There are so many Seolleongtang in Seoul. It is like the fish and chips in England, the hamburger in America and Adobo in Philippines.
What Is Seolleongtang (설러탕 or 설통탕)
Seolleongtang is an ox bone soup with briskets and noodles.
It is a milky white color and even though it is light soup, it feels thick and rich due to boiling the ox bone for hours and hours and even for days.
Ox bone soup (Seolleongtang) can taste very bland, but it gives a feeling of hearty and warm.
It is a people’s food and usually it is cheap to eat.
Also because it is hearty and easy to drink the soup, people eat it in the morning when they are hungover or just cause it is what you want.
Because of Gwyneth Paltrow and some celebrities were talking about it ox bone soup has became a fad and expensive drink.
Now even in London, there is a shop called Bone and Broth where they sell if for an expensive price.
But if you go to Korea, it is still reasonably cheap, so you should definitely try it when you go.
But first let’s see how to eat it first.
How Do You Eat Seolleongtang
A lot of people think Seolleongtang is bland. And it is BLAND.
1. That is why you are given salt, chopped scallions and spicy paste. Because everybody’s taste bud is different, you add your own. I usually put a ton of scallion.
2. The rice can be added already or given separately. If the rice is not added, you can add yourself, or just dip the soup with rice.
3. kimchi and radish kimchi were given as a side dish. You put it on top of your rice and eat it
OK! now let’s find which is the Best Seolleongtang in Seoul.
Below is my list of the restaurants, and I can say that all of them are all good.
So you can choose the restaurant that is close to your accommodation.
Because there are so many ox bone restaurants in Seoul, and good ones as well, I decided to focus on the restaurants with long history and amazing Seolleongtang.
Imun Seolnongtang
Imun Seolnongtang is the oldest restaurant in Korea. Periodt.
It has been here in for more than 100 years. I also made it into a Youtube vlog and you can check it out.
I haven’t made a subtitle, but if you are really interested I will put the subtitle just for you (leave it below comment).
The restaurant itself moved to a different locations several times because of gentrification.
But you know how good is it to survive not only gentrification but also WW2, Korea under Japanese rule and Korean war.
Seolleongtang IS people’s food but because of it’s history and popularity, it is a bit more expensive.
The regular size Seolleongtang is 10,000 won and large is 13,000 won.
Unlike other Seolleongtang restaurants, they don’t use MSG, so many people say it is BLAND af.
But use salt and it will bring the whole taste to heaven.
Jaembaeok (잼배옥)
Jaembaeok is another very old restaurant.
They renovated the place, so it is clean and nice.
Most people prefer Jaembaeok then Imun Seollongtang because it is has a deeper taste (especially among younger generation).
- Jaembaeok Seolleongtang Price: 9,000 won
Okchunok (옥천옥)
If you Korean Goolge the best Seolleongtang in Seoul, Okchunok comes on top of the list.
I haven’t tried it but this restaurant has been in Seoul for 70 years and still a family business.
So it really feels like you are eating at home.
They pride themselves for using locally sourced meat. Also, they will provide unlimited noodles.
- Okchunok Seolleongtang Price: 8,000 won
Miseong-Og (미성옥)
Miseong-Og opened in 1966. This is a restaurant that is really popular among Japanese travellers (It is in Myeongdong).
There are always some restaurants that travellers love like Tosokchon and Pro Ganjang Gejang Seoul. Miseong-Og is that place.
They also pride themselves using hanwoo meat.
- Miseong-Og Seolleongtang Price: 10,000 won
Yeongdong Seolleongtang (영동 설렁탕)
This is the only Seolleongtang restaurant I recommend in Gangnam.
This restaurant has almost 2,000 reviews, and 4.0 stars.
The reason people love is the very strong taste of meat in Seolleongtang.
All the other restaurants are “what we have been calling it” bland, but Yeongdong was different.
If you are not used to hardcore Asian food, you will be kind of shook of the smell in the restaurant.
But I can guarantee you that it is most flavourful among all the Seolleongtang restaurants I mentioned.
It is said that there are people who never went to Yeongdong but not never once lol.
- Price: 11,000 won