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Read guide →Dongdaemun-gu is a 24-hour neighbourhood defined by its massive fashion markets, which draw wholesale buyers and night shoppers around the clock. The food scene is fast, cheap, and designed for people who eat at unconventional hours — naengmyeon restaurants that open at midnight, pojangmacha that come alive at 3am, and kalguksu shops that have served the same recipe for fifty years.
There are four levels of spiciness, and I ordered medium, which is recommended for Shin Ramyun. To cut to the chase, it was perfect. I asked my friend, who usually enjoys yeopddeok, if she should have ordered it spicy, and she said medium was just right. The seasoning was just right, similar to Jikoba or charcoal-grilled chicken seasoning, but even more delicious. The savory, savory sauce that clung to my mouth was incredibly addictive. The ribs were quite large, so I was worried they might be dry, but they were tender and juicy. Place the rib meat and savory rice balls on a spoon, then dip them in the spicy sauce underneath. It was delicious! :) I visited on Sunday's opening and had a quick meal without waiting. I'll definitely be back again ❤️
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I visited after seeing a post on Instagram. I went around 7pm on a Sunday, and there was a line of eight groups. Everyone was waiting in a tent outside. The waiting slips were all in Hangul, so it seemed there were no Japanese people there. It was cold, so I had tea at the cafe next door and went back to check on the line after about 20 minutes. My name was crossed out and I'd forgotten my turn. Apparently, if you're not there when your number is called, you'll be skipped. I wrote my name again and waited in the tent. I was called in less than 10 minutes. The bone-in kalbi arrived shortly after I sat down and ordered. They wore gloves and explained how to bite into them. The bone-in kalbi was much spicier than it looked. It was just right to eat with the jumok babu. The meat wasn't as fall apart as I expected, but had a firm texture. I did notice a slight odor to the meat, which bothered me. There were still people waiting in the tent when I left, so it seems to be a very popular restaurant with locals.
The taste wasn't as good as I'd imagined, but it was average. It's perfect for a hot summer day without a fire, and it's also great value. I asked for more sauce because it wasn't enough, but they said it wasn't tasty. I should have requested more when I ordered. Anyway, even though I got there before 5 o'clock, there were still a lot of people.
