Kid-friendly gomtang restaurant in Wangsimni: dinner at Geumnyeong

Picking a dinner spot in Wangsimni can be surprisingly tricky sometimes. That day I really wanted a proper meal of warm soup and rice, so I headed to Geumnyeong Gomtang in Wangsimni.

We ordered teuk gomtang (premium gomtang) and minari gomtang (water dropwort gomtang)! My husband wanted something more filling so he went with the teuk gomtang, and I love minari so I picked the minari gomtang the moment I saw it on the menu. For anyone looking for a warm, hearty meal or a good gomtang spot in Wangsimni, here's how it went.

Where is Geumnyeong Gomtang in Wangsimni, and what is it like inside?

Geumnyeong Gomtang is a Korean restaurant specializing in gomtang on Wangsimni-ro 20-gil. We visited for dinner with our child that day.

There are stairs at the entrance, so if you're coming with a stroller, it's worth keeping this in mind beforehand.

On the other hand, the restaurant does have a baby chair ready and they provided kids' tableware, so it was fine eating there with our child. Also, there's no dedicated parking, so if you're driving, it's a good idea to look up a nearby parking lot ahead of time.

Once inside, the place had a relaxed vibe centered around Korean gomtang dishes. The day we visited, the weather was starting to feel like soup weather, so once we sat down I thought, good call choosing gomtang, haha.

Teuk gomtang: the heartiest bowl on the menu

My husband ordered teuk gomtang. He wanted something more filling than the regular gomtang, so he went with the premium version — with hot broth, meat on the side, and rice all together, it made for a solid dinner.

I used to think of gomtang as a somewhat heavy Korean dish, but these days I find myself craving exactly this — warm soup with a bowl of rice — more often, haha. Being able to eat rice and broth together made it filling enough for dinner, and if you're in the mood for something hearty, the teuk gomtang is a good pick.

Minari gomtang: beef broth piled with fragrant water dropwort

And the one I ordered was minari gomtang. Since I already love minari, this one actually intrigued me more than the teuk gomtang. With minari piled on top of the soup, the look alone felt different from a regular gomtang.

The warm broth combined with minari's distinct fragrant aroma, and personally I thought it worked really well together. Warm soup dishes like gomtang can start to feel a bit heavy the more you eat, but adding minari made it feel fresher. If you love minari like I do, I'd recommend trying the minari gomtang.

My husband had teuk gomtang and I had minari gomtang, so we shared bites of each. Even though they're both gomtang, they felt quite different, and I was glad we ordered two different dishes, haha.

Visiting Geumnyeong Gomtang with a child: baby chair, stairs, parking

Geumnyeong Gomtang is comfortable for eating with a child thanks to the baby chair and kids' tableware, but it's worth knowing about the entrance stairs and lack of parking ahead of time.

If you're visiting with a child like we did, there are a few things worth knowing beforehand.

• Baby chair and kids' tableware available
• Stairs at the entrance
• No parking available

With the baby chair and kids' tableware ready, it was comfortable eating with our child.

That said, since there are stairs at the entrance, it could be a bit inconvenient getting in with a stroller. And since there's no parking on site either, if you're planning to drive, I'd recommend checking a nearby parking lot ahead of time.

Is Geumnyeong Gomtang worth it for a warm Korean dinner in Wangsimni?

Sometimes you just want a proper bowl of warm soup and rice without overthinking it. If you want something hearty, go for the teuk gomtang; if you love the fragrant taste of minari, try the minari gomtang.

Personally, since I love minari, I'd order the minari gomtang again if I came back, haha. If you're looking for a warm, filling meal in Wangsimni, Geumnyeong Gomtang is worth a bowl. :)