Cheese-topped spicy rib stew and kimmari in Seohyeon: Gimcheongja

Today I'm writing about a place I truly love, one I keep coming back to — this is already my fourth or fifth visit to 'Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Bundang Seohyeon Branch,' my real go-to spot haha

Whenever I'm craving something spicy and delicious near Seohyeon Station, my feet just naturally carry me here. This time was no exception either — a Seohyeon Station galbijjim (braised rib stew) restaurant that never disappoints. Let me get into the post!

Where Gimcheongja Seohyeon Station Branch is and when it opens

Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch is on the 2nd floor of Cheonji Officetel, 16 Hwangsaeul-ro 330beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Hours are 11:00–22:00, closed Sundays, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00.

Since it's such a popular local spot, you should be aware that there can be a wait during weekday dinner hours. I visited during weekday dinner peak time myself and there was a bit of a wait!

Take a look at the menu board~~

What we ordered, and why mild is the heat level to pick

This time we ordered pork spicy galbijjim for two (mild), with extra glass noodles, steamed egg, kimmari, and cheese added on top thanks to a review event.

• Pork spicy galbijjim for two (mild)
• Extra glass noodles
• Steamed egg
• Kimmari
• Extra cheese (review event)

The great thing about Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim is that you can choose your spice level. Even the mild option has a gentle kick of heat, so if you're normally spice-shy, you absolutely must pick 'mild'!.! Mild lets you enjoy it comfortably at about the spiciness of Shin Ramyun.

The side dishes: bean sprouts, seaweed and how to wrap them

The basic table setting comes with crisp bean sprouts and seaweed sheets, and this combo is genuinely delicious!! Wrapping the spicy rib meat together with the crunchy bean sprouts in seaweed makes the flavor so much richer and cleanly tames the spiciness, so you can really enjoy it. Definitely try wrapping it this way!

Steamed egg and kimmari: the best sides with spicy galbijjim

When eating spicy galbijjim, there are two side dishes you absolutely can't skip — steamed egg custard and kimmari. First, the steamed egg, which comes in a big fluffy earthenware pot, gently and nuttily neutralizes your mouth after it's been slightly numbed by the spice. One bite of galbijjim, one spoonful of steamed egg — you can keep going endlessly!

The crispy, nutty kimmari filled with glass noodles paired with the spiciness is a foolproof winning combo! Especially since the spiciness cuts right through the greasiness of the fried batter, it's practically essential when eating something spicy.

Spicy pork galbijjim: simmer for 3 minutes, then eat

The pork spicy galbijjim we ordered arrived! Just boil it for about 3 minutes and it's ready to eat. The meat comes already fully cooked.

Take a sip of the broth and it's not heavy at all — clean yet the kind of spicy flavor that keeps pulling you back in.!.!

Adding extra glass noodles for that chewy texture is a must! (They do come with the basic order too, but only a little.) The sauce-soaked glass noodles are seriously addictive... The meat has zero gamey smell and is boiled so tenderly it practically melts in your mouth.

Is the review-event cheese topping worth adding?

Ah, and I also took part in the restaurant's ongoing review event and got a free cheese topping as a service item!

Adding stretchy, nutty cheese on top of the spicy galbijjim wrapped the heat in something much softer while making the flavor even richer. I'd definitely recommend trying the cheese-topped galbijjim combo at least once!!

See that waitlist? Haha, you can tell just how popular this place is

Heetori's verdict on Gimcheongja Seohyeon Station Branch

A genuinely great restaurant I keep returning to for the Nth time, deliciously spicy. If you're looking for galbijjim near Seohyeon Station~ go for it!