Gangseo-gu in western Seoul is a rapidly developing residential and commercial district near Gimpo Airport. The area has a growing food scene with a mix of established Korean restaurant clusters and newer commercial developments bringing café chains and international options to the expanding population.
Chunli Malatang Gangseo Gayang Branch is a clean and atmospheric mala tang specialty restaurant located just a 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Gayang Station. It is comfortable for solo dining and perfect for small gatherings of 2 to 4 people. The restaurant is bright and clean, and I was very satisfied with the self-service system where you select your own ingredients to customize your order. The mala tang broth has a numbing yet deep flavor, and the guobaorou is crispy, sweet, and sour, making for a perfect pairing. The staff must have been incredibly busy, but they were very friendly, and the food came out quickly (the mala tang arrived in less than 5 minutes), making it a great place to visit during lunchtime. If you are looking for authentic mala tang near Gayang Station, I highly recommend Chunli Malatang Gangseo Gayang Branch!
Having recently opened, the dishes and utensils are clean and conveniently located at the self-service bar. The beef and lamb are all measured by weight, which is nice, as there are no additional prices for 100g of meat or 1,500 won for three meatballs. The ingredients are clearly labeled with their origins and ingredients, which is a nice touch. There's also a self-checkout kiosk with a scale, which allows you to pack according to your budget. It's also relatively inexpensive compared to other places in the area, so I think I'll be visiting often.
Korean blogger posts. Links open original posts on Naver.
