Neungdong Minari Seongsu: Minari Gomtang Guide

TL;DR: Neungdong Minari Seongsu is the Seongsu-dong branch of a Michelin Bib Gourmand–recognized Seoul restaurant known for minari gomtang, a clear Hanwoo beef soup piled with fresh water parsley. Order the gomtang or the yukhoe bibimbap (about ₩15,000 each). Great for first-timers and Seongsu shoppers; skip it if you hate queues or herbal flavors.

Neungdong Minari Seongsu is a casual Korean restaurant on Yeonmujang-gil, about five minutes from Seongsu Station, serving clear Hanwoo beef gomtang and yukhoe bibimbap topped with fresh minari (Korean water parsley). The original Yongsan branch holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Mains cost around ₩15,000, and walk-in waits are common.

Minari gomtang is the reason people queue on Yeonmujang-gil, and Neungdong Minari Seongsu (능동미나리 성수점) serves one of Seoul’s most distinctive versions. Here’s how the Seongsu branch compares with the Michelin-recognized original, and whether it deserves a slot in your Seongsu day.

Table of Contents

• What Is Neungdong Minari Seongsu?
• What Is Minari, and Why Does It Change Gomtang?
• What to Order at Neungdong Minari Seongsu?
• How Much Does Neungdong Minari Seongsu Cost?
• How Do You Get to Neungdong Minari Seongsu?
• Seongsu or Yongsan: Which Branch Should You Visit?
• Is Neungdong Minari Seongsu Worth Visiting?
• What Are Similar Restaurants?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Verdict
Who Should Visit	Seongsu shoppers, Korean food beginners, and soup lovers
Who Should Skip	Diners who dislike herbal greens, raw beef, or waiting in line
Best Dish to Order	Minari Gomtang (미나리곰탕)
Price Range	₩₩ (about ₩15,000–₩18,000 per main, roughly US$11–13)
Reservation Required	No — on-site waitlist only; expect a queue at lunch and weekends

• Address (English): 42 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (1st–2nd floors)
• Address (Korean): 서울특별시 성동구 연무장길 42 1, 2층 (지번: 성수동2가 310-14)
• Nearest Subway: Seongsu Station (Line 2), Exit 4 — about a 5-minute walk
• Operating Hours: Mon–Fri 09:30–24:00, Sat–Sun 09:00–24:00, last order 23:30 (hours have changed before; confirm on Naver Map)
• Phone: +82-2-2088-2435
• Price Range: About ₩15,000–₩18,000 per main dish; shared hot pots and plates cost more
• English Menu Available: Partial — a photo menu is displayed at the entrance
• Reservations: No reservations; join the on-site digital waitlist
• Information verified: September 2026

What Is Neungdong Minari Seongsu?

Neungdong Minari Seongsu is the Seongsu-dong outpost of Neungdong Minari, a Korean beef-soup brand whose original restaurant sits on Yongnidan-gil in Yongsan. The concept is simple: traditional Korean comfort food built around Hanwoo (한우) — Korea’s native beef cattle — and generous amounts of fresh minari.

The brand’s credibility comes from the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand listing for Neungdong Minari, which describes a clear broth made from same-day Hanwoo topped with water parsley grown in clean freshwater. That distinction, awarded in the 2025 Seoul selection, belongs to the Yongsan original, but the Seongsu branch serves the same core menu.

The Seongsu restaurant spreads across two floors, so it seats more people than its storefront suggests. Food comes out fast — Korean diners frequently report dishes arriving within three to five minutes of ordering — which keeps the line moving.

What Is Minari, and Why Does It Change Gomtang?

Minari (미나리) — Korean water parsley, also called water dropwort — is an aquatic herb with hollow, crunchy stems and a peppery, celery-like aroma. Our guide to Korean water celery explains why Koreans pair it with rich meat: its clean bite cuts through fat.

Gomtang (곰탕) — clear, long-simmered beef soup served with rice — is traditionally gentle and savory. Think of it as closer to a consommé than a creamy bone broth.

Minari changes that balance. As the herb wilts into the hot broth, it releases a bright, almost citrusy fragrance that lifts the beefiness without masking it. Many diners describe the result as "lighter" and easier to finish than standard gomtang.

The soup is served with rice already warmed in broth through toryeom (토렴) — a technique of repeatedly pouring hot broth over rice — so the bowl arrives comfortably hot rather than scalding. If you want to understand the broth itself, our recipe for Korean beef bone broth walks through the long-simmering process.

What to Order at Neungdong Minari Seongsu?

Three dishes define the menu. Order one soup or rice bowl per person, then share a plate if you’re hungry.

Minari Gomtang (미나리곰탕) — The signature. Tender slices of Hanwoo sit in clear broth under a mound of green minari, served in a brass bowl. Push the herb into the soup, take a spoonful with rice, beef, and minari together, and season with salt or the kkakdugi (깍두기) — cubed radish kimchi — if you like.

Yukhoe Bibimbap (육회비빔밥) — Yukhoe (육회) is Korean seasoned raw beef, julienned and dressed with sesame oil rather than minced like French steak tartare. Here it tops rice with minari and vegetables, seasoned with a soy-based sauce instead of spicy gochujang. Our complete guide to yukhoe covers its Joseon-era history and safety.

Yukjeon (육전) — Thin slices of beef dipped in egg and pan-fried until golden. It’s a good shared side if one person in your group is avoiding raw meat.

For groups, the Minari Suyuk Jeongol (미나리 수육전골) — a hot pot of boiled beef slices and minari — and Gopchang Jeongol (곱창전골) — beef intestine hot pot — turn the meal into a slower, drinks-friendly dinner.

How Much Does Neungdong Minari Seongsu Cost?

Neungdong Minari Seongsu is good value by Seongsu standards. The minari gomtang and yukhoe bibimbap each cost around ₩15,000, with recent listings placing gomtang between ₩15,000 and ₩18,000 depending on the size and date.

A solo lunch comes to roughly ₩15,000–₩18,000 (US$11–13); hot pots are priced for sharing.

Portions are filling. The gomtang comes with a full serving of rice, and banchan (반찬) — small side dishes, including a fresh minari salad and radish kimchi — are refillable.

How Do You Get to Neungdong Minari Seongsu?

Take Seoul Subway Line 2 to Seongsu Station and leave via Exit 4. The restaurant is about a five-minute walk along Yeonmujang-gil (연무장길), Seongsu’s main pop-up and flagship street, across from the long-running Somunnan Seongsu Gamjatang.

Waiting is part of the experience. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so register on the on-site waitlist when you arrive and browse nearby shops while your number approaches. Korean reviewers report that high turnover moves the queue quickly — one found 12 parties ahead cleared in about 20 minutes.

On a weekday before 11:30 a.m. the wait is usually shortest. Weekend lunch and Friday evening are the hardest times to get in, and the branch is especially popular with Japanese travelers.

Seongsu or Yongsan: Which Branch Should You Visit?

Choose based on your itinerary rather than the food. Both branches serve the same signature gomtang and yukhoe bibimbap, and our review of the original Neungdong Minari in Yongsan covers the Michelin-listed flagship in depth.

Pick Seongsu if you’re spending the day shopping or cafe-hopping. The branch opens earlier in the morning, stays open until midnight, and has two floors of seating.

Pick Yongsan if you want the restaurant the Michelin inspectors actually visited, or you’re already exploring Yongnidan-gil and Samgakji.

Is Neungdong Minari Seongsu Worth Visiting?

Yes — for most visitors. Neungdong Minari Seongsu offers a Michelin-recognized style of Korean beef soup for about ₩15,000,.

It’s an especially good choice if you want a proper Korean meal that isn’t Korean BBQ. There’s no grilling, no smoke, and no need to order for a minimum of two people, which makes it easy for solo diners.

It’s not perfect. The air conditioning runs cold enough that some diners mention feeling chilly in summer, the dining room is busy rather than relaxing, and parking is not available. If you dislike herbs like cilantro or celery, minari may not win you over.

What Are Similar Restaurants?

For a traditional, minari-free gomtang, Hadongkwan in Myeongdong has served Hanwoo beef soup in brass bowls since 1939. If you love minari with pork, Gyeongbok’s frozen samgyeopsal with minari is a fun contrast, and Muwol Table at COEX serves a minari cockle bibimbap.

Staying in Seongsu? Somunnan Seongsu Gamjatang sits just across the street, and Yangmoon Seongsu is the neighborhood pick for charcoal-grilled beef.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes minari gomtang uniquely Korean? Minari gomtang combines two distinctly Korean traditions: long-simmered clear beef soup, historically eaten for nourishment and recovery, and minari, an aquatic herb Koreans have eaten for centuries to balance rich meat. Neungdong Minari’s version tops Hanwoo broth with a tall mound of fresh water parsley that brightens the soup’s savory depth.

What are the key ingredients at Neungdong Minari Seongsu? Three ingredients define the menu. Hanwoo (한우) is Korea’s native beef, prized for sweetness. Minari (미나리) is a peppery water parsley rich in vitamins A and C. Clear beef broth (곰탕 국물) is simmered for hours for gentle, savory depth. Together they create a clean, filling meal that feels lighter than most beef soups.

How spicy is the food at Neungdong Minari Seongsu? Most dishes are not spicy. The minari gomtang rates about 0–1 out of 10, and the yukhoe bibimbap is roughly 1 out of 10 because it uses a soy-based sauce instead of gochujang. The radish kimchi adds mild heat. Hot pots like gopchang jeongol may be spicier, so ask staff before ordering.

What should first-time visitors know? Arrive before 11:30 a.m. on a weekday to reduce your wait, and register on the on-site waitlist immediately. Stir the minari into the hot broth before eating so it softens. Use the spoon for soup and rice, chopsticks for side dishes, and season with salt at the table to taste.

Is the raw beef in yukhoe bibimbap safe to eat? Yukhoe is a long-established Korean dish made from lean, very fresh beef, and reputable Seoul restaurants source it for raw service. Neungdong Minari is known for using same-day Hanwoo. Pregnant diners, young children, and people with weakened immune systems should choose the cooked gomtang or yukjeon instead.

Plan Your Bowl of Minari Gomtang

For about ₩15,000, Neungdong Minari Seongsu delivers a bowl that feels both traditional and new — clear Hanwoo broth made lively by a pile of fresh water parsley. Come early, put your name on the waitlist, and let the gomtang reset your energy between Seongsu’s flagship stores and pop-ups.

It sits a five-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 4, right on Yeonmujang-gil. After lunch, wander the converted factories of Seongsu-dong Cafe Street, or pick up dessert at one of the bakeries in our guide to the best salt bread in Seoul.

Want to recreate the experience at home? Try our recipe for yukhoe bibimbap with minari or roll the herb into samgyeopsal with minari. To learn more about Hanwoo cuts, read our guide to Korean beef. And if you’re curious why broth-based meals keep showing up in discussions of Korean eating, Dr. James Lee’s look at the Korean diet for skin and recovery weighs the evidence honestly.

Restaurant hours and prices change often, so verify current details on the restaurant’s official channel or Naver Map before visiting.