Spicy chojjeong bibim naengmyeon with dadaegi at Hanyang Dak Kalguksu

Today I want to introduce Hanyang Dak Kalguksu, a great spot near Gyeongchal Hospital Station for a warm, filling meal! I had a really tasty time with the rich chicken broth kalguksu, the spicy and refreshing chojeong bibim naengmyeon, and the gogi wang mandu (meat dumplings) that paired well with both — haha.

Location — 1 minute on foot from Exit 4 of Gyeongchal Hospital Station

1F, 4 Songi-ro 23-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul. It's about 88m, roughly a 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Gyeongchal Hospital Station. Being right next to the station made it really convenient to visit by public transportation!

Hours

Monday–Friday 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:20), Saturday–Sunday 11:00–20:00 (last order 19:20). ※ Open as usual during Chuseok holiday.

Is parking available?

There was parking for about 4 cars in front of the store. That said, spaces aren't super plentiful, so if it's full you'll probably need to use a nearby public parking lot (30 minutes free parking inside Gyeongchal Hospital). Good to know if you're visiting by car!

Interior and seating

The interior was clean and pleasant overall. There were quite a lot of tables, so it looked good for solo diners as well as families or larger groups! There were also baby chairs, so it seemed fine to visit with a baby :)

Self-service bar — two kinds of kimchi, spicy and mild

Kimchi, danmuji (pickled radish), and water were all self-serve. In particular, the kimchi came in two versions — spicy and less spicy! That was nice because both people who like it spicy and people who don't handle spice well could pick whichever suited them.

Menu and how to order

You order using the kiosk set up at each table. It was convenient to check the menu and order right from your seat! Also, since perilla seed is added to the chicken broth, ⚠️ if you have a perilla allergy, it's best to mention it before ordering!

What we ordered

Here's what we ordered~

• Dak kalguksu (with seaweed garnish)
• Spicy chojjeong bibim naengmyeon
• Gogi wang mandu (meat dumplings)

Dak kalguksu (with seaweed garnish) — how's the broth?

Hanyang Dak Kalguksu's dak kalguksu is made with rich chicken broth simmered for over 12 hours and noodles made in-house! Maybe that's why the broth tasted really deep and rich as soon as I tried it. It was so tasty I kept scooping up spoonful after spoonful haha. Even though it's summer, it was really satisfying to have something warm and filling. Eating the rich chicken broth with kimchi on the side was a great combo too — I kept alternating between the noodles and kimchi, enjoying every bite 🤤

Spicy chojjeong bibim naengmyeon — how spicy is it really?

Next up, the spicy chojjeong bibim naengmyeon! This dish apparently uses the restaurant's own secret spicy sauce along with nutritious chicken breast. It's a naengmyeon (cold noodles) known for being tangy, sweet, and spicy! Trying it myself, it really was quite spicy, true to its name, haha. But since it's so cold and refreshing, my chopsticks kept going back for more even with the spice. The noodles were also really chewy and springy, which went well with the spicy sauce! I asked for dadaegi (chili paste) separately, and being able to add as much as I wanted meant I could adjust the spice level myself, which was great.

Gogi wang mandu paired well with both dishes

And the gogi wang mandu that went so well alongside the spicy bibim naengmyeon! The dumpling skin was chewy and the filling was really packed with meat, so every bite felt satisfying, ㅜㅜ. In particular, taking a bite of gogi wang mandu after the spicy chojeong bibim naengmyeon naturally toned down the spiciness, and the combo was really great, haha.

It also went really well with the dak kalguksu! Eating the rich chicken broth together with the mild dumplings felt like it completed a hearty meal. It's a side dish that pairs well no matter which main you order it with, whether kalguksu or bibim naengmyeon, so I'd definitely recommend ordering it alongside either one!

Overall thoughts

Hanyang Dak Kalguksu, right in front of Gyeongchal Hospital Station, let me enjoy everything from a warm, rich broth dish to a cold, spicy naengmyeon! The dak kalguksu, with its rich chicken broth simmered over 12 hours, was especially impressive for its broth, and the spicy chojjeong bibim naengmyeon, which was spicy yet tangy-sweet and refreshing, had a totally different charm that made it worth ordering alongside the kalguksu. Add the chewy dumpling skin and meat-packed gogi wang mandu on top of that, and it was fun to alternate between all three, haha.

A place I'd recommend to anyone wanting to enjoy a warm broth dish and cold noodles at the same time! If you're looking for a satisfying meal near Gyeongchal Hospital Station, give Hanyang Dak Kalguksu a try :)