced perfectly with a rich, spicy sauce — the kind of flavor that makes you want a bottle of soju.

The tripe wasn't chewy or tough in a bad way — it was tender and springy, and the flavor got more savory the more you chewed. There was plenty of perilla seed and chives to cut through any funky smell too, making the broth truly rich.

Dipping the napa cabbage, mushrooms, and perilla leaves that came with it into the gopchang jeongol sauce was absolutely fantastic!

Who should try sundaeguk at Gukdam in Gansuk-dong

The combination of the three dishes we ordered was so good that we left completely satisfied, patting our full stomachs. If you're near Gansuk-dong looking for a hearty, clean sundaeguk or hot pot, I definitely recommend giving Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch a try.