Tag: Gomtang

If you have had enough of spicy rice cakes and late-night fried chicken in Hongdae, this is the place I would send you for a calm, comforting Korean meal. Baekri Gomtang (백리곰탕) is a small, newly opened restaurant a few minutes from Hongik University Station that does one thing very seriously: gomtang, a clear Korean beef soup, made here with Korean hanwoo beef.

Quick facts

Finding it

Come out of Exit 7 of Hongik Univ. Station and head into the side streets. The restaurant sits on a quiet alley rather than the main road, so I recommend following a map app instead of trying to spot a sign.

Google Maps is fine for the walk, but Naver Map is far more accurate for small Korean restaurants and also shows current opening hours.

📍 Baekri Gomtang (백리곰탕), 40-18 Wausan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul · Naver Map · Google Maps

Inside it is bright and tidy, with light wood tables and enough space between them that you are not elbow to elbow with strangers. There are smaller tables that work well if you are eating alone, which is very normal in this student neighborhood.

One small detail I loved: every table had its own little fan. Eating a bowl of hot soup can make you sweat, and someone clearly thought about that.

What is gomtang?

Gomtang (곰탕) is a soup made by simmering beef bones and meat for many hours until the broth is rich but still clear. It is not spicy at all. It is usually served with rice already in the bowl, plus thin slices of beef and chopped green onion.

Koreans eat it when they want something warm and easy on the stomach, after a long night out, or simply as a filling lunch.

An important tip for first-timers: gomtang is served lightly seasoned on purpose. You are expected to add salt (and pepper if you like) at the table to suit your own taste. If your first spoonful tastes a bit plain, that is normal, not a mistake.

What we ordered

1. Hanwoo Gomtang (한우곰탕, hanu gomtang) – ₩12,000

The thing that impressed me most was a small board inside showing the saltiness level of the day’s broth. Long-simmered soup can slowly change in taste, so it seems they measure and manage it daily. Publishing that number to customers says a lot about how confident they are in the broth.

The soup arrived in a traditional brass bowl with a whole ginseng sprout on top, which gives it a gentle, earthy aroma. The broth is on the mild side. I added just a little salt and kept it light, and it tasted deeper with every spoonful.

What really set it apart was the amount of beef: there was so much tender, clean-tasting meat that it never felt like I was just drinking broth.

The side dishes (free and refillable)

Three side dishes come with your meal:

• Kkakdugi (깍두기): cubed radish kimchi, crunchy and refreshing, the classic partner for gomtang. Here it is cut small, so it is easy to eat in one bite.
• Ojingeo-jeotgal (오징어젓갈): salty, savory seasoned squid. Put a little on a spoonful of rice and broth. This was my favorite combination of the whole meal.
• Potato salad: soft and creamy, served in a neat scoop. Unusual for a gomtang restaurant and a nice break between salty bites.

2. Mini Suyuk (미니수육, mini suyuk) – ₩9,000

Suyuk is sliced boiled beef. The “mini” size is small, but as a side to share with soup it was just right. The meat was soft rather than dry.

The best way to eat it: wrap a slice around a few stems of garlic chives, then dip it in the tangy sauce. The sharp chives and sour sauce balance the mild beef really well. If there are two or more of you, I would definitely add this.

3. Hanwoo Yukhoe Bibimbap (한우육회비빔밥, yukhoe bibimbap) – ₩13,000

Yukhoe is Korean-style beef tartare, served raw. This bibimbap comes with a generous mound of fresh hanwoo tartare over rice, greens and sprouts. You can choose between a soy sauce or a gochujang (sweet and spicy red pepper paste) dressing.

I went with gochujang and was surprised by how good it was. Mix everything together well, take a big spoonful, then follow it with a sip of the gomtang broth.

If you can’t handle spice, ask for the soy sauce version. And if raw beef is not for you, the gomtang alone makes a complete meal.

How to order (tips for visitors)

• Pick a main per person. Most people order one gomtang or one bibimbap each, then share a side like mini suyuk.
• Point and say the Korean name. “Hanu gomtang hana juseyo” means “One hanwoo gomtang, please.” Replace hana (one) with dul (two) if needed.
• Side dishes are free. You can ask for more kkakdugi or potato salad by pointing at the dish and saying “Deo juseyo” (more, please).
• Season at the table. Salt and pepper are there for a reason.
• Mind the break time. The kitchen closes between 15:00 and 17:00, a common pattern for small restaurants in Hongdae.
• Rice is already in the soup. Gomtang here comes with the rice in the bowl, so you don’t need to order rice separately.

Menu and prices

Dish	Price
Hanwoo gomtang 한우곰탕	₩12,000 ~$9
Hanwoo gomtang, large 한우곰탕 특	₩15,000 ~$11
Yukhoe bibimbap (beef tartare) 한우육회비빔밥	₩13,000 ~$9
Mini suyuk (boiled beef) 미니수육	₩9,000 ~$6
Hanwoo hot pot, large 한우전골(대)	₩49,000 ~$35
Makgeolli, 1 glass 막걸리 한잔	₩2,000 ~$1.50

*USD figures are rough estimates at about ₩1,400 to $1. Prices are from the restaurant’s Naver listing and recent visitor reviews and can change.

Is it kid-friendly?

Yes, as long as your kids are fine with soup. Gomtang is one of the safest Korean dishes for children because it has no spice at all, and the beef is soft.

Several Korean reviewers mention coming with their kids for exactly this reason. Tables are well spaced, and the bright, clean room feels relaxed rather than rowdy. The only menu item I would skip for young children is the raw beef bibimbap.

My verdict

Baekri Gomtang is a great pick when you want something warm, filling and gentle after a few days of heavy or spicy food.

The daily-managed broth, the generous amount of beef, the chive-wrapped suyuk and the surprisingly good tartare bibimbap all made it a meal I would happily repeat. Next time I want to try the bibimbap with the soy sauce dressing.

If you are near Hongdae and want an honest bowl of Korean beef soup without the tourist-street noise, this is a good place to go.

Baekri Gomtang FAQ

Is Baekri Gomtang spicy?

No. The gomtang is a clear, mild beef broth with no chili at all. Only the yukhoe bibimbap with gochujang dressing is spicy, and you can choose soy sauce instead.

What is the nearest subway station to Baekri Gomtang?

Hongik Univ. Station (Line 2, AREX airport railroad and Gyeongui-Jungang Line). Use Exit 7; the restaurant is about 220 m away, a 3–5 minute walk.

What are Baekri Gomtang’s opening hours?

Recent visitors list 11:00–22:00 with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. Hours can change, so check Naver Map on the day you go.

How much does a meal at Baekri Gomtang cost?

A bowl of hanwoo gomtang is ₩12,000 (about $9) and the yukhoe bibimbap is ₩13,000. Expect to spend around ₩12,000–20,000 per person with a shared side.

Can I eat at Baekri Gomtang alone or with kids?

Yes to both. There are small tables for solo diners, and the non-spicy soup and soft beef make it an easy choice for children.

Looking for more places nearby? Browse all Seoul restaurant guides or our kid-friendly picks.

Visited: September 2026. Information last checked: October 14, 2026. Opening hours and prices can change, so please check Naver Map before you go.

This post is based on my own visit and photos. I used AI tools to help with the English wording.