Loach Soup Dish - Chueotang in Seoul, South Korea

Established in 1932, Yonggeumok is a renowned traditional restaurant in Seoul that has been selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand. The main menu item is Chueotang, a loach soup dish. At Yonggeumok, the Seoul-style Chueotang features whole loaches in a chili pepper-infused broth, which is the more famous version. The Namdo-style Chueotang involves grinding the loaches with their bones and simmering them. Nowadays, many people prefer the Seoul-style seasoning with the ground loaches. The soup is packed with ingredients such as tofu, green onions, wood ear mushrooms, other mushrooms, and fried tofu. While the bright red Seoul-style soup may seem intimidating, even those sensitive to spice can enjoy it. The yellow Namdo-style soup is extremely mild. However, it's a bit disappointing that neither version fully captures the distinctive loach flavor. Perhaps the whole loach approach is the way to go. Yonggeumok Address: 118-5 Tongin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Phone: 02-777-4749 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30-21:00 (Break time 15:00-17:00), Sat & Holidays 11:30-20:00 (Break time 15:00-17:00) Closed: Sundays