In the beginning, Galchi Alley wasn't an alley where Galchi Jorim (braised cutlassfish) was cooked; rather, it was a small area with restaurants in Namdaemun Market.

When two eateries in the area started selling Galchi Jorim (braised cutlassfish) with inexpensive cutlassfish, the area became known as "Galchi Alley," and other restaurants in the area started selling the same menu under the name Galchi Jorim. In this alley, you'll find one of the oldest Galchi restaurants -- Huirak Galchi.

The restaurant's signature Galchi Jorim is constantly simmering in a pot outside. For more than 50 years, Huirak Galchi has been satisfying the appetites of Namdaemun Market's vendors and customers.

This eatery has a vintage vibe. It's spacious, with plenty of seating spread across two stories. I visited at about 2:30 p.m. on a weekday, so it was already a bit after lunchtime, but it was still really busy.

 

Menu

The main dish is called Galchi Jorim, and this eatery also offers grilled fish, seasoned Kodari, and Cheonggukjang. It'd be good to share some other meals with your party if you're coming in a larger number. Numerous TV show posters decorate the walls.

 

Galchi Jorim   12,000 won

Galchi Jorim was served with a wide variety of side dishes. Earlier, eateries in Galchi Alley supposedly didn't serve complimentary foods like steamed eggs, but as the area became more competitive, some places started doing so.

Eating cutlassfish with rice with seaweed is also a fantastic experience.

The fish here was not as fresh as I had in Jeju Island because it was not as pricey. But they sell a lot of fish daily, so I guess the cutlassfish is better quality than I expected. The Huirak Galchi marinade is fantastic and the broth has a pleasant balance of spiciness and sweetness.

Cutlassfish and broth over rice are an amazing combination. I'm never disappointed with the 12,000 won when I get this quality of food.

I was satiated by the Galchi Jorim at Huirak Galchi. It had such a wonderful flavor that I had to ask for an extra bowl of rice. To be fair, at this price, I should accept if the cutlassfish lacks some of its distinctive flavor.

I'm sure many of you have heard of the Galchi Jorim at Namdaemun Market, I wouldn't recommend making the trip from far away only to try it. However, if you ever find yourself in Seoul, don't miss the opportunity to visit Namdaemun Market.

 

Address : 22-6 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Phone : +82-507-1394-5538

Operation Hours : Monday-Saturday : 07:00 - 21:00 (Sunday closed)

Instagram : Click for images

 

Source : https://blog.naver.com/osb524/223136150421

Writer : OH SEBON (osb524)

Special thanks to OH SEBON (osb524)

 

huirak galchi sikdang namdaemun