Korean restaurant in Daejeon with spicy gamjatang: Hanppong

Wanting gamjatang, I visited Hanppong (한뽕) in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon. I ordered the small pork-bone gamjatang, then added ugeoji (dried napa cabbage greens), which I like, and fried rice to finish.

Where is Hanppong, and when is it open?

Hanppong is on the first floor at 27 Dunsan-ro 74beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon. According to the original post, its hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:50–20:30, with a break from 15:00–17:00 and last orders at 20:10.

What is the seating like for a group meal?

The restaurant was spacious, with tables set comfortably apart, so I had an easy meal.

I thought it would work well for a family visit or a meal with several people. There were also many gukbap-style soup dishes, so it seemed like a good place to come alone for a meal.

What is on the menu, and how much is the gamjatang?

Besides gamjatang, there were a variety of dishes including galbitang (beef short-rib soup), doganitang (ox-knee soup), haejangguk (hangover soup), and suyuk (boiled sliced meat).

The small pork-bone gamjatang I ordered was ₩29,000. It arrived generously portioned in a large pot.

It was topped generously with large pork bones, ugeoji, potatoes, enoki mushrooms, and scallions.

Is there so little ugeoji that you need to order extra?

Because I like ugeoji, I paid ₩2,000 for an extra portion. But when it arrived, I found that the amount already included was quite substantial. Even as someone who likes ugeoji, I felt the standard serving would be enough next time without adding more.

The ugeoji was deeply seasoned, well cooked, and tender. It went well with the gamjatang broth, and the overall portion was generous, making it a dish that seemed good for sharing.

What do the gamjatang broth and pork taste like?

The broth was mildly pungent and spicy from the start. It suited my taste, since I prefer a broth with some heat rather than a mild one. I wanted to have soju with it, but unfortunately I could not drink that day.

The meat attached to the bones was also soft and tender. It was delicious dipped in mustard.

Is the kimchi served as a side dish very spicy?

A spicy kimchi came with the basic side dishes. It was called silbi kimchi, so I expected it to be extremely hot, but by my standards it was moderately spicy rather than as intensely hot as I had expected, making it easy to eat.

It did not feel overly spicy, so it paired well with the gamjatang. There was also kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) alongside the kimchi.

How much is the fried rice, and what is its texture like?

After eating some of the gamjatang, I added fried rice. It cost ₩2,500.

It was fried with plenty of gamjatang broth, giving it a moist texture. It reminded me of the fried rice eaten after shabu-shabu. The gamjatang alone was filling, but I still enjoyed the fried rice.

How would I order on a return visit?

What stayed with me at Hanppong were the generous pork bones and ugeoji, along with the lightly spicy broth. If I return, I would try the standard portion without extra ugeoji. I would also like to visit on a day when I can have soju with it.