Garak-dong chicken noodle spot, ginseng sprout bowl: Hanyang Dak

Why a late Sunday lunch at Hanyang Dak Kalguksu in Garak-dong?

REVIEW Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch 4 Song-i-ro 23-gil, 1st floor, Songpa-gu, Seoul

On Sunday I found myself craving hot broth, so I went to Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch, a well-known spot in Garak-dong. With colds, flu, and COVID going around and the weather turning a bit chilly, I wanted something warm and hearty to build myself back up. So I went out for dak kalguksu (chicken noodle soup), where you get warm broth and chicken together.

When I actually ate it, I was surprised the chicken noodle soup broth was so much richer than I expected, haha. Let me introduce Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch, a Garak-dong favorite where I filled up on hot broth for a late Sunday lunch!

How far is Hanyang Dak Kalguksu from Gyeongchal Hospital Station, and is there parking?

It's a 1-minute walk from Gyeongchal Hospital Station Exit 4. I drove, and parking was available right in front of the restaurant, with plenty of space.

They said they're open as usual during the Chuseok holiday, hahaha.

I went at the somewhat awkward late-lunch time of 3pm, haha, and people were still eating. The tables were spaced comfortably enough, and the overall vibe was relaxed and pleasant for a meal.

Inside Hanyang Dak Kalguksu: self-serve bar, kimchi and high chairs

At Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch, water and side dishes are self-serve. There was a self-serve bar set up on one side where you could take as many side dishes as you wanted. It was convenient being able to grab extra yourself, haha. I got both spicy and mild kimchi.

You can also check the food menu with photos like this.

There's also a high chair set up on one side of the restaurant.

What we ordered at Hanyang Dak Kalguksu and what it cost

There were several dak kalguksu options ranging from the basic to spicy versions. There was also samgyetang kalguksu, which comes with samgyetang chicken and sticky rice, as well as chicken gomtang (chicken soup).

• Samgyetang kalguksu ₩14,900
• Chicken gomtang + mini suyuk ₩22,400
• Meat king mandu ₩6,900

The spicy and mild kimchi I scooped from the self-serve bar, hehe. I enjoyed them so much.

Samgyetang kalguksu, 14,900 won: chicken leg, sticky rice and ginseng sprouts in one bowl

After a short wait, the food came out! Samgyetang kalguksu was hearty from the moment I saw the chicken leg sitting right in the bowl, haha.

In the rich broth simmered down with chicken and medicinal herbs, there was tender samgyetang chicken, sticky rice, and fragrant fresh ginseng sprout all together. With chicken, noodles, and sticky rice all in one bowl, I got to enjoy a variety of flavors in a single serving.

I first picked off the tender meat clinging to the chicken leg and tried that, hehe. So soft and delicious!

After eating some of the chicken, I slurped up the chewy noodles. And at the end, I scooped up the sticky rice from the broth too.

Eating it in this variety meant I kept enjoying different flavors and textures the whole way through the bowl, haha. The reason the broth tasted so good was apparently because it's a rich chicken broth simmered for over 12 hours every single day. No wonder, hahaha, it really was on another level.

Chicken gomtang with mini suyuk, 22,400 won: suyuk with salted shrimp sauce

The suyuk (boiled pork/meat slices) that came with it looked moist just by sight, and one bite confirmed it was tender and delicious!

It wasn't dry at all, so it was tasty even eaten plain.

Adding a bit of salted shrimp brought out a salty edge that paired well with the suyuk. Eating it alongside garlic, chili peppers, or dried radish strips let me enjoy a different flavor each time, haha. Properly loaded up on protein!!!

I also tried a spoonful of the chicken gomtang. The deeply steeped chicken broth had a subtle hint of medicinal herbs, and the soup itself felt deep and savory.

The broth really is amazing, hahahaha.

After tasting the broth, I couldn't bear to eat the rice separately, so I dumped in a generous amount of rice and mixed it all together.

As the rich chicken broth soaked into the rice, the savory flavor came through even stronger. It was a filling, satisfying one-bowl meal, hehe. I really felt like I'd properly nourished my body!!!

Meat king mandu, 6,900 won: how big are the dumplings?

I also tried the mandu (dumplings). The filling was packed full, so it felt substantial. Loaded with generous filling ingredients, they were delicious.

Eating them alongside the chicken gomtang or dak kalguksu made for a hearty, really tasty meal, haha.

Is Hanyang Dak Kalguksu in Garak-dong worth a second visit?

This was Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch, a Garak-dong favorite where I filled up on hot broth for a late Sunday lunch. With deeply steeped chicken broth, plenty of chicken, noodles, and rice, it was a filling, satisfying meal. It seems like a great place to visit whenever you're craving a bowl of warm broth these days.

If you're looking for a hearty dak kalguksu spot in Garak-dong, I recommend Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch!!!! Next time I'd love to come back and try other menu items too!!! I'm curious about their Hanyang chojjeong mul naengmyeon too, hehe.