Traveling in Korea with a little kid? Then you know the dinner struggle. So much Korean food is red, spicy, or both. When that happens, I go straight to gomtang: a rich, milky beef bone soup with zero spice.
Geodae Gomtang started in Busan. We first tried the original shop there with family, and later I found out there’s a branch in Seocho, just a short walk from Gangnam Station. I’ve lived in Gangnam for over 30 years, and this has become one of our regular spots. My wife, my 4-year-old son Leo, and I go about once a month, usually for an early weekend lunch around 11:30.
Here’s what to order, how to eat it, and why it works so well for families.
What is gomtang? (And how is it different from seolleongtang?)
Gomtang is Korean beef soup, simmered for hours from beef and bones. It’s mild, savory, and not spicy at all. The broth comes lightly seasoned, and you finish it off yourself at the table.
You’ll also see seolleongtang on menus. It’s a close cousin, traditionally made mostly from leg bones, which is what gives it that milky white broth. Classic gomtang leans more on meat and can be clearer. These days the line is pretty blurry, and Geodae Gomtang lets you pick: most soups come as a clear “beef consomme” or a white “milky soup,” same price.
What to order at Geodae Gomtang
Good news: the menu is in English, Japanese, and Chinese, so ordering is easy. Prices below are from the menu when we visited in September 2026.
| Dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Rich and Deep Beef Bone Soup (signature, milky only) | ₩24,000 (about $17) |
| Beef Bone Soup (gogi gomtang, with sliced beef) | ₩20,000 (about $14) |
| Beef Bone Soup with Noodles / Beef Tripe Soup / Mixed Beef Bone Soup | ₩21,000 each (about $15) |
| Knee Cartilage Beef Bone Soup (dogani) | ₩28,000 (about $20) |
| Boiled Beef Slices with Rice (suyuk, limited) | ₩34,000 (about $24) |
| Kids’ Beef Bone Soup (age 10 and under) | ₩11,000 (about $8) |
| Pan-fried dumplings (3 pieces) | ₩8,000 (about $6) |
Most soups also come in a “special” larger size for about ₩5,000 more.
Our go-to order is one Rich and Deep Beef Bone Soup, one Beef Bone Soup, and a plate of pan-fried dumplings, and we share the soups with Leo. He’s a great eater here, so sometimes we get him his own Kids’ Beef Bone Soup. First time? Our usual order is a safe bet.
How to eat gomtang
Your soup arrives with rice and a spread of small dishes: cabbage kimchi, kkakdugi (radish kimchi), chopped scallions, minced garlic, a spicy sauce, and myeongran (seasoned pollock roe). Here’s how locals eat it.
- Taste the broth first. It’s lightly seasoned on purpose.
- Add salt and pepper from the jars on the table, a little at a time.
- Stir in a spoonful of scallions.
- Eat the rice on the side, or dump it right into the soup. Both are totally normal.
- Top a spoonful of soup, rice, or beef with kimchi. There are kitchen scissors on the table for cutting big pieces.
- Want some heat? Dip the beef in the spicy sauce.
My favorite bite: fish a slice of beef out of the soup, put it on my spoon, and pile some kimchi on top. Simple, but so good.
Is Geodae Gomtang good for kids? A non-spicy Korean meal
Yes, and it’s one of the easiest non-spicy Korean meals you’ll find near Gangnam Station.
- Kids’ soup: Kids 10 and under can get their own Kids’ Beef Bone Soup for ₩11,000 (about $8).
- Nothing spicy: The broth has no chili at all. Just keep the kimchi and red sauce on your side of the table.
- Easy to share: We pour some of our broth into Leo’s bowl and ask the staff for scissors to cut the beef small. Truth is, the meat is tender enough that most kids can handle it without cutting.
- Kid tableware: The restaurant brought out a kid-size bowl, cup, spoon, and fork for Leo.
- High chairs: Just ask, and they’ll bring one.
- Strollers: Last time, staff asked us to park the stroller by the entrance.
Tips for visitors
- Finding it: It’s on B1 of an office building, about a 7–8 minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 5. Look for Geodae Gomtang on the B1 line of the building directory by the elevator.
- Ordering: Scan the QR code on your table with your phone camera and order right from your phone. With the English menu, you won’t need any Korean.
- Seasoning jars: The labels are only in Korean, so here’s your cheat sheet: 소금 = salt, 흑후추 = black pepper, 백후추 = white pepper, 다시마식초 = kelp vinegar.
- Waiting: Around peak lunch and dinner you might wait a bit, but the dining room is big and tables turn over fast. We usually go around 11:30 on weekends. You can also book ahead on the CatchTable app.
- Noodles: Noodle soups may not be available on weekday mornings.
- Price: Heads up: around ₩20,000 for a bowl of soup is on the pricey side for gomtang in Seoul. You’re paying for a really rich broth and a calm, modern dining room.
Quick info
- Name: Geodae Gomtang, Seocho branch (거대곰탕 서초점). Search the Korean name in Naver Map or KakaoMap.
- Address: B1, 157 Saimdang-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- Getting there: About 480 m (a 7–8 minute walk) from Gangnam Station Exit 5, on Line 2 and the Shinbundang Line
- Hours: Weekdays 10:00–22:00, weekends 7:00–22:00, last order 21:00. Holiday hours can change, so check Naver Map around Korean holidays like Chuseok.
- Parking: 1 hour free
- Price: ₩11,000–39,000 per dish
Prices and hours as of my last visit. They may change, so check before you go.
We end up back here every month or two, mostly because it’s such an easy meal with Leo. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t love spicy food, or just enjoy rich, clean, savory flavors, Geodae Gomtang is an easy yes.