Yeonggwang Bossam: Best Bossam in Gongdeok
With my moving day from Gongdeok (a neighborhood in Seoul) fast approaching, I went to the bossam (boiled pork wrap) restaurant right in front of my office for lunch. Since there's a famous Jokbal (braised pig's trotters) Street here, Gongdeok naturally has plenty of jokbal and bossam joints, along with many related restaurants and shops. But out of all of them, Yeonggwang Bossam is the best.
Like most places in Gongdeok, Yeonggwang Bossam has the vibe of an old, established eatery. The tables and chairs look quite vintage. They don't have a long menu—just bossam. It's the kind of place that confidently screams "local hotspot." It costs 12,000 KRW per person, and they don't sell single servings. You can usually find a seat during lunch, but it gets packed with local office workers in the evening, so you have to get there early.
Unlike other restaurants, their bossam looks like it was chopped up in thick, rustic chunks. It doesn't have that machine-sliced feel like franchise places; it's cut roughly. Because of this, the texture is absolutely fantastic. Filling your mouth with these large, hearty pieces of meat is a top-tier experience.
Naturally, their bossam kimchi is also excellent, so you can't help but eat them together. Having the meat with kimchi and garlic cuts right through any greasiness as you chew. The kimchi is especially refreshing, leaving a uniquely clean aftertaste.
The hidden gem of this restaurant is the kongnamul-guk (bean sprout soup). It's boiled with a spicy kick, making it perfect when you're craving a hot broth to go with some soju in the evening or a bowl of rice at lunch. Whenever I eat here, I always refill this soup three times. It tastes great on its own and provides a nice break from the simple pattern of just eating bossam and kimchi. They don't serve many side dishes, but each one plays its part perfectly.
It's not a fancy place or suited for large gatherings, but it's a fantastic spot when you want a hearty meal or a few glasses of soju. There aren't many seats, so there's usually a wait, but I think it's well worth the time.