Daebudo kalguksu spot at 11am: mushroom kalguksu for two, Haemokjeong

A last Daebudo lunch at Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch

The day my mom was heading back home, we had some time before her KTX, so it felt like a waste to just sit around — off to Daebudo we went! Before wrapping up the day, we stopped for one last lunch at Haemokjeong, a well-known Daebudo seafood restaurant.

Everyone knows that if you're heading to Daebudo on a weekend, the area near Sihwanarae Rest Area gets absolutely jammed haha. So we left a little early — there was already a lot of traffic when we set out, but it wasn't the crawl-to-a-stop kind, and we made it smoothly. Looking back, not long after we passed through, traffic got brutal and parking became a nightmare for a lot of people. Daebudo really does draw a crowd no matter when you go :) Since we were there, we also checked out the Fragrance Theme Park and picked up the famous Daebudo steamed buns.

Why mushroom kalguksu instead of clam kalguksu in Daebudo?

Haemokjeong is a Daebudo seafood specialist known for dishes like seafood stew and braised short ribs, but today I specifically came for the mushroom kalguksu. Most people who visit Daebudo end up ordering clam kalguksu or something else, so why was I set on mushroom kalguksu? Honestly, just from the photos I could already imagine that spicy, clean flavor haha. I'd already eaten a lot the day before, so mushroom kalguksu felt like exactly what I needed that day :)

Since it opens at 11am, I arrived about 7 minutes early — but right after I walked in, a big group came pouring in behind me, and before I knew it the parking lot and the restaurant were completely full. I figured if I ordered even a little late it'd be trouble, so I ordered right away, and ended up being served first! I nearly missed my train time... haha.

How much is mushroom kalguksu for two at Haemokjeong?

The mushroom kalguksu at Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch costs less than ₩10,000 per person, and on the weekday lunch special it's apparently ₩6,900 — where else are you getting value like that?? After a short wait the mushroom kalguksu arrived, and the pot was generously packed with mushrooms and vegetables, looking delicious even before the first bite.

It's the kind of dish you simmer at the table, so once the broth started boiling, a subtle mushroom aroma began rising up. With kalguksu, I think the waiting-and-watching-it-bubble part is half the fun compared to eating it the moment it's served. The ingredients are genuinely simple, but one taste of the broth and you can't help but be impressed. Among the spicy kalguksu-style dishes I've had, this ranks in my top three, and the value for money is just insane. I really hope Haemokjeong keeps this up going forward haha.

What does the broth and the mushrooms taste like?

After it boiled hard, I scooped up some broth first — it wasn't harsh or overly strong, more on the clean side. The aroma from the mushrooms blended with the mild taste of the vegetables, making for a broth that was easy on the stomach.

Kalguksu can get tiring fast if the broth is too heavy or salty, but this mushroom kalguksu was relatively light, so my spoon kept going back for more. The mushrooms were generously loaded in too, and after being simmered a while in the water, they turned soft while still keeping their distinct texture. I like mushrooms, so it was fun fishing them out one by one — and with the vegetables mixed in too, eating the solids along the way gave the dish more textural variety than noodles alone.

Is two servings enough for two people?

The mushroom kalguksu for two at Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch was a good amount to share. At first I thought two servings might not be much, but after eating through the mushrooms and vegetables first and then the noodles, we ended up quite full.

And of course, the heart of kalguksu is the noodles!! Once the broth had developed a bit, we added the noodles and let them cook — as they soaked up the broth, the flavor got even richer. Eating the chewy noodles with the broth made for a really filling meal, and the noodles and broth just went together so well texture-wise, if that makes sense haha.

After driving around Daebudo, this felt like exactly the kind of dish you'd want when craving something warm and brothy. It would suit even better on a chilly or windy day in Daebudo. Spending time near the coast can leave you colder than you expect, and on those days, warm broth with kalguksu fills you right back up.

Who should order the mushroom kalguksu?

Personally, I think mushroom kalguksu suits people who prefer light, warm broths over intense flavors. With mushrooms packed in so generously, mushroom lovers in particular will be satisfied. The broth's savoriness was genuinely off the charts — the kind of broth anyone would call delicious :)

Daebudo has so many places to eat that it's always hard to pick, but after finishing the mushroom kalguksu for two at Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch that day, I felt like I'd chosen well. It was easy and comfortable to share a warm brothy dish between two people, and it's a solid pick if you're looking for something other than seafood or clam kalguksu in Daebudo. Most of all, having mushrooms and vegetables in the broth along with the noodles made it filling without being harsh on the palate.

If you've been driving around Daebudo or looking at the sea and get a craving for warm kalguksu, this is worth a stop. Coming early definitely pays off — no traffic jam, and no wait at the famous steamed bun shop either! If you're heading to Daebudo on a weekend, hurry on over~~~~