Seongnam Korean restaurant for kalguksu and kimchi: Gangnam Gyoja

This was the day we enjoyed a hotel stay near Bundang. We needed lunch before checking in, and after wondering what to eat, I found myself craving something warm and soupy! Haha. My wife wanted rice and I wanted noodles, so while looking for somewhere that could satisfy both of us, we found just the place: Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch.

Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch is where you can have not only noodle dishes but also warm rice and soup.

Location and parking on Seohyeon Station Rodeo Street

Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch is on the Rodeo Street by Seohyeon Station in Bundang-gu! It is a three-minute walk from Exit 5 of Seohyeon Station on the Suin–Bundang Line, and there is plenty of underground parking, so it is super easy to get to! Parking in Bundang can be tough, but I was so happy to use the mechanical(?) parking without any hassle!

Hours are 11:00–21:00 daily, with a break from 15:00–16:30. The underground parking is free to use.

What about the menu and prices?

I really liked that there was a big signboard right at the entrance showing the menu and prices. The menu is so nicely streamlined! The five mains are kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), bibimbap, seolleongtang (ox-bone soup), dakgaejang (spicy chicken soup), and bossam (boiled pork wraps).

They also run summer seasonal dishes, but it is already getting chilly, so... I do not think they will be available anymore!! Each serving is around ₩10,000 too, so it does not feel like a huge burden. These days, one roll of gimbap costs around ₩5,000....ㅠㅠ

We ordered one serving each of kalguksu and seolleongtang, plus gyoja dumplings!

A clean, well-kept interior

It is not brand-new, but it was being kept remarkably clean. I love places like this! Haha.

I am a total kalguksu fiend, so I was beyond excited to be having it again after such a long time! Haha.

There are clear photos of the dishes on every wall, which makes choosing from the menu really easy too.

If you want extra rice, you can help yourself. No pressure~~ No awkwardness~~

Rich meat-broth kalguksu and kimchi

The kalguksu came first! Haha. Amaaaazing. It was exactly my favorite kind of kalguksu: a deeply rich meat-broth base rather than a light, clear broth.

There was a really generous amount of meat topping, too. I think there were three or four dumplings in it as well. Such a plentiful bowl.

Truly delicious kalguksu. It has that straightforward flavor everyone, young and old, would enjoy. Clam kalguksu and seafood kalguksu are delicious too, but for me, nothing beats a rich bowl topped with loads of meat! Haha.

And another key part of a kalguksu place is the kimchi. This kimchi was perfectly fermented and well seasoned—so delicious! I would almost come back just for the kimchi. My wife usually only eats kimchi when she has noodle dishes, but she approved of the kimchi here too, haha.

The seolleongtang and gyoja dumplings were satisfying too

The seolleongtang my wife ordered was reaaally delicious too. It had a different flavor from the kalguksu broth. It absolutely holds its own against places that specialize only in seolleongtang. There was a generous amount of solid ingredients too—so satisfying.

The gyoja dumplings had thin wrappers and such a well-filled center—they are not even comparable to frozen dumplings! Haha. You have to order these juicy dumplings. Leaving after having only kalguksu would feel like such a shame!! Haha.

A meal I want to come back for

• A great kalguksu spot in a convenient location by Seohyeon Station
• The kimchi is truly delicious, and the seolleongtang has its own appeal
• Reasonably priced and clean—a place I would happily visit again