It’s 11.50am on a Saturday and we ourselves in a queue filled with locals outside Gwanghwamun Gukbap, a restaurant under the Seoul Michelin Guide. The restaurant opens at 12pm on a Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays, which might explain the queue. Unless the dish is really that good?
Michelin Bib Gourmand in Seoul
Hidden away from plain sight inside a parking lot space, you probably won’t pass by Gwanghwamun Gukbap like most restaurants in Korea. However, it is still located near several notable attractions like Deoksugung and the entrance to Cheonggyecheon stream.
In the restaurant, you’ll find different types of seating, but the most common ones are those for groups of 4. We liked how there was a specific area in the restaurant that could accommodate solo diners, something to keep in mind for those planning a solo trip to Korea.
Service could have been better, but we attributed the lack of service in the beginning to the influx of diners during opening hours. As time went by, we noticed that people could get their orders promptly and everything went smoothly.
Menu at Gwanghwamun Gukbap
Besides their iconic Gukbap, you’ll also find other items like Pyongyang Naengmyeon (13,000won), Sundae (15,000won), and Pork Suyuk (25,000won) here.
We obviously had to try the Pork Gukbap (9,000won) here. It’s said that the broth is made by boiling black pork ham and Duroc pork shoulder cuts. Unlike most Gukbap restaurants that pre-add the rice into the soup, the one here at Gwanghwamun Gukbap is served separately.
Along with the piping hot soup were side dishes like Kkakdugi and Squid Jeotgal. There were also plates of ssamjang, green pepper, and garlic.
The first thing we realized was how clear the soup was. Unlike most gukbap places that we’ve been to, this was almost reminiscent of clear chicken stock. The soup was light, topped with chopped chives and not heavily seasoned, with no gamey smell of pork at all.
Some might find this too bland, but we still recommend trying a spoonful first before adding the salted shrimp. You can also adjust the soup to your taste with the black pepper provided at the table.
There was a generous portion of pork slices in the Gukbap itself, which you can pair with the side dishes available.
Gwanghwamun Gukbap doesn’t recommend mixing in the kimchi juice with your gukbap, but if you insist on trying this combo, they recommend adding it only after you’ve finished half the soup.
Gukbap Restaurant in Seoul
If you’re familiar with the usual Sundae Gukbaps, the version here at Gwanghwamun Gukbap might take you aback. Unlike the flavourful soups we’ve had previously, the one here does pale in comparison but is still delicious in its own way.
Gwanghwamun Gukbap (광화문 국밥)
53 Sejong-daero 21-gil, Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울 중구 세종대로21길 53
Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm, Sat, 12pm-9pm. Closed on Sundays.
Break time: 2:30pm to 5:30pm (Mon-Fri), 2:30pm to 5pm (Sat)
Nearest Subway: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 6
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg
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