Soju set for two near Gyodae Station bar: Daseon Kalguksu

Last Saturday evening, I went looking for a Gyodae Station bar where I could have a solid meal and a light drink nearby — here's my review of Daseon Kalguksu.

True to its name as a 25-year legacy hangover kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and Korean bar, the menu lineup and flavors were both spot on. Let me introduce the soju hansang set (set table) I enjoyed in full!

Location and hours of Daseon Kalguksu near Gyodae Station

Location: 69 Banpo-daero 26-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 1st & 2nd floor / Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-23:00, Sat-Sun 11:30-22:00 / Last order: 30 minutes before close

It's 187m from Gyodae Station exit 14, so coming by subway is convenient.

The blue signboard and clean standalone building exterior made a strong impression. A phrase reading "the most Korean of Korean bars" hung on the sign. The building is two floors, and there's terrace seating too for anyone who wants an outdoor table. At the entrance stood a sign welcoming solo diners and drinkers, along with a banner showing the restaurant's TV appearances — it felt easy to walk into. And running with no break time is a huge plus when you're deciding to visit!

25 years of tradition and broth simmered fresh every morning

On the wall hung a plaque noting the restaurant's appearance on SBS's Live Today "Flavor Rivals" episode, along with celebrity signatures, giving off serious 25-year-legacy energy. A note explaining that the broth is made fresh every morning from 8 ingredients (anchovy, seafood, vegetables) gave a real sense of sincerity about the food.

Inside, blue tiles and wooden tables blended together for a warm, cozy atmosphere. Tablet ordering devices sat at every table, making it easy to order.

What's in the ₩73,000 soju hansang set

Among the evening specials, the soju hansang set (₩73,000) and makgeolli hansang set (₩69,000) both looked popular — this time, we ordered the soju hansang set!

It comes with a full table of the three core dishes that hit every drinker's sweet spot: bossam (boiled pork wraps), spicy stir-fried octopus, and spicy clam soup — a spread so generous it looked filling just to look at.

Bossam (boiled pork wraps)

First came clean side dishes along with barley rice, lettuce, peppers, salted shrimp, and ssamjang (dipping sauce) to mix and wrap with the bossam.

The bossam arrives warm, steaming over a burner. It's meant to be eaten with the generous bed of chives underneath. The thickly sliced pork was neatly arranged with the grain.

They boil it in a pressure cooker with medicinal herbs more than twice a day at the restaurant, and the more you chewed, the more a subtle savoriness came through. It paired wonderfully with the seasoned dried radish and fresh kimchi served alongside — perfect as a drinking snack at this Gyodae Station bar.

Spicy stir-fried octopus

The spicy stir-fried octopus arrived with plump octopus, cabbage, and green onion mixed into a red sauce.

The octopus had a lively chewy texture, and the cabbage kept its crunch. With smoky char flavor lingering alongside the savoriness, it was addictive — hard to stop reaching for. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a spicy drinking snack at a Gyodae Station bar.

Spicy clam soup

The spicy clam soup came with a milky broth piled high with green chili peppers and clams. The pot was packed full of clams, so the broth was really refreshing and spicy. The chili peppers gave it a clean, spicy finish that paired perfectly alternating with bites of the bossam or the stir-fried octopus.

Final thoughts and recommendation

By the time we finished our delicious dinner and stepped outside, it was already dark. This was a Gyodae Station restaurant where the two of us got to try a wide range of dishes evenly through the soju hansang set. What I liked was being able to visit comfortably with no break time, and the dedication shown in simmering broth from 8 ingredients every morning made a real impression. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone near Gyodae Station looking to tip back a glass of soju alone, with a drink, or at an evening get-together.