Gwanghwamun Mukeunji Gukbap “Omogari Gukbap”

August 23, 2023 296 Views

The area around Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul is a representative office-dense region. From the Seoul Government Complex to various embassies, major corporations, and small to medium-sized businesses, you naturally find numerous office workers in this area.

Thanks to this, it’s always bustling with office workers, and you can find various places nearby to cater to their needs.

In the Gwanghwamun area, you can find an underground shopping arcade in each large building, where you’ll find a dense concentration of restaurants, cafes, and other amenities. Among them, in the underground of Doryeom Building, you’ll find several small but competitive stores.

“Gwanghwamun Restaurant: Omogari Gukbap”

Omogari Gukbap is another restaurant you can find in the underground of Doryeom Building. As the name suggests, it specializes in “Gukbap,” a Korean dish consisting of rice in a soup. You can find various types of Gukbap on the menu. The price range for a bowl of Gukbap is about 7,000-8,000 KRW. Considering the recent sharp rise in prices and the cost of living in the Gwanghwamun area, this can be considered a reasonable price range.

Here are some of the main menu items and their prices:

Mukeunji Kimchi Jjim (Kimchi Stew with Aged Kimchi): 9,000 KRW
Mukeunji Kongnamul Gukbap (Soybean Sprout Gukbap with Aged Kimchi): 7,000 KRW
Mukeunji Sundubu Gukbap (Soft Tofu Stew with Aged Kimchi): 7,000 KRW
Mukeunji Gul Gukbap (Oyster Stew with Aged Kimchi): 8,000 KRW
Sandeomi Pabulgogi (Stir-fried Pork with Vegetables): 8,000 KRW
Kkakdugi Nalchi Albap (Diced Radish Kimchi with Flying Fish Roe Rice): 7,000 KRW
Jaengban Bibim Makguksu (Mixed Cold Noodles): 8,000 KRW
Dakgaseumsal Jaengban Bibim Makguksu (Chicken Breast Mixed Cold Noodles): 10,000 KRW
Mukeunji Wang Gyeranmari (Aged Kimchi Rolled Omelette): 10,000 KRW
Kimchijeon (Kimchi Pancake): 10,000 KRW

“Gul Gukbap: 8,000 KRW”

On this day, when I visited alone for a meal, I debated what to order and ended up choosing the Gul Gukbap. This particular Gul Gukbap, with aged kimchi, differs somewhat from the commonly seen Oyster Stew with Aged Kimchi. The presence of aged kimchi adds an extra refreshing touch.

Personally, I tend to prefer Gul Gukbap without the addition of aged kimchi for a more straightforward taste, but trying Gul Gukbap with aged kimchi as a special dish was quite enjoyable.

Once you place your order, basic side dishes are provided. These include fish cake stir-fry, cucumber, onion pickles, diced radish kimchi, and sesame leaves. They generally lean towards being slightly sweet and salty, so you might find that one bowl of rice isn’t quite enough. In particular, sesame leaves are known to be a rice thief, so having just rice and sesame leaves can easily solve a meal…

“Interior with a Typical Restaurant Atmosphere”

The interior exudes the typical atmosphere of a restaurant you commonly encounter. There are tables set up in the hall, with around 8-10 tables in total, creating an atmosphere that can accommodate around 20-30 people at once.

As a cost-effective restaurant you can find in the Doryeom Building underground shopping arcade, it’s a great place to have a simple meal with Gukbap.

“Seoul Gwanghwamun: Omogari Gukbap”