Kimchi Jjigae is a staple in South Korea which we enjoy tremendously even in Singapore, so we made it a point to hunt down the best Kimchi Jjigae on our trip to Seoul.
We discovered a popular hole-in-the-wall eatery visited by locals called Gwanghwamun Jip, which is relatively near to Gyeongbokgung Palace. While the eatery lies in one of the most touristy spots in Seoul, it is tucked away from the main road and hidden from plain sight in a narrow alley.
Fans of Kimchi Jjiage have to make it a point to visit Gwanghwamun Jip!
Upon stepping into the eatery, it reminded us of a cosy Korean home with home cooked food—with the aromatic fragrance of Kimchi Jjigae in the air and the kitchen located just behind the seating area. If you are interested to see how they cook their fluffy omelettes, take a peek behind the counters.
The highlight of our lunch is their famous Kimchi Jjigae which was rich and flavourful. For only W7,000 per person, you get an extremely generous portion of soup and kimchi. It was hearty, with a mixture of tangy and savoury tones just the way a good pot of Kimchi Jjigae ought to be.
Have it with white rice and a variety of mixed ban chan which are given to you for free!
Another savoury side we enjoyed was the Stir Fried Spicy Pork (W10,000). While the lean meat did not impress us, we were full of praises for the fatty bits. Yes, it is sinful but that is what makes it taste so good!
For something lighter and not too filling, go for their rolled omelette (W5,000/ S$6.02) which we felt were decent. It may not be the best we tried, but it came with the right amount of fluffiness and was good for four to share.
Gwanghwamun Jip
43 Dangju-dong
Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tel: +82 2 739 7737
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Gwanghwamun