Woke up early around 9 am and 2 minutes walk from my hotel to this famous place Hadongkwan serve traditional Gomtang in Myeongdong, Seoul for breakfast. A restaurant that serve this for more than 80 years and have rich history that is well know to both locals and tourist diners. It is actually beef porridge Korean version.
[updated 15th Sept 2019 – also recently read that this shop now is in part of Michelin Guide 2019]
Their menu is very simple. ONLY 4 item. We have to order 3 portion as they have minimum spending too.
this is one of their signature item : Ultimate Beef Soup (25,000 won) @ RM 95 that is filled with beef slices, tripes, and other ingredient.
The other 2 bowl we just order the normal ones as we have a few other locations to eat. Normal Beef Soup (12,000won) @ RM 48. Korean beef soup with rice.
On the table they have tons of spring onion as you can add in as much as you like. also serve with radish kimchi as sides.
I am caught by surprise how good the soup is. At first I am doubting over it as such a clear soup how good could it be. I am wrong. It is pack with flavour, clear and just slight refreshing. If you eat this during winter, it would be perfect.
Then I observe how the locals eat. They add in radish and kimchi given into the bowl and I follow suit. It actually taste quite good. Change the whole soup profile, slight spicy and sourish yet the soup is still perfect.
this is where it is pack with local diners.
for breakfast it is indeed very expensive but worth to try. One of the best food in Myeongdong.
Location:
Hadongkwan
12, Myeongdong 9-gil
Jung-gu, Seoul
Daily: 7am – 4pm
Closed on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month
Nearest Station: Euljiro il-ga
Take Subway Line 4 to Myeongdong Station (Exit 8).
At the exit, turn left and continue for 400 meters to reach the restaurant on the right.