Lately, I’ve been traveling to Seoul frequently for business. Today, I’d like to share my experience at Sinmi Sikdang (Apgujeong, Seoul), which I visited during one of these trips.

Sinmi Sikdang gained even more fame after being featured on the YouTube channel of Seong Si-kyung a famous Korean singer. Since then, it has become a must-visit spot for many food lovers. I decided to give it a try after a friend highly recommended it. My friend mentioned that the restaurant had always been popular, but Seong Si-kyung’s endorsement brought even larger crowds.

The restaurant itself has a slightly worn, old-fashioned look, both inside and out. However, this added to its charm, giving it the atmosphere of a long-established eatery with a rich history.

To my surprise, we didn’t have to wait in line that day. But I’ve heard that the restaurant is often crowded, especially after it gained attention on YouTube.

Menu

Having read glowing reviews about both the Gamjatang (pork bone stew) and Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), we decided to order both. We started with the Gamjatang, as it seemed like the perfect choice for the chilly weather.

The side dishes included kkakdugi (radish kimchi), jjang-ajji (pickled garlic), and yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi). Among these, the pickled garlic stood out as my personal favorite. It was so delicious that I’ll talk more about it later.

Gamjatang   45,000 won

The Gamjatang lived up to the hype. As Seong Si-kyung mentioned on his YouTube channel, the meat was incredibly tender. It came in large portions and was bursting with flavor.

The rich, hearty flavor of the soup paired beautifully with the fresh, herbal aroma of the perilla leaves. The harmony between the tender meat and the flavorful broth was simply delightful.

Do you see how tender the meat looks in the photo above? The texture was incomparable to the Gamjatang served at chain restaurants. If you like to dip your meat in sauce, you’ll need to ask the staff for some, as it isn’t provided automatically.

Now, about that pickled garlic. It was absolutely amazing and it paired perfectly with both the Gamjatang meat and the Samgyeopsal that we ordered later.

After finishing most of the Gamjatang, we decided to try the Samgyeopsal. The staff took the remaining stew back to the kitchen and reheated it in a pot, serving it fresh again. It felt like receiving a brand-new bowl of Gamjatang, which was a nice touch.

Samgyeopsal   16,000 won / 200g

The raw pork belly looked incredibly fresh, just the right amount of fat, with a beautiful appearance. 

What’s unique at Sinmi Sikdang is that the barbecue grill is actually the cover of the large pot used for the stew. I love this method of grilling, it adds a homey feel to the dining experience.

The Samgyeopsal was served with over-fermented kimchi, which was grilled alongside the pork. To me, Samgyeopsal isn’t complete without grilled kimchi on the side!

While the Samgyeopsal was enjoyable, I personally preferred the Gamjatang. 

As I enjoyed this delicious meal in Seoul. Gamjatang is one of my husband’s favorite dishes, and I couldn’t help but think how much he would love this place.

Next time, I’ll be sure to visit Sinmi Sikdang with my family so we can all enjoy the incredible Gamjatang together.

Address : 214 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Phone : +82-2-516-4900

Operation Hours : Sunday-Friday: 11:00 - 22:00 (Break time 15:00 - 17:00, Saturday closed)

Instagram : Click for more images

Source : https://blog.naver.com/bboms0108/222907475872

Writer : bboms0108

Special thanks to bboms0108

sinmi sikdang seoul apgujeong cheongdam gamjatang