Gamjatang Specialty Restaurant Now Open for Business

Dinner menu dilemma solved!

Have you decided on tonight's menu? If not, how about Gamjatang recommended by the editor! It's even better if you visit the restaurants recommended by the editor♥ Promise to clear the bubbling Gamjatang broth and a piece of meat, choose your preferred add-ons like ramen or sujebi, and finish with the K-dessert, fried rice.

Oh, and surely no one still thinks Gamjatang is named because it contains potatoes, right? The round potatoes are not the origin; the marrow inside the pork backbone is called ‘gamja,’ which is where the name comes from. You wouldn’t believe how betrayed I felt when I heard this story. BUT taste is what matters most to me!

Seoul Gamjatang

Photo by Yoon Eun-ae Editor

This is a restaurant the editor has visited more than n times. When you order Gamjatang, one serving of ramen noodles is provided. The broth is perfect for adding ramen, so delicious that you’ll want to add more broth and eat another serving. This is a place where you can truly enjoy authentic Gamjatang. Recently, they relocated, so you can dine in a cleaner environment. As a K-dessert, eating fried rice is not optional but a must, you know? You’ll be upset if you don’t eat it.

▶ Location: 101ho, 1116 Cheonho-daero, Gangdong-gu, Seoul

Famous Seongsu Gamjatang

Photo by Bomi Kim, Editor

You can’t leave out this place when talking about Seongsu-dong’s famous restaurants. The Gamjatang at the aptly named Famous Seongsu Gamjatang was actually more disappointing than expected. Maybe my expectations were too high. But there’s a reason I want to go back. It’s because of the sauce you dip the meat in. The mustard sauce contains finely chopped onions and chili peppers, giving a tangy and spicy flavor at the same time. I refilled it twice, so I won’t say more. The real gem here is the sujebi add-on, which is sadly a legend because I was too full to eat it... They make the sujebi thinly right after you order, so please make sure to try it for me.

▶ Location: Happydream, 4 Yeonmujang 7-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Goyeogeum Gamjatang

Photo by Yoon Eun-ae, Editor

Gamjatang usually uses relatively inexpensive pork backbones. However, this place uses neck bones instead of backbones, making the meat very tender. The broth is made only with neck bones and five kinds of herbal medicine. The strong herbal scent and flavor might not suit everyone, but I found it charming as I ate. It’s neither heavy nor cloudy but very clear with a rich umami taste. This is definitely a Gamjatang you won’t find anywhere else. The main branch is in Incheon, so highly recommended for subscribers in Incheon as well!

▶ Location: 7-1 4.19-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul