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Discovering Dongmyo: A Foodie’s Adventure

Dongmyo, a vibrant neighborhood in Seoul, is known for its vintage markets and authentic Korean cuisine. Today, we’re diving into two local favorites: a renowned dongtae jjigae (pollack stew) restaurant and a humble eatery serving up flavorful bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables). Join us on this culinary journey!

Part 1: Gwangju Restaurant – The Legendary Dongtae Jjigae

Finding Gwangju Restaurant

I’m in Dongmyo, on my way to Gwangju Restaurant, famous for its dongtae jjigae. I debated whether to share this hidden gem, but I decided it’s too good to keep to myself! It’s 7:50 AM, and the restaurant opens at 8:00 AM. Hopefully, there won’t be a long line already. Let’s find out!

Follow me from exit number [number not specified clearly] of the subway station. Walk straight, then turn left. Continue straight, pass a [unclear word] restaurant on your right. Turn right at the next corner. We’re almost there! It’s at the end of this alley.

I’ve visited about five times, and each time I’ve waited at least 15 minutes in line. Hopefully, today’s wait will be shorter. Just follow the alleyway. It’s right here on the left.

Yes! We’ve arrived at Gwangju Restaurant! This place is so popular that you almost always have to wait in line, especially after it opens. Let’s see if the dongtae jjigae lives up to the hype.

Inside Gwangju Restaurant

Luckily, there’s no wait this early in the morning. But this is where the line forms later in the day. The restaurant is small, with about four tables for four people and six single-person seats, accommodating around 20 customers in total. They only serve one dish: dongtae jjigae, priced at 8,000 won.

[Dialogue snippets indicating friendly service]

Here it is – a steaming bowl of dongtae jjigae! It comes with a bowl of white rice and two side dishes. Honestly, the dongtae jjigae is so good that you don’t really need anything else.

Tasting the Dongtae Jjigae

Even a simple 8,000 won dongtae jjigae exudes an aura of deliciousness. The sliced scallions on top look like they were deliberately placed for presentation. It’s almost too beautiful to eat… almost!

The stew contains thick slices of radish, generous chunks of pollack, and pieces of pollack tail. The tofu also looks thick and promising. Will the tofu have absorbed the broth? Tofu without flavorful broth is disappointing.

First, let’s try the broth… Wow! It’s amazing! It tastes exactly like the dongtae jjigae I had as a child. It’s the quintessential dongtae jjigae. I’m speechless. It’s perfect.

I can hear other customers exclaiming how refreshing it is. One spoonful of the broth, and you’ll understand. The radish has a lovely sweetness. And it’s not spicy, by the way. Earlier, I was worried that the thick tofu wouldn’t have absorbed enough broth, but my fears were unfounded. The broth has permeated the tofu perfectly.

Look at this plump piece of pollack! Eating it with the broth is pure bliss. Can dongtae jjigae really be this delicious? I want to ask the owner!

Let’s try a piece of the tender radish. Wow! This definitely needs soju or makgeolli (Korean rice wine). Good thing they sell both here. The tail part of the pollack is particularly meaty. This is insane! It’s so good, it’s insane!

Forgive me for keeping this place a secret for so long, just because I didn’t want to wait in line. I’ll try to share more of these hidden gems in the future, especially when they’re this incredibly delicious. I was too arrogant! Every time I come here, the taste is consistently amazing. How is that even possible?

The broth alone is a bit salty, but when you eat it with the tofu, radish, and pollack, it’s perfect. Now, it’s time to complete the experience by adding the scallions, just like before.

Lately, I’ve been trying to cut carbs for dieting purposes, but all bets are off here! I absolutely have to have rice with this. I shred the pollack, crumble the tofu and radish, and mix it with the white rice. One spoonful, and it’s pure bliss! This place is incredible! It’s art! It’s not just because it’s been on TV or YouTube. This restaurant has been consistently successful for years because the taste is perfect. It’s the quintessential dongtae jjigae that’s etched into our brains and taste buds. Even people who don’t usually like dongtae jjigae will finish a bowl here. And if you love dongtae jjigae, come here tomorrow morning when they open. You won’t regret it!

To get here, take exit 3 of Dongmyo Station. Walk straight. You’ll see an elevator in front of you. Go around it and cross the crosswalk. Continue straight and you will see the restaurant.

Part 2: Hometown Restaurant – A Bibimbap Bonanza

Now, let’s move on to the next place: a restaurant that’s a mix of a baekban (Korean set meal) place and a bibimbap place. It’s a great place to get a nutritious and filling meal. And it’s all-you-can-eat!

From here [the Dongtae Jjigae restaurant], turn right and walk straight. Then, turn left, and you’ll find it. We’ve arrived! Jeongup Restaurant is also good, but today, we’re going to Hometown Restaurant.

It’s a small restaurant with a retro vibe. I ordered the jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork). The price isn’t bad, only 1,000 won more than it was two years ago.

You can eat it with rice or just as a side dish, but it’s perfectly optimized for bibimbap. They offer lettuce, radish salad, seasoned bean sprouts, and seasoned spinach. Add some gochujang (Korean chili paste) on top, and your bibimbap is complete!

The seasoned bean sprouts, seasoned spinach, and radish salad are all freshly made this morning. You can see the freshness in the glistening vegetables. This is the jeyuk bokkeum, which I’m trying for the first time. The meat quality is excellent and it tastes great. It’s made with pork shoulder, so it’s not dry and has a savory flavor. It reminds me of the taste I used to get when [unclear reference].

These are the extra side dishes. The kimchi and gochujang-marinated peppers are all delicious. Don’t get too greedy and take too much, or it will be hard to mix. But even if you load it up with bean sprouts, it still mixes well. The vegetables are already seasoned, so only add a little bit of gochujang. My bibimbap is on the saltier side, but it’s incredibly delicious. It has that familiar flavor, with the sesame oil and the refreshing bean sprouts. Put the stir-fried pork on top, and it’s perfect. No need to say more. It’s a fantastic meal for just 7,000 won, and it’s all-you-can-eat! I even had a second bowl of bibimbap. Whenever you’re hungry in Dongmyo, come here! You can eat as much as you want.

They’ll even make a fried egg if you ask, and I doubt it will cost more than 1,000 won. The jeyuk bokkeum isn’t too salty, doesn’t have any off-putting smells, and it’s delicious. It’s not greasy or dry, and it goes perfectly with the bibimbap. It brings back old memories.

On the way home, I saw Songhae Kookbap (a Korean soup restaurant). An adult [name reference] recommended it to me a while ago. I’ll definitely visit it next time. I couldn’t eat any more today because I had two bowls of bibimbap. I ate well today. If you enjoyed the video and found it helpful, please subscribe, like, and turn on notifications!

Google Search Assessment (Dongmyo Restaurants)

A quick Google search for restaurants in Dongmyo reveals a mix of popular tourist spots and local favorites. The search results highlight Korean BBQ, traditional Korean cuisine, and street food stalls. User reviews often mention the affordability and authentic flavors of the food in this area. Many blogs and travel websites also recommend exploring Dongmyo for its unique dining experiences. Based on online information, Dongmyo appears to be a great destination for food lovers seeking budget-friendly and genuine Korean meals. Specific information about these exact restaurants might be limited in English, indicating they cater primarily to locals, reinforcing their “hidden gem” status.