Child-friendly beef tail soup in Mokpo: Mujinjang Sik-yuk Gomtang

If you're from Mokpo or Muan, you know it—50 years of tradition! Mujinjang Sik-yuk Kkori Gomtang is a true local favorite, run by three generations, and it recently moved from Hadang to a spot closer to Peace Square!!

It's behind Lotte Max toward Gatbawi from Peace Square, between Yudal Myeonje-so and Eorak. Open daily from 10:00 to 20:30, I went with our adorable little one, who loves gomtang (beef bone soup), haha.

Mujinjang Sik-yuk Kkori Gomtang, serving since 1976

When you go around looking for good restaurants, there are places where you can just feel that history and think, “This is the real deal,” right?

Mujinjang Kkori Gomtang began near the ferry terminal back in 1976 and has continued through three generations. When my dad was still alive, we used to come as a family and wait in line whenever we wanted a hearty restorative meal—so I have so many memories of this beloved Mokpo gomtang spot.

A flavor passed down through generations for 50 years! The gentle, deep scent of broth hits you the moment you walk in, and my stomach was already rumbling, haha. Maybe because they had just moved, the clean white-and-wood interior felt especially nice for a meal.

Ordering Korean beef cow tail soup

This is a true Korean beef gomtang restaurant, with Korean beef rump soup limited to just 10 bowls a day. If a place serves rump soup, you can trust that they slice and manage their Korean beef themselves. We ordered Korean beef cow tail soup for two—done^^

Once we ordered, neat, clean side dishes arrived, as you would expect from a great restaurant in the Namdo region. The life of a gukbap (rice soup) place is its kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), after all—and the moment I tasted the kimchi here, I naturally thought, “Ah, this place is the real deal.”

There is a self-service bar, so feel free to help yourself to more side dishes.

And especially that dressed chive salad!! Pile it onto the rice soup and eat it with kkakdugi—it is such a perfect match, haha.

Rich yet clean Korean beef cow tail soup

Finally, the main dish we had been waiting for—Korean beef cow tail soup—arrived! It was bubbling away in its earthenware pot, and even the look of it passed the test!! The broth was rich and packed with the depth of Korean beef, yet never heavy or murky; it was clean and refreshing.

It had that deep flavor that seems to hold all the know-how of three generations and 50 years of tradition. One spoonful warmed me right through, and it felt like my whole body was melting into comfort!!

Perhaps because it was made with female Korean beef cattle, the meat was not tough at all—just wonderfully tender.

A meal that was easy to enjoy with a child

The bones and meat separated so easily and softly that it was no trouble at all for my child to eat. Our little one sat in front of the earthenware pot, mixed rice into the broth, and happily gobbled it up with the meat, haha.

“Mom, the broth is savory and the meat is soft!”

Seeing my child refuse to put the spoon down made the trip there feel completely worthwhile, haha.

The owner was especially kind, too. They said they were raising a child around the same age and looked after us so thoughtfully that we had a really pleasant meal.