Large bone hot pot for 4 with radish greens in Suncheon: Namdareun

I was craving gamjatang (pork bone stew) for the first time in a while, so I went to a Suncheon gamjatang place I love. This is Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch, where I go whenever the craving hits, and this is my umpteenth visit, so here's a review. They have baby chairs too, so it's great to go with a baby~

Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch: location, hours and parking

Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch is at 123 Baegyeon-gil, Suncheon-si, Gwangju, South Korea (1st floor), and it's open daily 10:00–23:00 all year round. Break time is 15:00–17:00.

This is Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch, my go-to for gamjatang in Suncheon. They moved from their old spot to a better location, and personally I like the new one more. You can park right in front of the restaurant, so no parking worries. They're open from 10 to 23 all year round, which makes it great for an early lunch, a late dinner or a late-night meal, and the break time is 15:00 to 17:00.

What's on the menu at Namdareun Gamjatang?

Every menu item can be taken away, and the range runs from soups good for one person per earthenware pot to hot pots and braised bones for sharing.

• Namja-tang (남자탕)
• Tofu kimchi hangover soup (두부김치해장국)
• Brisket kimchi hangover soup (차돌김치해장국)
• Budae hangover soup (army stew-style, 부대해장국)
• Yeosin braised bones (여신뼈찜)
• Namdareun braised bones (남다른뼈찜)
• Namdareun bone hot pot (남다른뼈전골)
• Vitality bone hot pot (활력보감뼈전골)
• Brisket kimchi bone hot pot (차돌김치뼈전골)

There are plenty of other dishes too. For kids who can't handle spicy gamjatang, there are dumplings, a kids' set and pork cutlet, so it seems great to bring them along.

Is Namdareun Gamjatang good for eating alone or a group dinner?

The inside of Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch is comfortable for eating solo, and it's also a good gamjatang restaurant in Suncheon for company dinners and get-togethers. There were plenty of solo diners when I went, and people of all ages were eating.

What's at the self-serve bar, and what can you refill for free?

The self-serve bar at Namdareun Gamjatang has kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), sujebi (hand-pulled dough flakes) and kimchi. They also come as side dishes, but even if your stew or hot pot already has sujebi in it, you can help yourself to more for free at the bar~

Broth and ramen noodles are also unlimited refills; just tell the staff and they'll keep them coming. I ran short of broth myself, so I asked for more.

Is Namdareun Gamjatang easy to visit with a baby?

Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch has baby chairs, so eating out with a baby is no worry. I took my son and fed him while I ate my gamjatang.

Is a large Namdareun bone hot pot enough for 4 people?

What we ordered was the large Namdareun bone hot pot (남다른뼈전골). It comes out almost fully cooked, so you only need to simmer it a little before eating.

Best of all, there was so much lean meat! Even with 4 of us eating, it didn't feel lacking, and the broth was really rich.

It's also loaded with enoki mushrooms, perilla leaves and siraegi (dried radish greens), so the combo of veggies and meat is the best.

Ordering an extra bowl of rice

The Namdareun bone hot pot has lots of meat on the bones and lots of siraegi, so you can polish off a bowl of rice in no time. Note that rice has to be ordered separately, so I ordered an extra bowl too, and I bet fried rice made at the end would be even better.

The broth is cool and spicy, the kind of flavor that makes you think of soju. Drinkers will definitely want a glass with this gamjatang!!!

Takeout and delivery, plus what to try next at Namdareun Gamjatang

Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch does takeout and delivery, so you can eat it anytime, anywhere. They serve both lunch and dinner, so you can visit whenever. I've always had the hot pot, so next time I'll try the iron-plate braised bones (철판뼈찜), where you can choose the spice level. It had been a while since my last gamjatang, and it was as good as ever~~

With baby chairs, it's an easy Suncheon restaurant to visit with a baby, so I'll probably go often. The weather is getting colder, so I'll be craving this gamjatang a lot, and if you're looking for a good gamjatang place, I recommend it.