Garak Market chicken kalguksu and gomtang dinner: Hanyang Dak Kalguksu

Today I'm bringing you a review of Hanyang Dak Kalguksu, a famous spot near Garak Market in Songpa haha. I absolutely love chicken kalguksu (chicken knife-cut noodle soup), but it's been so hard to find a good one since moving to Seoul..!! Then I discovered a great place right near my house >_< Here's my review of Hanyang Dak Kalguksu, where the noodles and dumplings are both amazing ✨

Where is Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch? Parking and hours

Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch is at 4 Songi-ro 23-gil, 1st floor, Songpa-gu, Seoul, near Garak Market and Gyeongchal Hospital Station. It's open Mon–Sun 11:00–21:00, last order at 20:20, and parking is available right in front of the restaurant.

• Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:20
• Parking: available in front of the restaurant

The exterior is huge, and it was open even during Chuseok holiday, haha. Parking right in front is a nice bonus too!

What's on the menu at Hanyang Dak Kalguksu?

The menu board had a variety of options like spicy chicken stew, kalguksu, and naengmyeon (cold noodles). There was also suyuk (boiled sliced meat) and mandu that go well together, plus set menus that look great for an affordable meal! Takeout is available too.

What the self-bar includes: kimchi, broth and chilies

Water and side dishes are self-serve. The kimchi comes in spicy and mild versions, so you can pick based on your taste. There's also warm naengmyeon broth and chili peppers, great to have alongside your meal!

How the chicken gomtang and double-portion egg chicken kalguksu taste

At Hanyang Dak Kalguksu I ordered the chicken gomtang and a double portion of chicken kalguksu. I went with the signature version that includes egg!

I liked that the rice for the chicken gomtang came separately from the soup. Inside were chicken, green onion, glass noodles, and jujube.

There was plenty of meat and glass noodles, and I liked that the broth was already seasoned. It was thick, rich, and delicious.

The chicken kalguksu was packed with egg, seaweed flakes, green onion, and meat. I wondered if egg would even go well with chicken kalguksu...? But it turned out surprisingly clean-tasting and delicious! If you want something plain, go for the original kalguksu; if you want something rich, I recommend the egg version.

The noodle portion was generous and cooked just right, and since it was already seasoned, there was no need to add anything extra! There's a spicy option too, so if you like spicy food, try that version.

Meat king mandu: four large dumplings with soy sauce

The meat king mandu comes with 4 pieces and soy sauce on the side. The dumplings were plump and warm, perfect to eat alongside the kalguksu. They were packed with meat and vegetables inside, and eating them with pickled radish was just right.

There was a sign explaining how to best enjoy the chicken kalguksu and the benefits of the naturally fermented noodles, and a note that all menu items contain perilla seeds — so if you have allergies, make sure to mention it in advance!

What Hanyang Dak Kalguksu is like at 7:30pm, solo or with a baby

Even around 7:30pm, quite a few people kept coming in! Many were dining solo, and I imagine it gets even busier at lunch. There was even a baby chair at the sofa seating, so it seemed like a great spot for families too, haha. If you're looking for a good chicken kalguksu spot, or a good restaurant near Garak Market in Songpa, I recommend Hanyang Dak Kalguksu 🤍