Gamjatang lunch loaded with sides in Jungnang, Seoul: Wanttuk

It's been raining for a few days now and the air has turned noticeably cool. Weird how that kind of weather makes you crave hot soup right away.

My wife must have been thinking the same thing, because she suggested gamjatang for lunch, so we headed to Wanttuk Gamjatang over in Muk-dong.

When we eat gamjatang, my wife and I love the broth and the napa cabbage greens (ugeoji) just as much as the meat. Piling soft-boiled greens on rice and pouring rich broth over the top — if you know, you know.

Between Meokgol and Taereung-ipgu stations — where do you park?

Wanttuk Gamjatang Meokgol Main Branch sits between Meokgol and Taereung-ipgu stations. Since we drove that day, parking was on our minds beforehand, but there's a ground-level lot next to the building, so it was easy to park and walk right in.

Having to hunt for parking before a meal can be exhausting from the start, so not having that hassle was a pretty good point for us.

Interior and service

Once inside, the place was cleaner overall than what you'd typically picture for a gamjatang restaurant. The tables and floor were well kept and the space was bright, making lunch comfortable the whole time.

It seemed like a good fit for anything from a couple grabbing a casual meal to a family outing or a group gathering. The owner greeted us kindly from the moment we walked in.

Having someone check in on what we needed made a good first impression right away. After a short wait, the star of the show — a generous pot of gamjatang — arrived. Just the smell filling the table as it started bubbling made us hungrier faster.

Gamjatang with dumpling dough, glass noodles, mushrooms, and potato as standard

What I liked most was that a variety of sides came standard in the pot — sujebi (hand-torn dumpling dough) and glass noodles, of course, but also mushrooms and potato, so it felt hearty without adding anything extra.

The first spoonful of broth confirmed the weather and the menu choice were a perfect match. The hot broth filled us up comfortably and kept us reaching for spoonful after spoonful.

The sujebi had soaked up the broth and turned chewy, and the glass noodles, pulled out at just the right doneness, went really well with the gamjatang. Alternating between the fluffy potato and the mushrooms kept things interesting too.

Napa cabbage greens over rice with broth — a bowl gone in no time

Then came the part we'd been waiting for: the greens. We tore the soft-cooked napa cabbage greens into long strips over rice and poured a little broth on top — it's not an exaggeration to say my wife and I eat gamjatang for this combination alone.

Our conversation slowed down and we both just focused on our bowls. I'm not calling this post "gone in no time" for nothing.

We also picked the meat off the bones one piece at a time. Pulling the meat off with chopsticks, dipping it in the broth, and eating it with the greens made the meal even more filling.

You might think this is a bit heavy for lunch, but on a cool, rainy day, there's really nothing better. We left full, but the warmth from the broth also left us feeling relaxed.

What else is on the menu besides gamjatang?

Looking at the menu, besides gamjatang there was also ppyeohaejangguk (pork bone soup), ppyeodagwijjim (steamed pork bones), beef gukbap, and pork cutlets and fried items. If you're coming with family members who aren't into gamjatang, everyone could pick something to their taste. It seemed like a fine place to bring kids too.

If you're visiting with a child, ordering something like pork cutlet alongside would work fine. We'd originally just come because the cool weather made us crave hot soup.

But the clean interior, friendly service, and easy parking all added up to make the whole meal comfortable.

Above all, gamjatang loaded with sujebi, glass noodles, mushrooms, and potato, paired with the greens and rice we love, made for a satisfying lunch for us. If you're craving a hearty bowl of soup on a rainy day or looking for a good restaurant in Muk-dong, Wanttuk Gamjatang is worth putting on your list.

Next time I'd like to try the ppyeodagwijjim or one of the single-bowl dishes. Hope this helps anyone looking for a warm meal near Meokgol Station and Muk-dong.