Malbang Gukbap Seongsu Main
말방국밥 성수본점 · Soups & Stews
ABOUT
Malbang Gukbap is a Korean beef soup restaurant in Seongsu, serving a Gyeongsang-style beef gukbap made with plenty of Korean beef. The restaurant says its broth is made by simmering beef for more than 48 hours, and the soup is served with beef, radish, and vegetables. The menu goes beyond ordinary gukbap, with yukhoe bibimbap, mungtigi, beef sashimi, beef tendon, and other Korean beef dishes available alongside the main soup. The restaurant has a more traditional neighborhood character than many of Seongsu's newer cafés and restaurants. It is located on Gwangnaru-ro 8-gil, about a 10–15 minute walk from Seongsu Station, and has a larger dining room than its exterior might suggest. For travelers, the regular Korean beef gukbap is the easiest introduction to the restaurant, while the special version gives you more beef without requiring a large shared order.
WHAT LOCALS SAY
30, although the relatively large dining room meant the wait was not especially long. The restaurant's side dishes also receive repeated positive comments. Baek-kimchi and radish kimchi are commonly mentioned, with one visitor specifically saying the kimchi was good enough to want refills. Some diners prefer to eat the soup as served, while others add garlic or Cheongyang chili to make the broth hotter and more aromatic. The balance appears to be fairly clean rather than an extremely spicy or intensely seasoned version of Gyeongsang-style gukbap. Malbang Gukbap is not limited to soup. Reviews mention ordering yukhoe, yukhoe bibimbap, beef mulhoe, mungtigi, and other beef dishes alongside the gukbap. The lunch-only yukhoe or beef sashimi special is particularly useful for visitors who want to try a small amount of raw Korean beef without ordering a full plate, while mungtigi is offered in a much larger shared portion and has limited ordering hours.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
PRACTICAL INFO
Know before
you go.
11AM–11PM
3PM–5PM
OPEN DAILY
₩11,000–₩17,000 / serving
For a first visit, order the Korean Beef Gukbap. The regular bowl is ₩11,000 and already comes with a generous amount of beef. If you want more meat, the special version is ₩14,000. Try the broth first before adding garlic or chili, as these can change the flavor quite noticeably. The white kimchi and radish kimchi served with the meal are also worth trying between spoonfuls of soup. If you are interested in Korean beef beyond soup, the lunch special of yukhoe or beef sashimi is an easy option at ₩11,000. Mungtigi and other raw beef dishes are more suitable for sharing. The restaurant can get busy around lunch, and it is about a 10–15 minute walk from Seongsu Station, so allow some extra time if you have a tight schedule. Parking is limited, with recent information indicating only a small number of spaces in front of the restaurant.
서울 성동구 광나루로8길 9 1층9 Gwangnaru-ro 8-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
+82-2-499-4992
FIND YOUR WAY
TRAVELER REVIEWS