Three places I have eaten at in Itaewon, Haebangchon and Yongsan: Decalcomanie (a cozy bistro famous for ₩9,900 honey cod, no kids), Nurimaeul Gamjatang (24-hour pork bone stew by Itaewon Station Exit 4) and Hyunsuni (tteokbokki and Korean snack food near Sinyongsan Station, great with kids).
Itaewon, Haebangchon and Yongsan sit right next to each other on the south side of Namsan, and they cover very different moods: a quiet date night up the hill, a big pot of stew at any hour, and a cheap, cheerful lunch with the kids. Each place below links to my full guide.
Quick picks
Date nightDecalcomanie, Sinheung Market, Haebangchon
Late nightNurimaeul Gamjatang, Itaewon Station Exit 4 (24 hours)
With kidsHyunsuni, Sinyongsan Station Exit 5
1. Decalcomanie (데칼코마니): honey cod in Haebangchon
A small bistro inside Sinheung Market, uphill from Itaewon. We went for our wedding anniversary. The honey cod with Uiseong garlic aioli (₩9,900) is the reason to come, and the set for two (₩59,800) also covers basil pesto pasta and a sous-vide pork neck steak. Expect a wait; it is a no-kids zone. The walk up from Noksapyeong Station is steep, so a short taxi is easiest.
2. Nurimaeul Gamjatang (누리마을감자탕): 24-hour pork bone stew
On the second floor of a building about 29 m from Itaewon Station Exit 4, open 24 hours. A small pot of spicy gamjatang (₩35,000) is a hearty meal, and single bowls of bone soup start at ₩12,000. A good stop for a late dinner or a filling lunch.
📍 2F, 176 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 서울 용산구 이태원로 176 2층 Naver Map · Google Maps
3. Hyunsuni (현선이네): tteokbokki near Yongsan I’Park Mall
A busy tteokbokki and bunsik shop about 180 m from Sinyongsan Station, close to Yongsan I’Park Mall. Tteokbokki is ₩6,000 with your choice of spice level, and combo sets add sundae, mini gimbap and fritters. It was my 7-year-old’s first tteokbokki shop, and there are high chairs and a baby set. Open 11:00–24:00 daily.
📍 2-13 Hangang-daero 39-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 서울 용산구 한강대로39길 2-13 Naver Map · Google Maps
Nurimaeul Gamjatang, about 29 m from Itaewon Station Exit 4, is open 24 hours. A small pot of spicy pork bone stew is ₩35,000 and single bowls start at ₩12,000.
What is a good anniversary or date restaurant near Itaewon?
Decalcomanie in Haebangchon’s Sinheung Market is cozy and known for its ₩9,900 honey cod. The set for two is ₩59,800. It often has a wait and is a no-kids zone.
Where can I take kids for lunch near Yongsan I’Park Mall?
Hyunsuni, about 180 m from Sinyongsan Station, serves tteokbokki with a choice of spice level plus non-spicy sundae, gimbap and fritters. It has high chairs and a baby set.
Hours and prices come from each restaurant’s Naver listing, checked when each full guide was written (October 2026). Please check Naver Map before you go.
Based on my own visits and photos. I used AI tools to help with the English wording.
Nurimaeul Gamjatang (누리마을감자탕) is a 24-hour pork bone stew restaurant on the second floor of a building about 29 m from Itaewon Station Exit 4. A small pot of spicy gamjatang is ₩35,000 (about $25), and single bowls of bone soup start at ₩12,000. Good for a hearty lunch, a late-night meal, or anyone who wants a big pot of Korean stew without too much salt.
On the last day of my summer vacation, my partner and I wanted something hot and filling, so we went to Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon for a weekday lunch. Maybe it was the end-of-holiday mood, but a bowl of steaming broth sounded better than anything else.
Gamjatang is a Korean stew of pork back bones simmered with potatoes and greens in a red, spicy broth. You share one pot at the table, pick the meat off the bones, and add noodles or rice as you go.
Quick facts
Korean name누리마을감자탕 이태원점 (Nurimaeul Gamjatang, Itaewon branch)
Address2F, 176 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 서울 용산구 이태원로 176 2층
SubwayItaewon Station (이태원역, Line 6), Exit 4, about 29 m
HoursOpen 24 hours, every day of the year
PriceGamjatang pots ₩34,000–52,000 depending on type and size; bone soups ₩12,000–13,000
Good forCouples and groups sharing a pot, a solid lunch in Itaewon, late-night meals
The restaurant sits right on Itaewon-ro, the main road through Itaewon, an easy walk from Itaewon Station. Come up at Exit 4. The dining room is on the second floor, so the first time you go, remember to look up for the white sign with the red logo. A street-level entrance with the same sign leads to the stairs.
The street-level entrance. The dining room is up the stairs.
We came at weekday lunchtime and were seated straight away with no wait. The room was clean and not crowded even at lunch, so we could eat at a relaxed pace. The menu boards by the entrance list the dishes in English, Japanese and Chinese as well as Korean, which helps if you don’t read Hangul.
Through the doors into the second-floor dining room.
The self-service side dish bar
My favorite practical detail was the self bar (셀프바, selpeu-ba). Napa cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi and spicy cheongyang green chilies are laid out so you can help yourself whenever you run low. I like this much better than waving down a server every time I want more kimchi.
The self bar, with bowls and side dishes.Napa cabbage kimchi at the self bar. It turned out to be great with ramen.
What we ordered
We ordered the spicy gamjatang for two, plus glass noodles, ramen noodles and a bowl of rice. The plan was to add fried rice at the end if we were still hungry. Spoiler: we never got that far.
1. Spicy gamjatang (얼큰감자탕, eolkeun gamjatang)
The pot arrives topped with perilla leaves, sliced green onion and enoki mushrooms over chunks of potato. Even though we ordered for two, there were five big pork bones inside, along with lots of potato and ugeoji (dried cabbage greens). The portion honestly surprised me when I saw the pot.
Spicy gamjatang as it arrives, before it starts to boil.
The ugeoji came in large pieces, but it was so soft it pulled apart easily, and we cut it with scissors. Eaten with the broth, it reminded me why ugeoji belongs in gamjatang.
Soft ugeoji greens piled over the bones.
The meat came away from the bone the moment I lifted it with the tongs. It was tender and moist, good on its own or dipped in mustard sauce.
The meat slid right off the bone.Mustard sauce for dipping the pork.
The best part for me was the broth. Gamjatang broth tends to be on the salty side, and it usually gets saltier as it keeps boiling. This one stayed pleasantly mild all the way through, so we never got tired of it and finished the meal comfortably.
2. Glass noodles (당면사리, dangmyeon sari)
Once we had pulled out some of the bones and made room in the pot, in went the glass noodles. The portion was huge, more like a whole extra bowl than a simple add-on. I love dangmyeon and can never skip it with gamjatang, and these were especially good: they soaked up the broth and went down smoothly. If you only pick one add-on, make it this one.
Glass noodles going into the pot.
3. Ramen noodles (라면사리, ramyeon sari)
We ate the ramen a little differently, wrapping each bite in the napa cabbage kimchi from the self bar. The kimchi is tasty on its own, and it went really well with the spicy broth. My tip: cook the glass noodles first and add the ramen later, so the ramen doesn’t go soggy and keeps its bite.
Ramen wrapped in kimchi, our favorite combination.
Menu and prices
Dish
Price
Nuri gamjatang, classic (small / medium / large) 누리감자탕
₩34,000 / 41,000 / 48,000 ~$24 / 29 / 34
Spicy gamjatang (small / medium / large) 얼큰감자탕
₩35,000 / 42,000 / 49,000 ~$25 / 30 / 35
Aged kimchi gamjatang (S / M / L) 묵은지감자탕
₩36,000 / 43,000 / 50,000 ~$26 / 31 / 36
Sundae (blood sausage) gamjatang (S / M / L) 순대전골감자탕
₩36,000 / 43,000 / 50,000 ~$26 / 31 / 36
Mala gamjatang (S / M / L) 마라감자탕
₩38,000 / 45,000 / 52,000 ~$27 / 32 / 37
Soy-braised pork bones (S / M / L) 간장뼈찜
₩36,000 / 44,000 / 52,000 ~$26 / 31 / 37
Nuri bone hangover soup (single bowl) 누리뼈해장국
₩12,000 ~$8.60
Spicy or ramen bone hangover soup (single bowl) 얼큰뼈해장국 / 뼈라면해장국
₩13,000 ~$9.30
Galbitang (beef short rib soup) 갈비탕
₩16,000 ~$11.40
Dumplings, meat or kimchi (4 pieces) 고기/김치 만두
₩3,000 ~$2.10
*USD figures are rough estimates at about ₩1,400 to $1. Prices are from Naver Place (menu updated August 2026). Naver does not list prices for noodle add-ons, rice or fried rice, so check the menu when you order. Prices can change.
Tips for visitors
Come hungry. The pot for two was big enough that we skipped the fried rice we had planned.
Noodle order matters. Glass noodles first, ramen later, so the ramen stays chewy.
Use the self bar. Kimchi, radish kimchi and chilies are self-service, so refill as you like.
Ordering phrase: “Eolkeun gamjatang, i-inbun juseyo” (얼큰감자탕 2인분 주세요) means “Spicy gamjatang for two, please.”
Any hour works. It is open 24 hours, every day. We had no wait at weekday lunch.
Take the subway. Naver lists no parking. Itaewon Station Exit 4 is a minute away.
My verdict
Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon gave us exactly what we wanted on the last day of a summer vacation: a huge pot of tender pork bones, soft ugeoji, and a broth that stayed mild instead of turning salty. The self bar made the meal easy, and the glass noodles were the highlight. My only regret is that we were too full for fried rice, so next time I will order fewer noodles and finish with it. If you like big portions, less salty broth and helping yourself to side dishes, it is worth a stop in Itaewon.
Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon FAQ
Where is Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon?
Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon is on the second floor of 176 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, on the main Itaewon street. Naver lists it about 29 m from Exit 4 of Itaewon Station (Line 6), roughly a one-minute walk. Look up for the sign, because the dining room is upstairs.
Is Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon open 24 hours?
Yes. Naver lists Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon as open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so it works for a late-night meal after a night out in Itaewon as well as a normal lunch or dinner.
How much does gamjatang cost at Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon?
At Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon, the spicy gamjatang (eolkeun gamjatang) is ₩35,000 for a small, ₩42,000 for a medium and ₩49,000 for a large. Single-serving bone hangover soups cost ₩12,000 to ₩13,000. Noodle add-ons and rice are ordered separately.
Is the broth at Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon very salty or very spicy?
We ordered the spicy version at Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon, and it had a proper spicy kick. What stood out was the salt level: gamjatang broth usually gets saltier as it boils down, but this one stayed mild right to the end.
Can I book or park at Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon?
Nurimaeul Gamjatang Itaewon takes Naver reservations for groups of 2 to 12, and it also does takeout. Naver says there is no parking, so the subway is the easiest way to get there. We went at weekday lunch and were seated right away without a booking.
Decalcomanie is a small Western-style bistro inside Sinheung Market in Haebangchon, uphill from Itaewon in Seoul, best known for its ₩9,900 honey cod with Uiseong garlic aioli. A set for two (steak, basil pasta, honey cod and two ades) costs ₩59,800 (about $43). It is open 11:00–21:00, often has a wait, and is a no-kids zone.
Haebangchon is the hillside neighborhood above Itaewon, full of small bars and cafés with views toward Namsan. Tucked inside its old Sinheung Market is Decalcomanie (데칼코마니), a small Western-style bistro known for one surprising dish: honey cod. I went for our wedding anniversary dinner, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of cozy, unfussy place I hoped for.
Getting thereUp the hill in Haebangchon, above Itaewon. From Noksapyeong Station (Line 6) it is roughly 1.2 km, mostly uphill, so many people take a short taxi ride.
HoursDaily 11:00–21:00. Break 14:30–17:00 Mon–Thu, 15:00–17:00 Fri, no break on weekends
PricePasta ₩17,900–18,900, set for two ₩59,800 (about $43)
Good forDate night, anniversaries, a relaxed dinner for two to four
NoteNo-kids zone. No on-site parking (public lots nearby).
Decalcomanie is not on the main road. Look for Sinheung Market and walk inside; the restaurant faces the market lane, with a few green outdoor tables in front. Haebangchon sits on a steep hill, so if you are coming from Noksapyeong or Itaewon, a taxi saves your legs, especially in the evening.
📍 Decalcomanie (데칼코마니), Sinheung Market, 97-4 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul · Naver Map · Google Maps
Inside, the room is small and bright, with white walls, wooden tables and big glass doors onto the market. It feels calm rather than trendy, which is why it works well for a date. The restaurant has also appeared on the Korean TV show Handsome Guys (2025), so expect it to be busy.
What we ordered
We ordered the set for two (₩59,800), which includes the three signature dishes: honey cod, spinach basil pesto pasta and the pork neck sous-vide steak. The set normally comes with two ades; we paid a little extra to swap them for sangria.
Red and white sangria
The red sangria is fruity, a little bittersweet and easy to drink. The white is lighter and more citrusy, with a fresh, slightly sharp finish. If you are celebrating something, start with one of each and share.
1. Uiseong garlic honey cod (의성마늘 꿀대구)
This is the reason most people come. A piece of cod is topped with aioli made from Uiseong garlic (a well-known Korean garlic region) and honey, then served on a bright tomato sauce. The fish was so soft it fell apart as soon as my fork touched it. The garlic is mellow, the honey adds gentle sweetness, and the tomato keeps it from feeling heavy.
It is simple enough that you think you could make it at home, but the balance is what makes it special. At ₩9,900 it is also the cheapest thing on the menu, so order it even if you are not getting the set.
The cod flakes apart at the first touch of a fork.
2. Spinach basil pesto pasta (시금치 바질페스토 파스타)
A thick, creamy green sauce coats every strand of pasta. The basil gives it a fresh aroma, and the spinach keeps the cream from tasting too rich, so it never got boring. Plump shrimp and arugula on top add bite and a peppery edge. I really enjoyed this one.
3. Pork neck sous-vide steak (팜스플랜 목살 수비드 스테이크)
Moksal is pork neck, a cut Koreans love for its mix of lean meat and fat. Cooked sous-vide, it was tender with a pleasant chew, and it sits on a smooth, nutty potato sauce. Eating the pork with the potato and the pickled greens together was my favorite bite.
The steak comes with an extra sauce on the side.
Menu and prices
Prices below are from the restaurant’s current Naver menu (updated May 2026).
Set for 2 (steak + basil pasta + cod + 2 ades) 2인 세트
₩59,800 ~$43
Set for 3 3인 세트
₩89,800 ~$64
Red or white sangria 샹그리아
₩7,900 ~$6
Fruit ade 에이드
₩4,900 ~$3.50
*USD figures are rough estimates at about ₩1,400 to $1. The menu also lists Spanish beers (₩9,500–13,500) and corkage at ₩30,000. Prices can change.
Tips for visitors
Expect a wait. We waited about 30 minutes. Arrive early or come on a weekday.
Order the set. The set for two covers all three signature dishes and is the easiest way to order.
Watch the break time. On weekdays the kitchen closes in the afternoon (14:30 or 15:00 until 17:00). Weekends have no break.
No kids. It is a no-kids zone, so plan a different place if you travel with children.
Parking. There is no on-site parking; use the public lots at the Yongsan 2-ga community center or Haebangchon.
A nice touch: when we paid on our way out on a cold night, staff handed us hand warmers and mouthwash. Small, but we still remember it.
My verdict
Decalcomanie does a few dishes and does them well. The honey cod lives up to the hype, the basil pasta is comforting, and the sous-vide pork neck is a nice introduction to a very Korean cut in a Western dish. With sangria and friendly, thoughtful service, it is one of the easiest anniversary or date-night picks I know in the Itaewon area. Just be ready to wait.
Decalcomanie FAQ
What is Decalcomanie famous for?
Its honey cod: cod topped with Uiseong garlic aioli and honey on tomato sauce. It costs ₩9,900.
How do I get to Decalcomanie?
It is inside Sinheung Market in Haebangchon, uphill from Itaewon and Noksapyeong Station (Line 6). The walk is steep, so a short taxi ride is easiest.
What are Decalcomanie’s opening hours?
11:00–21:00 every day. On weekdays there is an afternoon break (14:30–17:00 Monday to Thursday, 15:00–17:00 on Friday). No break on weekends.
Can I bring children to Decalcomanie?
No. Decalcomanie is a no-kids zone.
How much does dinner at Decalcomanie cost?
The set for two is ₩59,800, about ₩30,000 per person. Add drinks if you want sangria or beer.
