The Gwanghwamun area in Seoul can be considered one of the city’s representative office-dense districts. Thanks to this, you can find restaurants and cafes throughout the Gwanghwamun area to cater to the demand of office workers.
Particularly, in the underground shopping areas of large buildings like the Dolleombuilding, Royal Building, and the Officia Building, you can find clusters of restaurants.
Heading towards the Seoul Museum of History to the west of Gwanghwamun Plaza, you will come across a building housing “Naeil Sinmun.” While you may not find as many restaurants in the underground shopping area here as in other large buildings, on the 1st floor, you can discover the quite atmospheric cafe “Cafe Gather,” and if you go down one more level, you’ll find a restaurant called “Haebim.”
“Seoul Gwanghwamun Seaweed Bibimbap: Haebim”
In the underground shopping area of Naeil Sinmun, you can only find about two restaurants. Therefore, if you visit during lunchtime, you might find it relatively less crowded compared to the underground shopping areas of other large buildings.
“Haebim” is a restaurant that specializes in “seaweed bibimbap.” The menu is relatively simple, with separate offerings for lunch and dinner.
Lunch Menu:
- Seafood Doenjang Jjigae: KRW 10,000
- Seafood Sundubu Jjigae: KRW 10,000
- Pork Kimchi Jjigae: KRW 9,000
- Breakfast Senjin-gang Jjage: KRW 8,000
- Grilled Mackerel Set: KRW 16,000
- Barley Gulgobi Set: KRW 24,000
- Spicy Pork Bulgogi: KRW 8,000
- Hearty Pork Bulgogi: KRW 8,000
Dinner Menu:
- Stir-fried Octopus (Small): KRW 30,000
- Stir-fried Octopus (Medium): KRW 45,000
- Stir-fried Octopus (Large): KRW 55,000
- Spicy Galbi-jjim (Small): KRW 30,000
- Spicy Galbi-jjim (Medium): KRW 40,000
- Pork Belly Ssam-bap Set: KRW 15,000
- Pork Bulgogi Ssam-bap Set: KRW 15,000
- Seasonal Fish Jjigae: KRW 30,000
- Assorted Fish Cake Soup: KRW 18,000
Based on the lunch menu, it is possible to have a meal for around KRW 10,000, making it a reasonable price considering the recent sharp rise in prices and the fact that it is a restaurant located in the Gwanghwamun area.
On this day, we ordered seafood doenjang jjigae and pork bulgogi. The prices were KRW 10,000 for the doenjang jjigae and KRW 8,000 for the pork bulgogi. The food was generally well-prepared, allowing for a comfortable dining experience. While the overall atmosphere was elegant, one slight downside was that the portions were a bit small.
If you need a more substantial meal, it may be necessary to add extra rice.
“Overall, a Cozy and Quiet Atmosphere”
The overall atmosphere at Haebim is quiet and cozy. Particularly on this day, perhaps due to briefly closing and reopening, there weren’t many customers, creating an even quieter ambiance. The interior is also quite neat, presenting a cleaner and more atmospheric setting compared to the average restaurant.
It’s a good place to utilize for family meals or for entertaining without feeling pressured. Along with Cafe Gather on the 1st floor, it emits a similar atmosphere.
“Seoul Gwanghwamun Seaweed Bibimbap: Haebim Gwanghwamun Branch”
- Address: 1st Floor, Naeil Sinmun Bldg., 3 Saemunan-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Phone: 02-3210-4410