Bukchon Village Kalguksu Restaurant ‘Hwangsaengga Kalguksu’

January 5, 2023 167 Views

In the area of Bukchon Village, also known as Samcheong-dong, located east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, one can easily find stylish and unique restaurants and cafes. Due to the abundance of traditional Korean houses (hanok) in this area, it exudes a distinctive charm that sets it apart from other neighborhoods.

“The Epitome of Kalguksu: Hwangsaengga Kalguksu”

Just across the street from the “National Folk Museum” adjacent to Gyeongbokgung Palace, you’ll find a restaurant called ‘Hwangsaengga Kalguksu.’ It is a restaurant composed of a standalone hanok building, complete with parking space.

This restaurant started as ‘Bukchon Kalguksu’ in December 2001 and changed its name to ‘Hwangsaengga Kalguksu’ in 2014. As the name suggests, the main highlight here is the kalguksu, and the clear, clean broth served with the noodles can be considered the epitome of this dish. It’s a place where very few would find fault with the taste.

“Kalguksu Utilizing Clean and Clear Broth”

Even though it’s all kalguksu, you can find slightly different characteristics in each store. The kalguksu at Hwangsaengga Kalguksu can be described as using clean and clear broth. After finishing a meal here, you’ll feel a sense of satisfaction from the clean flavors.

When you order kalguksu, both red and white kimchi are served. The combination of red kimchi with the kalguksu is perfectly harmonious.

This kalguksu restaurant seeks a clean taste different from ‘Myeongdong Gyoja,’ another famous kalguksu restaurant known for its rich meat broth and strong ginger-flavored kimchi. (Myeongdong Gyoja is known for its combination of rich meat broth and heavily ginger-flavored kimchi.)

“A 2-Story Venue with Parking”

There is a parking lot in the front yard of the building, making it easy to find a parking space if you come by car to dine.

The venue consists of two floors. The first floor is an open space with tables, while the second floor is comprised of rooms with traditional floor seating.

“Selected in the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand for 6 Consecutive Years”

Hwangsaengga Kalguksu has been selected in the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand for six consecutive years from 2017 to 2022. When you visit a restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide, you can expect at least one distinctive aspect that sets it apart from others. Likewise, you can experience unique qualities at this restaurant.

“Queueing System as the Only Drawback”

Overall, it’s a very satisfactory restaurant. However, one minor drawback is the queuing system, especially during busy lunch hours.

The way people line up and wait, pulling chairs into place like an old bus stop seat, is a somewhat dated approach.

It doesn’t use a ticketing system or the method of writing down names and party sizes in order of arrival. Instead, it relies on the analog method of waiting in line and moving forward.

Despite this, kalguksu is a dish with a high turnover rate, and the quality of the taste makes the wait not too burdensome.

“Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village Kalguksu Restaurant, Hwangsaengga Kalguksu”