[Non-halal] Okdongsik 옥동식 is a small eatery located in Seongyo-dong, Seoul.
This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant specialises in dwaeji-gukbap 돼지국밥 – a hearty dish of pork and rice in clear soup.
Okdongsik in Seoul
Okdongsik only has one main dish item on the menu, and with good reason.
The restaurant has been listed in the Michelin Guide since 2018 – and the focus on dwaeji-gukbap means that the dish is likely going to be stellar.
Aside from dwaeji-gukbap, Okdongsik serves kimchi dumplings as the sole side dish. There is also the complimentary bowl of kimchi and gochuji (pepper paste) condiment to go with the dish.
Okdongsik – a small eatery
We arrived 15 minutes after its 11 am opening time on a Saturday morning.
While the restaurant is small and only sits 10 patrons at any one time – the waiting time wasn’t too bad as the turnover is pretty quick.
We were seated after a 15-minute wait and got down to eating in the next 5 minutes or so.
Kimchi dumplings
The Kimchi Dumplings (KRW5,000 for 4 pieces) here were immaculately prepared. The skin was delicate but strong enough to contain the flavourful filling filled with kimchi, tofu bits, and other veggies.
It made for a good accompaniment to the main dishes.
A hearty bowl of Dwaeji-Gukbap
Now onto the main dish!
With its clear broth, this bowl of Dwaeji-Gukbap (KRW10,000 for small) really surprised us!
Max thought the broth was exceptional as the chef was able to extract the sweetness of the pork , without any of the impurities or heavy “porky taste”. In other words, it was sweet and clean tasting.
The pork slices were fresh and tender as well. The accompanying gochuji provided a hit of spicy umami to the pork slices when needed.
Summary
While Ming wasn’t as impressed, Max really enjoyed this bowl of rice in soup. Recommended if you’re in the area and looking for a clean and refreshing bowl of soup. It’s especially best enjoyed on a chilly day!
Check out the video below:
Okdongsik 옥동식
Address: 44-10 Yanghwa-ro 7-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 11am-3pm, 5pm-10om (Mon-Fri)
11am-8.30pm (Sat & Sun)
Phone: +82 2-6012-9915
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