Korean restaurant in Gwacheon for seaweed soup meals: Haenon Miyeok

My husband and I had seaweed soup set meals at Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch (해논미역 과천직영점). I chose the flatfish seaweed soup and he chose the beef version, and it was fun comparing their different broths. The dining room and parking were convenient, so I would like to bring my parents next time.

Where is it in Gwacheon, and is parking convenient?

The restaurant is on the first floor at 67 Araetbaeraengi-ro in Munwon-dong, Gwacheon. The original post lists its hours as 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily.

There is dedicated parking directly in front of the restaurant, so parking was easy. The lot also looked fairly spacious, and I thought it would work well if family members came in separate cars.

The gray, marble-like exterior caught my eye. There was also a sign out front introducing its richly simmered, individually prepared seaweed soup.

Is it good for a meal with parents or children?

When I stepped inside, it felt a little like entering a gallery. The interior stood out enough that I wondered whether the decoration was a screen or a painting.

The tables were spaced far apart, so I could eat without paying much attention to the neighboring tables. The inner section was arranged like group seating, which looked suitable for a family meal or a company gathering. Weekday lunch Naver reservations were listed as available, but same-day reservations were not accepted, so a reservation had to be made at least one day in advance.

The tables also had a gray marble-like finish, which suited the overall interior atmosphere.

Children's chairs are available for meals with kids.

What is on the menu besides seaweed soup?

The seaweed soup could be chosen by ingredient, including flatfish, beef, and abalone. There were also bulgogi set meals and spicy stir-fried pork, so companions who do not want seaweed soup had other options. Wanting fish, I ordered the flatfish seaweed soup, while my meat-loving husband ordered the beef version.

How do the side dishes work, and can they be refilled?

The side dishes arrived neatly plated, and I was pleased that the selection was more substantial than I expected. Every side dish except the seasoned flatfish could be refilled. Extra side dishes were set out at the self-service bar near the entrance.

There were fried eggplant, cheongpomuk (mung bean jelly), japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), dressed scallops, kimchi, and more. Rather than piling up a large amount of side dishes at once, they put out small portions, which gave me the impression that they were carefully managed.

How did the flatfish and beef seaweed soups differ?

After looking around the self-service bar, our seaweed soups arrived. With the side dishes on the table, it made for a full spread.

The flatfish seaweed soup had tender pieces of fish. The seaweed and fish went well together, and the milky-looking broth was mild and clean-tasting. It was a flavor I would order again on another visit.

The beef seaweed soup had a generous amount of meat. It was a little more savory than the flatfish version, and my husband enjoyed it. Having tried both, I found the mild flatfish seaweed soup better suited to my taste.

The rice was served with hijiki seaweed. I liked its fluffy texture, and it went well with the seaweed soup.

This time I visited with just my husband, but the spacious table spacing, parking, and seaweed soup served with side dishes felt well suited to a meal with my parents too. I would like to bring them here next time.