A popular restaurant among busy Korean office workers

A popular restaurant among busy Korean office workers with long waiting lines, located near Gwanghwamun Station: Cheongjin-dong Jangteo Sundaeguk

3-3 Cheongjin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Of course, in Gwanghwamun, most restaurants experience waiting times during lunch peak hours. However, Cheongjin-dong Jangteo Sundaeguk stands out even among nearby establishments with its unique waiting lines. Is the taste… exceptional? However, according to those who have experienced it, the popularity of this place seems to lie in its ‘ordinariness’.

Sundae-guk for 10,000 won. It’s about average pricing compared to the usual price range of 9,000 ~ 12,000 won for sundaeguk. On the wall menu, there are also instructions on how to enjoy it deliciously. ‘Green onions, a suitable amount’. What exactly constitutes a ‘suitable amount’? All upto you!​

A vast array of condiments displayed on the table… green onions, perilla seeds, kimchi, shrimp paste, spicy seasoning, green chili peppers, minced garlic.”​

​​The distinctive feature of this place is… its cleanliness! Everything, including the condiments neatly arranged with a high turnover rate, seemed fresh. Even the chili peppers appeared freshly sliced. Originally, they used to serve cabbage kimchi as well, but now, there’s only kimchi made from radish. Ah… Isn’t it a bit excessive to charge 10,000 won for sundae-guk without even providing cabbage kimchi?”

​​ An appearance of ssamjang that looks like a cross between soybean paste and ssamjang, along with onions, emerges. You can just scoop some kimchi into the empty bowl.

A decent amount of perfectly portioned rice also arrived—not too much, not too little. Looking at it now, there’s a shine glistening on the rice.

Sundaeguk for 10,000 won. What? This is my first time trying a sundaeguk like this. Is this what they call Jangteo Sundae-guk (I’m not sure what that is)?

The visual is like if you dumped a bunch of toppings into beef soup. After taking a sip of the broth, it’s not overly salty, but it has a deep and rich flavor. Moreover, the distinct odor often found in sundae-guk isn’t overpowering here, which is intriguing. While other places might cover it with seasoning, it seems they don’t use that method here.

There’s head meat and sundae. It looks like there are about 3-4 pieces of sundae.”

But the meat… It’s incredibly tender and juicy. This is why they call it a famous restaurant!”

I tried adding the seasoning as instructed.

Indeed, sundae-guk is best enjoyed spicy!

Even with just one spoonful of gochujang, the color turns out like this. But my companions thought it wasn’t spicy enough, so we made it really red and ate it. Adding the seasoning definitely brings out the flavor. Is this the magic of minced garlic?

​The crunchy taste of the radish kimchi is also delightful, making it a perfect accompaniment to the sundae-guk. If only there wasn’t a wait, I’d want to come back again. I should strategize to visit during off-peak hours to avoid the wait