Where To Eat In Myeongdong: 90 Years Of History At Hadongkwan

While the majority of visitors to the hopping shopping district of Myeongdong are there looking for the newest shiniest thing from apparel to cosmetics, there is more to Myeongdong than meets the eye. Walk down the alleys in the area and you’ll find the newest of shopping vendors and stores, but you’ll also find some old gritty spots that have lasted the test of time.

Looking for something to eat in Myeongdong? You should definitely find the tried and tested Hadongkwan (하동관). This Korean soup restaurant is delicious… you’ll see. 

How you know a restaurant is good? It’s old and only has a few things on the menu:

• How To Get There
• Basic Info
• The History
• What To Eat

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. Thank you for your support.)

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How To Get There

Address: 10-4 Myeongdong 1-ga Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 중구 명동9길 12 (명동1가))

Directions: Go out of Euljiro 1-ga Subway Station, exit 5 and walk straight. Turn right on the second street and Hadongkwan will be on your left.

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Basic Info

Hours: 7:00am ~ 4:00pm

Days: Closed Sundays

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The History

Hadongkwan is a restaurant in Seoul, Korea with more than 90 years of history having opened up in the 1930s. It’s smack dab in the middle of all of those new gadgets and fast fashion shops in Myeongdong. While the original shop which sat along the Cheonggyecheon Stream was demolished during the redevelopment of the area many years ago, the owner kept the original wooden tables and the front door which can still be seen welcoming customers in today.

Not nearly as flashy as some of the shops in Myeongdong, it’s easy to miss… but don’t.

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What To Eat

Hadongkwan is so good at what they do, they only serve two dishes, gomtang (곰탕), beef bone soup, and suyuk(수육), boiled beef soup. Gomtang is a traditional Korean soup that is made by boiling beef and radish for a number of hours. The soup is said to help replenish you if you’re feeling mentally or physically exhausted. But, you can also just eat it any old time because it’ll surely hit the spot.

Pro Tip: One way to know that a restaurant is on point and good at what they do in Korea; they only offer one or two dishes on the menu. While this may put people off who love to have options, this is the best way to know that you’re getting something good when it comes time to eat in Korea.

When it arrives at the table, the soup is simply presented in a brass dish with a slightly cloudy broth, strips of beef and rice. On the table are salt and green onions to top off the soup with if you feel so inclined. With no artificial flavors or additives, this is one of the healthiest dishes you’ll find in the area that can go a bit over the top with some of the other offerings.

(There’s a coffee shop that serves up drinks with cotton candy clouds in the area. Might sound over the top but it is definitely super cool.) There are two kimchi dishes to go along with the soup: kkakdugi, radish kimchi, and kimchi, spicy fermented cabbage.

Hadongkwan only uses Korean beef and has been using the same beef provider for over 60 years. They found quality and stuck with it. Another point that they are proud to make is that they never re-heat their soups. Once the soup for the day is gone, it’s gone and they shut the doors. They sell out most days anyway so you wouldn’t even have the option to get a reheated version because there’s none to reheat.

They used to have longer hours but often sold out by 4:00pm so I noticed they’ve just changed their hours and close at 4:00pm now every day. Suffice to say you want to get there early to make sure you get your own delicious bowl of gomtang. 

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This is a spot that locals know about and most tourists will pass right by without a glance. If you do, you’re making a big mistake though. Eat like the locals and you will be pleased. If you’re a tourist, for many a stop in Myeongdong is also usually followed up by a trip up the Namsan Mountain to visit N Seoul Tower/Namsan Tower. Do know that it is quite close and easily added to an itinerary while you’re here. It’s a must visit… and remember to take a padlock!

Looking for something to do before or after you eat? Check out some of these fun things:

• Nanta Show Seoul: Nanta is Korea’s longest running theater show and showcases a talented troupe that performs both traditional folk pieces and modern numbers all based around an outrageous kitchen. Expect to laugh, be awed, and just have a ton of fun. Buy your tickets here online to get a discount.
• Myeongdong Shooting Range:Looking to practice your aim? Many people probably don’t know, but there is a shooting range in Myeongdong. You can receive coaching from professionals on the Korean national shooting team and test your firearm skills. Book your experience here.
• Perfume Making Experience: Create your own unique scent at G.N. Perfume Studio. There are over 150 perfume bases and 20 natural flavors to choose from and you will definitely come up with the right one for you. Book your experience here as the times may fill up.

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