I Tried the New Hangover Galbitang at Galbidaum, a Famous Galbitang Spot in Apgujeong.

Galbidaum is the place to go in Apgujeong if you want a clean, satisfying meal of galbitang. As the name Galbidaum suggests, you can tell that this is a restaurant specializing in galbi. For lunch, a price in the 15,000 won range can feel a bit expensive for galbitang, but Galbidaum offers galbitang for 13,000 won, so it’s the kind of place I end up visiting when I want a hearty meal.

The reason I call Galbidaum a famous galbitang spot in Apgujeong is actually because I’ve only ever had galbitang there. The other dishes feel a bit too heavy for lunch... so I still haven’t tried them, but I do want to try the spicy jjukkop galbijjim or the hanwoo gopchang hot pot someday.

One nice thing about visiting Galbidaum is that you don’t have to think about what to order. For lunch, there was only one galbitang option, after all. Of course, there is also spicy galbijjim, but most people who visit Galbidaum in Apgujeong during lunchtime seem to order galbitang.

But then a new menu item, hangover galbitang, was added, which made me hesitate. Still, I’m the type to stay focused on one thing, so I decided to order the galbitang.

There’s a sign on the wall at Galbidaum that reads “Galbidaum’s thoughtfulness.” It explains why Galbidaum’s galbitang tastes so good.

When I first visited Galbidaum, it wasn’t during the cold winter but on a hot day, so as soon as I sat down, I naturally reached for water first. While drinking it, I remember thinking the water tasted so good. As expected, first impressions matter. Since I remembered how tasty the water was, I drank it right away again.

It felt a little less rich than before, but it was still good. It reminded me once again that burdock tea tastes good. But why don’t they actually brew the burdock tea they have on hand?!

Once you place your order, the side dishes come out right away. Since it’s galbitang, the side dishes are simple. Every time I come here, they’re the same, so I guess the side dishes are set as chili peppers, chives, and cubed radish kimchi.

If you keep eating, you’ll run out. When that happens, just quietly go to the self-service bar and take as much as you need. I like that you can use the self-service bar for extra side dishes. It’s tasty, so you want more, but it feels awkward to ask again. Since that isn’t an issue here, I actually prefer the self-service bar.

There’s a tip on the table for enjoying the galbitang even more deliciously. It explains how to use the green and red special sauces. You might guess the ingredients from the names green and red. Green is a special sauce based on cheongyang chili peppers, and red is Galbidaum’s special sauce based on chili powder.

Finally, the galbitang arrived.

Unlike other galbitang, Galbidaum’s galbitang in Apgujeong is served with only beef rib meat rather than bone-in ribs, so it’s easy to eat cleanly. And another 특징 here is that the galbitang contains a lot of radish.

Because of that, the broth can feel a bit like beef and radish soup. Since it’s a familiar flavor, I think it may feel even tastier.

It’s a galbitang that comes out still bubbling, so you can eat it very hot. Personally, I like a clean galbitang broth that isn’t too strong in seasoning, so I didn’t add Galbidaum’s special sauce. Instead, I mixed the special sauces green and red in a 1:1 ratio and dipped the beef rib meat into it.

I definitely think that tastes better. The galbitang is simmered for 6 hours to bring out a deep, rich flavor, and the beef ribs are aged for 14 hours to make them tender, so the meat is really soft. I couldn’t feel any toughness at all.

When I visited Galbidaum after two months, there was a new menu item called hangover galbitang.

It seems to have become a popular item as soon as it was launched. Since they said it’s a slightly spicy galbitang, someone who likes spicy food ordered the hangover galbitang.

Instead of radish, the hangover galbitang is packed with a lot of dried cabbage greens. Just the fact that it includes dried cabbage greens makes it sound like a combination that can’t go wrong.

Galbidaum’s hangover galbitang in Apgujeong is not very spicy. It didn’t really feel spicy when eating it. Still, whether it’s because of the added chili powder or because there’s no radish, the broth definitely tastes different from the stomach-soothing galbitang. It doesn’t feel like they just added a little chili powder to radish soup, either.

If you want it spicier, you can add red or green.

Hangover galbitang and stomach-soothing galbitang are both types of galbitang, but the difference in flavor is definitely clear. After trying the hangover galbitang, I think I’ll order it next time I go. That’s because I like dried cabbage greens more than radish. And I thought it would be spicy, but it isn’t spicy at all. In fact, people who like spicy food might even think it tastes a bit mild.

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