Went to the super-hyped Neungdong Minari in Seongsu on a Saturday around 3PM, totally on my own dime. I’d heard about the crazy minari (water parsley) dishes and finally checked it out with a friend.
📍 Location
Seoul, Seongdong-gu, Yeonmujang-gil 42
About 290m from Seongsu Station Exit 4
⏰ Opening Hours
Mon–Fri 09:30–24:00
Sat–Sun 09:00–24:00
🚗 Parking
No parking on site
✔ Facilities & Notes
Good for groups, take-out available, baby chairs available
You can only enter when your whole group has arrived
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Exterior
Seongsu is always a bit chaotic, and this place fits right in. Neungdong Minari is a two‑story building and honestly the exterior looked way nicer than I expected. Kind of that “this is definitely a famous spot” vibe.
They actually have three branches in Seoul (Yongsan, Yeouido, Seongsu), but I went to the Seongsu one.
Also, this place was on the TV show “The Restaurant That People Line Up For” and even got selected for the 2024 “Julschelin” list, which I only found out after. Once I saw the sign and the photos inside, my expectations went way up.
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Waiting & First Impressions
We arrived on Saturday at 3PM, thinking, “we’re safe, weird time, maybe no line?” Yeah, no. The line was still pretty long, but I think it was shorter than peak meal times. We waited around 20 minutes and then got in.
For people waiting outside, they set up a big heater and even offer hot ginger tea. That small detail felt really thoughtful, especially on a cold day.
Inside, the staff were moving like crazy, food coming out nonstop. There are quite a lot of tables and the turnover is fast, so even though there’s a line, it doesn’t feel endless.
Right by the entrance you can see them assembling yukhoe bibimbap over and over. It kind of hypnotizes you while you wait.
On the wall, there are a bunch of celebrity autographs – actors, YouTubers, rappers, etc. It really felt like “okay, this is a real Seoul hot place.”
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Interior
The restaurant is on both 1F and 2F. My legs were tired so I was secretly praying for a first‑floor seat, and luckily we got one.
Inside is pretty simple but cozy. My seat had a sofa-style chair, so my butt was happy. On the table, two basic side dishes were already set: a pile of fresh minari and some squid jeotgal (salted squid).
They also prepare disposable aprons, which is nice if you’re wearing light clothes. You pay at the counter on the first floor after you finish eating.
There’s also a self‑serve corner with water, paper cups, and “seokbakji” (radish kimchi) you can cut yourself.
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Menu We Ordered
For two people we ordered:
– Neungdong Minari Gomtang – 15,000 won
– Neungdong Yukhoe Bibimbap – 15,000 won
– Neungdong Yukjeon (half portion) – 13,000 won
Total: 43,000 won.
For two, this combo felt just right – soup, rice, and a side dish to share.
Since this place is famous for minari, I wanted to eat as much of it as possible. They give extra minari as a side, so that already made me happy. The squid jeotgal goes perfectly with the gomtang.
The seokbakji color looked amazing, and you can take as much as you want and cut it yourself. Crunchy and really good.
The food came out quite fast overall, only the yukjeon was a bit slower.
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Food Review
Neungdong Yukhoe Bibimbap (15,000 won)
Yukhoe bibimbap is one of my all‑time favorite dishes, so skipping it was not an option. When it arrived, it looked exactly like my style.
There’s a mountain of greens – lettuce, wild veggies, onion, various leafy stuff. I honestly don’t know all the names, but the mix gives great fragrance and crunch.
The best part: the seasoning is soy‑sauce based, not gochujang. So the taste of the raw beef and veggies really stands out instead of being covered in spicy sauce.
Every bite felt super fresh, nutty, and clean. I eat yukhoe bibimbap pretty often around Seoul, but this one really had that “everything is so fresh” feeling. I’d come back just for this.
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Neungdong Minari Gomtang (15,000 won)
This is the famous one you probably saw on Instagram – a big bowl of milky beef soup completely covered with finely chopped minari.
It’s a “toryeom” style gomtang, so the rice is already mixed into the hot broth when it comes out. Perfect for cold weather. Compared to normal gomtang, this one is much more aromatic thanks to the minari, and it honestly tastes better than most gomtang I’ve had.
Inside there are big chunks of beef too, not stingy at all. They say they use top‑grade Korean beef (1++), and you can feel it – the meat is tender and flavorful.
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Neungdong Yukjeon – Half Portion (13,000 won)
Thinly sliced Korean beef coated in egg and pan-fried. You eat it wrapped with seasoned minari, onion, and chili.
I honestly didn’t expect much, but one bite and I was sold. If we had only ordered the bibimbap and gomtang, I would’ve regretted it. The combo of juicy beef, the slightly salty, savory minari, plus crunchy onion and a bit of chili heat… it was addictive.
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Final Thoughts
I went in thinking, “okay, this will be good,” but it was actually really, really good. Now I get why people line up here.
Pros:
– Yukhoe bibimbap and yukjeon are must‑orders
– Gomtang is comforting but not boring thanks to the minari
– Fast turnover even with a line
– Staff were friendly and the whole system is pretty smooth
Cons:
– Always a wait, even at weird times
– No parking, so better to take the subway
If you’re exploring Seongsu and want a proper Korean meal instead of just cafes, Neungdong Minari is absolutely worth the wait. I’d totally go again, probably just to eat that yukhoe bibimbap and yukjeon combo.
