The distinct warmth of clear gomtang, refreshing seafood ttukbaegi, and mushroom-broth shabu-shabu
On rainy days or days when the wind feels cold, warm broth comes to mind first. That does not mean I always search for the same spicy, fiery food every time, though. Some days I want to have rice in a clear, light broth, while other days I want to ladle out seafood, or slowly simmer meat and vegetables.
I chose three spots around Gangnam Station where the flavor of the broth and the food paired with it were each distinct. Rather than focusing just on the situation of a rainy day, matching your pick to the exact broth flavor you crave today will make your meal all the more satisfying.
Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch
A single bowl where the aroma of water dropwort and tender meat harmonize in clear broth
With the fragrance of water dropwort added to the clear broth, it was refreshing
Unlike milky gomtang, the broth is quite clear, yet its deep flavor was wonderful. Generous portions of water dropwort gave it a lovely fragrance, and the meat was tender too. Even when craving warm broth, I have days when heavy seasonings feel burdensome, so such a clear, refreshing bowl suited me perfectly.
Even when rain poured down while I was eating water dropwort gomtang on my way home from work, its clean flavor was delightful. Rather than hunting for a special menu item tailored to the weather, it was simply the pleasure of enjoying a bowl of broth I regularly love. What brings Geumnyeong Gomtang to mind on rainy days is the flavor of that broth and the water dropwort.
The fun of enjoying broth-infused rice and sliced rice cakes
The rice had absorbed the broth, and finding and eating the sliced rice cakes inside the gomtang was also fun. The portions of meat and rice felt generous as well. Rather than just finishing the soup, I feel like I have had a truly hearty meal when the solid ingredients and the rice are both delicious.
The combination of having rice noodles in the gomtang broth also went together better than expected. If you crave noodles over rice today, it is a great choice for enjoying the flavor of the same broth in a different way. Even within the warmth of a single bowl, the pleasure of eating varies just a little.
Pairing side dishes makes the bowl even richer
The water dropwort gomtang paired well with the kimchi, and being able to accompany it with side dishes like seasoned perilla leaves or dried radish strips was also great. When eating gukbap, I like how the side dishes keep the experience from repeating just one flavor. With spacious, clean seating and kind service to boot, it is a place I think of when I want to enjoy a calm meal.
Location 1F, 1 Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Bijindo Haemul Ttukbaegi Yeoksam Branch
A refreshing broth meal moving from plucking seafood to pot rice and scorched-rice nurungji
With seafood and vegetables included, the broth was refreshing
The seafood ttukbaegi was generous with seafood such as small octopus, shrimp, and shellfish, and the broth was refreshing. The flavor accented by Cheongyang chili peppers, garlic, and bean sprouts offered a delight distinct from clear gomtang. On days when I want to pluck out pieces of seafood one by one rather than simply sip broth, this place comes to mind.
The noodles in the seafood ramyeon were cooked nicely, and the broth tasted clean. However, having experienced spiciness lingering in some menu items while the ramyeon did not feel spicy, I would not expect the exact same level of heat and richness just because it is seafood broth.
Even the scorched rice following the abalone pot rice was delicious
The abalone pot rice had tender abalone that paired beautifully with the rice. Mixing in seaweed flakes and scraping up the scorched rice at the end was enjoyable. Finishing by eating the pot rice nurungji together with the broth of the seafood ttukbaegi carried a heartiness different from having just a single bowl of soup.
When the weather suddenly turned cold, eating the abalone pot rice and seafood ttukbaegi felt warm and satisfying. Rather than choosing this kind of meal for some bodily effect, I prefer to remember it as the pleasure of deliciously finishing warm rice and refreshing broth right to the end.
Days when you crave the textures of various seafoods over a single bowl
The chewiness of cockles, tenderly cooked octopus, and plump abalone were also wonderful to savor. On a rainy day, I do not necessarily look for just one type of soup and rice. When I want to enjoy a variety of seafood with companions, a table that offers this kind of fun picking through ingredients suits me well.
While I recall dining in a spacious and pleasant setting, there were also times when the staff were busy and the atmosphere felt hectic. Therefore, rather than fixing quietness as a guaranteed advantage, I prefer to keep it as an option for days when I want seafood, broth, and pot rice.
Location 2F, 25 Nonhyeon-ro 85-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Modern Shabu House GFC Branch
A meal where you enjoy meat and vegetables in mushroom broth, and even look forward to the finishing risotto
I enjoy the time spent savoring meat and vegetables in simmering broth
The quality of the meat was fine and the vegetables were fresh, so the fundamental joy of eating shabu-shabu was great. The mushroom broth remained memorable as a flavor that never grew cloying, even as I kept eating. Even on days when warm broth comes to mind, if I want to sit together and linger over the meal rather than quickly finish a single bowl, my heart leans toward shabu-shabu.
Enjoying the aroma of mushrooms and then wrapping up with risotto
The flow of enjoying shabu-shabu with mushroom broth and then eating truffle risotto was wonderful. It was a flavor that kept me eating right to the end, even when full. When choosing a broth meal, I also pay attention to how the final rice course turns out. Being able to anticipate risotto after the meat and vegetables was a highlight here.
Preferences for the broth differed even among my companions. The group split between those who liked the tomato broth and those who favored the green curry, and the curry aroma felt strong as well. Even for a warm meal on a rainy day, I would make my choice without assuming everyone will enjoy the same fragrance.
When requests are answered quickly, the meal becomes comfortable as well
Refills and clearing empty plates were handled promptly, allowing the meal to continue smoothly. It was also nice that questions about unfamiliar menu items were answered kindly. Rather than a place to eat a single bowl of broth alone, I would choose Modern Shabu House on days when I want to take my time enjoying warm food with companions.
Location 1F, Gangnam Finance Center Annex (Back Gate), 152 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
When you want to eat rice in fragrant, clear broth, think of Geumnyeong Gomtang; to ladle out seafood and savor pot rice all the way to nurungji, think of Bijindo Haemul Ttukbaegi. If you are looking for a gathering to share meat and vegetables together and enjoy risotto at the end, Modern Shabu House would be wonderful.
When choosing a meal for a rainy day, I do not look solely at how hot and spicy it is. Once you decide whether you need a clear flavor, crave the refreshing essence of seafood, or prefer the time spent simmering a pot together, the broth you want to eat today becomes that much clearer.