Gyeongdong Market 'Imokase' Andongjip Sonkalguksi, Honest Review After Conquering the Waiting Line! (ft. The Chef of Black and White Kim Mi-ryeong, Menu, Price, Parking Tips)
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Folks! Folks! 😲 Have you ever heard of 'Imokase'? It's a portmanteau of 'Imo (auntie) + Omakase'! (Haha, what a naming sense!) It refers to a heartwarming culture where instead of a fixed menu, the auntie 'generously and intuitively' prepares a bountiful meal for you each day.
The sanctuary that popularized the term 'Imokase'! Featured in Netflix's <The Chef of Black and White>, Sung Si-kyung's 'Meokten' YouTube channel, and even revealing its remodeled appearance recently on SBS <Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny>, it has become a true 'hotspot among hotspots'! 🔥
It's **'Andongjip Sonkalguksi'** located in **Gyeongdong Market**, Seoul! 🍜 Why has this place become such a 'craze'? I'll delve into everything, from waiting tips to menu, prices, and parking information, all in over 1500 characters! 🚀
If you were to pick the hottest market in Seoul these days, it would undoubtedly be 'Gyeongdong Market'! Along with the retro-themed Starbucks ('Gyeongdong 1960'), there's a major contributor that transformed this market into a 'sacred place for the MZ generation'. It's **'Andongjip Sonkalguksi'**, run by **Chef Kim Mi-ryeong (a.k.a. Auntie)**, who won first place with her moving story in Netflix's <The Chef of Black and White>! 🍲✨
After the broadcast, it became a nationally renowned restaurant, even coining the neologism 'Imokase'! Its popularity exploded further after being featured on Sung Si-kyung's 'Meok-eul Tende (I'll Eat)' YouTube channel. 🔥
"How delicious could it possibly be?" After much anticipation and determination... I finally conquered the notorious waiting line and experienced 'Imokase'! 😭
1. 'Andongjip Sonkalguksi', Where Exactly Is It? (Location & Parking Tips 🚗)
Finding Andongjip Sonkalguksi is the first hurdle! Since it's located inside the bustling Gyeongdong Market, it's important to figure out its location beforehand.
- Official Name: Andongjip Sonkalguksi
- Location: B1, 3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, in **Gyeongdong Market's Shin-gwan (New Building) Basement 1**. (It can be difficult to find, so look carefully for the sign.)
- Subway: A 5-minute walk from **Jegidong Station Exit 2 on Line 1**! (Strongly recommend public transportation!)
- Operating Hours: Opens between 9 AM and 10 AM, and closes between 5 PM and 6 PM. (May close earlier if ingredients run out, so it's good to check beforehand for late visits!)
- Regular Day Off: **Every Sunday** (※ Some sources mention 'the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month', so if visiting on a weekend, it's essential to call and confirm operating hours!)
🚨 [Parking Pro Tip!] 🚨
"Is it hell if I bring my car?" Yes, honestly, it's 'hell'... 😇 Gyeongdong Market itself is very complex with high foot traffic, leading to intense parking competition. There is a public parking lot in Gyeongdong Market, but due to the nature of the market, it's 99.9% likely to be full! Don't waste your time.
- Pro Tip: Instead, use the **'Yaknyeongsi Public Parking Lot'** (500 KRW for 10 minutes) located right next to Andongjip Sonkalguksi! It's much more pleasant than the Gyeongdong Market parking lot and convenient for accessing the Gyeongdong Market Youth Mall or Starbucks ('Gyeongdong 1960'). While public transportation is recommended, if you must use a car, keep the Yaknyeongsi Public Parking Lot in mind!
2. "This is 'Imokase'!" (Restaurant Atmosphere & Waiting)
When you go down to the basement 1st floor where Andongjip Sonkalguksi is located, if you see a long queue extending into the corridor, 99% of them are customers for 'Andongjip'. 🤣 It's a scene that truly shows its popularity.
- Waiting: There are no smart waiting systems like 'Tabling' or 'Catchtable'! You **must line up physically** on site. During weekday lunch hours, expect to wait at least 30 minutes to 1 hour, and on weekends, it's usually over an hour.
- Pro Tip (for solo diners!): Are you dining alone? The 'counter (bar) seating' tends to open up relatively faster than table seats! I also went alone during weekday lunch and got in within 5-10 minutes! (Table seats take longer for parties of 2 or more.) If you want to enjoy 'Imokase' quickly and efficiently alone, aim for the counter seats!
- Restaurant Atmosphere & 'Real' Imokase: Its remodeled appearance, costing 80 million won, was recently revealed on SBS <Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny>, drawing much attention. Shedding its old, humble image, it now boasts a sophisticated interior with a 'counter' area that some described as being "like a wine bar in Cheongdam-dong", and a 'table' area (annex) further inside for larger groups. If you sit at the counter, you can 'directly observe' Chef Kim Mi-ryeong, the star of <The Chef of Black and White>, along with her husband and son, tirelessly cooking noodles, frying jeon, and slicing sujukk! 🤩 You can directly feel Auntie's brilliant skills and the lively market atmosphere, enjoying it like a performance. (Auntie's culinary skills... truly amazing!)
3. Menu & Prices: "Imokase with a Menu?" 📋 (As of 2025)
You might be slightly puzzled to find a menu, despite it being called 'Imokase' (meaning Auntie's choice)! 😅 Actually, 'Imokase' is a nickname reflecting Chef Kim Mi-ryeong's heartwarming service, generous hospitality, and lively atmosphere; you still need to order from the menu below!
- Sonkalguksi (Hand-pulled Noodle Soup): **10,000 KRW** (Andongjip's representative and core dish!)
- Geonjinkuksi: 10,000 KRW
- Bibimbap: 10,000 KRW (This is surprisingly a hidden gem! Try it if you prefer something other than noodles! 👍)
- Sujukk (Boiled Pork Slices): **12,000 KRW** (Incredible value for money! 🤯 You can enjoy generous sujukk for just 12,000 won!)
- Baechujeon (Napa Cabbage Pancake) / Buchujeon (Chive Pancake): **10,000 KRW** (Auntie cooks them freshly on the spot! Definitely order one!)
- Drinks: Soju, Beer, Makgeolli (4,000 KRW ~ 5,000 KRW each, reasonable considering market prices.)
(※ Note: Prices have increased recently due to inflation! Don't come expecting 8,000 KRW if you read reviews from 1-2 years ago! Always check for the latest information!) All dishes are prepared with great care, offering high satisfaction.
4. "Finally Tried It!" Honest Taste Review (Sonkalguksi & Baechujeon) 😋
After a long wait, I finally got seated and placed my order. Although I was dining alone, I thought, "When will I ever come here again?" and ordered Andongjip's signature dish, **Sonkalguksi (10,000 KRW)**, and the most popular side dish, **Baechujeon (10,000 KRW)**! (Regrettably, the sujukk portion was too large for one person, so I'll save it for next time... 😭)
- 1) Basic Side Dishes (These are also 'dishes'!)
As soon as you sit down, a bowl of **jobap** (millet rice) and accompanying side dishes are set: **sweet, sour, and crispy kimchi, fresh ssam-baechu (napa cabbage for wraps) with doenjang (fermented soybean paste), savory soy sauce seasoning, and minced garlic and Cheongyang chili peppers** to add to your liking! This **kimchi** in particular is a real marvel! Its refreshing and crispy taste is so good... you could easily finish a bowl of rice with just the kimchi! 🤤 The jobap is delicious when paired with the mild noodle soup or eaten in a baechu ssam with doenjang. - 2) Baechujeon (Napa Cabbage Pancake) (10,000 KRW) 🥬
The privilege of counter seating! Auntie was constantly frying pancakes right in front of me... The savory smell was so tempting, I couldn't help but order it. 🤣 The golden-brown visual alone made my mouth water.
- Visual: Large napa cabbage leaves are fried whole and then cut into bite-sized pieces. The perfectly browned appearance already heightens anticipation.
- Taste: Wow... this is truly something! **Crispy on the outside, moist and soft on the inside!** The outer batter is crispy, but the inner cabbage leaves are softened, making them **sweet and crunchy**! How can a baechujeon of this quality cost only 10,000 won? 😭 Dipping it in the soy sauce seasoning instantly made me crave makgeolli (rice wine)! (Highly recommended to order with your Sonkalguksi!)
- 3) Sonkalguksi (Hand-pulled Noodle Soup) (10,000 KRW) 🍜
Andongjip's signature dish! Sonkalguksi. The milky broth was filled with noodles and abundant eolgari-baechu (early napa cabbage).
- Noodle Characteristics: The noodles are truly unique! They are **Andong-style hand-pulled noodles**, made from dough mixed with **wheat flour + bean powder** and thinly sliced by hand. Unlike regular wheat flour kalguksu, they aren't chewy or springy, but have a soft and savory charm, almost breaking off easily.
- Broth: Based on anchovies, with vegetables like eolgari-baechu, it boasts an **incredibly clear and mild** flavor.
- Taste (First Bite): "Huh? What is this taste...?" 😲 you might think. Like its nickname, 'Pyeongyang Naengmyeon of noodles', it is truly **mild~**. Some might even find it bland, especially if accustomed to strong flavors.
- Taste (Transformation!): This is where the real charm begins!
- First, fully savor the mild and clean taste of the broth as it is.
- Then, add an appropriate amount of the **minced garlic, Cheongyang chili peppers, and soy sauce seasoning** from the table, according to your preference.
- **Wow... 😲** The once mild broth suddenly transforms into a spicy and deeply savory flavor! The power of the minced garlic, in particular, was amazing. If you like spicy food, add plenty of Cheongyang chili peppers.
- Overall: While it might initially feel bland, the harmonious combination of the clear, flavorful broth made from natural ingredients, the savory noodles, and the crispy kimchi is an 'adult taste' that makes you crave more with every bite! It might not appeal to those who prefer strong, stimulating flavors, but I highly recommend it to those who appreciate healthy and deep flavors! 👍
Gyeongdong Market 'Andongjip Sonkalguksi'! It certainly lived up to its nickname 'Imokase'. (Of course, Auntie was too busy to serve "whatever she felt like" to each customer, lol! Which just shows how popular it is!)
Despite a slight price increase, the sincere home-cooked taste, generous hospitality, the vibrant atmosphere unique to a market, and the experience of directly meeting Chef Kim Mi-ryeong from Netflix's <The Chef of Black and White>! All of this made the visit entirely worthwhile! 😊
If you're curious about Chef Kim Mi-ryeong's heartwarming culinary touch from <The Chef of Black and White>, why not pay a visit to Gyeongdong Market this weekend for a bowl of that 'jeong' (affection)? (Next time, I definitely want to try the sujukk with makgeolli combination... 😭)
Have you ever been to an 'Imokase' noodle restaurant? 🤔 What was your favorite dish at Andongjip? Share your honest reviews in the comments below! 👇
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