The Gwanghwamun area is one of Seoul’s representative office districts, making it natural to find a variety of restaurants nearby. From simple eateries where you can grab a quick meal to places where you can enjoy delicious meat in a rather sophisticated atmosphere, there’s a wide range of options.
“Upscale Hanwoo Beef Restaurant, Samjeong Hanu”
“Samjeong Hanu” is also a restaurant you can find in the Gwanghwamun area that specializes in serving meat. It has even been featured on the TV show “Suhyo Misikhoi.”
Typically, when you think of a meat restaurant, you might imagine a noisy place filled with the smell of grilling meat. However, Samjeong Hanu is quite the opposite.
The atmosphere at Samjeong Hanu is rather upscale. As they specialize in Hanwoo beef, the prices are relatively high. The meat is personally selected by Han Duk-woo, a Hanwoo specialist auctioneer, and prepared by the aging specialist “Sir.Loin.”
The taste of the meat is good, and the atmosphere is pleasant, but it’s on the pricier side.
“Signature Menu at Samjeong Hanu”
For their signature menu items like Satoburyang and Flower Sirloin, the prices are based on a 150g serving, with Satoburyang priced at KRW 58,000 and Sirloin at KRW 48,000. There are other cuts available as well, listed below:
- Anchangsal (Inside Skirt) 200g: KRW 92,000
- Sirloin 200g: KRW 68,000
- Special Seasoned Sirloin 200g: KRW 66,000
- Salchisal (Sirloin Cap) 200g: KRW 77,000
- Tosisal (Top Sirloin) 200g: KRW 77,000
“Lunch Menu at Samjeong Hanu”
Samjeong Hanu also offers lunch menus for office workers. During lunch hours, you can enjoy dishes like Galbitang (beef rib soup), Yanggoptang (lamb soup), Yukhoe Bibimbap (raw beef bibimbap), and Doenjang Jjigae (soybean paste stew). Prices range from approximately KRW 9,000 to KRW 14,000, with the following menu options:
- Galbitang: KRW 14,000
- Yanggoptang: KRW 10,000
- Yukhoe Bibimbap: KRW 10,000
- Hanwoo Doenjang Jjigae: KRW 9,000
- Ttukbaegi Bulgogi (Bulgogi in Stone Pot): KRW 9,000
- Kongbiji Jjigae (Soybean Stew): KRW 9,000
- Mul Naengmyeon (Cold Noodles in Broth), Bibim Naengmyeon (Spicy Cold Noodles): KRW 8,000
“Galbitang: KRW 14,000”
This time, I ordered Galbitang, which is priced at KRW 14,000 for one serving. Until last year, it used to be KRW 13,000, but due to the recent rapid inflation, the price has gone up a bit more. I thought there would be a generous amount of meat in Galbitang, but unfortunately, there were only three pieces. When I visited before, I had the Doenjang Jjigae, which was decent, but this time, I felt a bit disappointed with the portion considering the price.
Surprisingly, the side dish I ordered, Myeongran Gyeranjjim (spicy pollack roe and steamed egg), was more plentiful. For reference, Myeongran Gyeranjjim is priced at KRW 5,000. Despite feeling a bit let down by the main menu item, Galbitang, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors of the side dishes provided, including kimchi, stir-fried anchovies, pickled peppers, and spinach.
Despite these minor disappointments, overall, it’s a nice place with a good atmosphere. While it’s on the pricier side, it could be a suitable place for a date or a family gathering.
“Gwanghwamun Samjeong Hanu”
- Address: 11 Sajik-ro 8-gil, 1st and 2nd Floors, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea 03169
- Phone: 02-722-8500
- Operating Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Break Time: 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
- Instagram: Link to Instagram