One of the dish top on my list during my visit to Seoul was Korean traditional soups and stews, while I did not have a go-to restaurant, I figured I would be able to just chance upon any good store while walking around. Chance be it that I really did find a restaurant while walking around the Ihwa Mural Village
The location is on the black and white marker I included on the map. As google Maps is not updated, you cannot see the restaurant. Link to the map here
I was attracted to the restaurant facade as it was filled with traditional kimchi and sauces fermentation jars and pots. I was unsure what the restaurant was selling until I google translated the menu
The restaurant was tiny but cosy with only 4 tables available for dine-in customers. I am not sure if the restaurant did any delivery but there was only 1 Ahjumma owner in the shop taking orders, clearing tables and cooking food. During meal times, the shop is greatly understaffed and I am not sure if there are staff on normal days but the day we visited, only the owner was working
There were loads of fermented sauces and ingredients piled within the restaurant as well as on the rooftop outside so most of the items used in the food are homemade. We waited close to 15 mins for a table as the owner did not have time to clear the tables
There was a small corner of the restaurant where you can help yourselves to the side dishes provided by the owner. There is also a drinks dispenser where you can get plain water or tea. As we were not familiar with the restaurant, the owner actually served us the dishes and drinks while we noticed many regulars actually help themself as the owner is too busy. There was a very nice table of ladies who offered to top up our side dishes and spoke to us in English in case we did not know we could top up the side dishes
There was no English menu and the owner spoke no English at all, so we dependable on my limited Korean capability and google translate to order our meals. We ordered 2 clam soybean paste stews ( doenjang jjigae) 1 pork kimchi stew ( kimchi jjigae) as well as 1 special soybean stew ( cheonggukjang jjigae). The difference between the 2 soybean pastes; Cheonggukjang is fermented for two days on average, unlike doenjang, which is fermented for a much longer period
Generally, the stews and soup are all fantastic and the flavours are very deep and wholesome. The taste is clean and simple and it definitely tastes homemade without the commercial seasoning flavours. The bean stew has a hearty earthy base with a light and refreshing taste from the clams and seafood while the kimchi stew has the umami meaty flavours from the pork ribs paired with the sour and spicy flavours from the ripe kimchi. Everything was perfectly paired with the brown rice given with the soup and really warmed my stomach that to this day, I still really missed the soups. The Cheonggukjang in my opinion is not as nice as the normal doenjang jjigae. From watching other diners, I realised they also served barbeque pork sets and spicy tofu soups for lunch which looks really good as well
I will definitely recommend trying this gem-in-a-hole restaurant serving homely stews if you are around the Iwha Mural Village area. Not forgetting, the side dishes were very delectable as well and nothing like those you find in outside restaurants
Address: Refer to the map above and the google maps link
Bear Travels . Bear Eats . Bear Cooks 