The area around Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul is a representative office-dense area. It’s home to various public institutions, foreign embassies, large corporations, and small and medium-sized businesses, starting from the Seoul Government Complex.
Thanks to this, there are various places nearby to cater to the demand of office workers, making it a bustling area.
In the underground of the large buildings in the Gwanghwamun area, you can find underground shopping malls, densely packed with restaurants, cafes, and other convenience facilities. The Royal Building is no exception, where you can find a variety of restaurants in its underground area.
“Seoul Gwanghwamun Royal Building Restaurant, Cultural Handmade Sujebi”
Gwanghwamun Royal Building is close to Exit 1 of Gwanghwamun Station on Subway Line 5. When you come out of the subway station entrance and cross the street, you can enter the Royal Building.
In the underground shopping mall, you can find various restaurants, and Cultural Handmade Sujebi is one of them. Originally, Cultural Handmade used to be a restaurant that served knife-cut noodles, but they changed their menu to “sujebi” (hand-pulled dough soup).
“Menu at Cultural Handmade Sujebi”
The menu available at Cultural Handmade Sujebi is relatively modest. They offer sujebi, squid rice bowl, flat dumplings, and potato pancakes. Prices have increased by 1,000 won each due to recent rapid inflation, though they used to be more affordable.
- Handmade Sujebi: 8,000 won
- Squid Rice Bowl: 9,000 won
- Flat Dumplings: 5,000 won
- Potato Pancakes: 7,000 won
While prices have gone up by 1,000 won each, it can still be considered reasonable when considering the cost of living in the Gwanghwamun area.
“Handmade Sujebi: 8,000 won, Flat Dumplings: 5,000 won”
This time, I visited alone and ordered one serving of handmade sujebi and one serving of flat dumplings. Flat dumplings are a menu item you can find in Daegu, so it was interesting to find them here.
It was fascinating to be able to taste the combination of handmade sujebi and flat dumplings in Seoul. The broth for the sujebi gives off a scent that feels like it’s made from anchovies, making it a good place for a simple meal.
“A Restaurant with a Typical Atmosphere”
The interior atmosphere is that of a typical and unassuming restaurant. The space is not very large, with about five tables available, accommodating approximately 15-20 people for a meal at a time.
It’s a convenient place for a simple meal in the Gwanghwamun area, accessible in the underground of a large building. It might not be easy to have lunch during peak hours when many office workers gather, but it’s relatively quiet for dinner, making it a good place to dine alone.
“Seoul Gwanghwamun Restaurant, Cultural Handmade Sujebi”
- Address: B1F, 19 Saemunan-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Phone: 02-723-3424
- Operating Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Closed for break from 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM on weekdays), (Sat) 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM