Bar-counter kalguksu with makgeolli near Deoksugung, Seoul: Tanbaek
In short
Tanbaek is a clear-broth kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant beside Jeongdong Theater on the Deoksugung stone wall path in Jung-gu, Seoul. From the 1st-floor bar counter, a ₩12,000 bottle of Naru raw makgeolli came with gomguk kalguksu (beef broth noodles, ₩14,000) and yukgaejang kalguksu (spicy beef noodles, ₩15,000) — the gomguk broth looks clear but tastes deeply meaty, while the yukgaejang version is sharply spicy and strongly seasoned. At ₩41,000 for two, Tanbaek suits a light meal with a drink on Jeongdong-gil, whether you come alone or as a pair.
Good to know
- Address
- 37 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (next to Jeongdong Theater)
- Hours
- 11:00-21:00, break 15:00-17:00, last order 20:00
- Parking
- Not available (Ewha Jeongdong building parking lot, Kakao T Jeongdong parking)
- Reservations
- Naver Reservation, Catch Table (up to 12 people)
- Order total
- Gomguk kalguksu ₩14,000 / Yukgaejang kalguksu ₩15,000 / Naru raw makgeolli (bottle) ₩12,000 — ₩41,000 for two
- Getting there
- 12-minute walk from City Hall Station
- Price reference
- ₩12,000 ≈ $8.8 · ₩14,000 ≈ $10.5 · ₩15,000 ≈ $11 (2026-09-16)
as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026
Where is Tanbaek on Jeongdong-gil?
Tanbaek is a 12-minute walk from City Hall Station — walk along the Deoksugung stone wall path and you'll find it right next to Jeongdong Theater. Today I'm sharing my meal at Tanbaek, a great restaurant near Deoksugung! A place where I had delicious clear-broth noodles and makgeolli (Korean rice wine).
- Address: 37 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 11:00-21:00 (break time 15:00-17:00, last order 20:00)
- Parking: Not available / Ewha Jeongdong building parking lot, Kakao T Jeongdong parking
- Reservations: Naver Reservation, Catch Table (up to 12 people)
Tanbaek has a clean, calm exterior. It's a two-story building with large windows, so you can see the interior well from outside.
Tanbaek's 1st-floor bar counter: easy for solo diners?
Tanbaek's 1st floor is set up with bar-style seating. Guests sit side by side and staff serve food from the middle space. The unique lighting on the bar table is a work by ceramic artist Seo Hee-su, apparently. There are also pieces by Korean craft artists placed around the restaurant, which made it fun to look around.
You can order right from your seat via the QR code on the table, which was convenient. Given the seating style, it seems like a great spot for solo visits or a light meal for two.
The 2nd floor at Tanbaek has separate tables
Unlike the 1st floor, Tanbaek's 2nd floor has individual table seating, so you can eat a bit more comfortably. The overall interior is minimal and clean, giving a well-organized feel, and the large windows keep it from feeling cramped. The atmosphere is quiet too, so it seems perfect for a meal with friends or even a blind date!
Tanbaek menu and what two people paid
Tanbaek is centered around kalguksu, with suyuk jeongol (boiled pork hot pot), warm jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), and kimchi mandu (kimchi dumplings) also on the menu. There are set menus so you can try several dishes together, and apparently they offer seasonal specials — perilla seed kalguksu in winter and bean-paste bibim kalguksu in summer. For drinks there's Naru raw makgeolli and Il-yeop-pyeonju, good for pairing lightly with the meal.
- Gomguk kalguksu ₩14,000
- Yukgaejang kalguksu ₩15,000
- Naru raw makgeolli (bottle) ₩12,000
- ₩41,000 total for two
Does Naru raw makgeolli go with kalguksu?
First to arrive was the Naru raw makgeolli! It was pleasantly sweet with a smooth finish, easy to drink without feeling heavy. Not too sweet or too heavy, so I kept reaching for another glass haha. I ordered the bottle, but it's also sold by the glass, so it'd be great to pair with a light solo meal too. It went really well with the kalguksu that came after, so I was glad I ordered it ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و ̑̑
I ordered the gomguk kalguksu, and my friend ordered the yukgaejang kalguksu. Such a gorgeous look..◝꒰∗´꒳`꒱◟ The kimchi served alongside was well-fermented, but it turned out to be quite a bit spicier than expected.
Gomguk kalguksu (beef broth noodles), ₩14,000
Tanbaek's gomguk kalguksu looks very clear, but the flavor is richer and deeper than you'd expect. It doesn't feel greasy or heavy, yet you can fully taste the rich meat broth, so I kept spooning up more and more of it. The noodles are thinner than typical kalguksu and have a chewy bite, giving a texture somewhere between kalguksu and regular noodles haha. Topping each bite with the spicy kimchi paired really well with the mild, clean broth.
Yukgaejang kalguksu (spicy beef noodles), ₩15,000
The yukgaejang kalguksu is clearly more strongly seasoned and spicier than the gomguk kalguksu. It's not thick or greasy like typical yukgaejang; instead, it's a clear broth with a spicy, salty kick added. If gomguk kalguksu is mild and comforting, yukgaejang kalguksu would suit people who prefer a more intense, bold flavor.
Both noodle dishes came with a generous topping of chadolbagi (thinly sliced beef brisket). The thin, tender meat went well with the noodles, and especially in the yukgaejang kalguksu, the brisket had soaked up the spicy broth nicely, making it even tastier!
Is Tanbaek good before or after visiting Deoksugung?
Tanbaek has a nice atmosphere and is close to Deoksugung and the Seoul Museum of Art, making it a great stop for a meal before or after visiting. I'd recommend it as a restaurant near Deoksugung!
