Imun Seolnongtang

Imun Seolnongtang is a traditional Korean restaurant at 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, near Jonggak Station on Line 1 and the Insadong district. It is one of Seoul's oldest restaurants, generally cited as open since 1904, and it is closely tied to the tradition of seolleongtang, a milky ox-bone soup. The cuisine is single-dish Korean broth cooking; there is no chef or Michelin lineage, and the standing rests on more than a century of continuous operation. The emblematic dish is seolleongtang, a white, long-simmered ox-bone broth served with sliced beef, rice and noodles, at about KRW 12,000-14,000. Doganitang, a soup made from ox knee, is a richer alternative, and kkakdugi, the crunchy diced radish kimchi, is the standard side. The broth arrives unsalted, and diners season it at the table with salt, pepper and chopped spring onion to taste, which is part of the ritual. The dining room is plain, traditional and efficient, with simple tables, quick service and a mix of local regulars, office workers and visitors, at a moderate noise level. There is no dress code and no wine programme; diners drink water or tea. Reservations are not accepted, and the listed phone number is +82 2 733 6526. Hours are roughly 08:00-21:00, but should be verified, and lunch is the busiest period. Typical spending is KRW 12,000-20,000 per person. The restaurant suits an early meal before sightseeing at Jogyesa Temple, Insadong or the palaces, and is a good introduction to the plainer end of Korean cooking, where flavour is adjusted by the diner rather than the kitchen. Vegetarians should note the soup is meat-based.