Miseongok 미성옥

Miseongok occupies a narrow alley directly across from Myeong-dong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul, a long-established seolleongtang restaurant distinguished by its clear, gomtang-style broth rather than the milky white stock typical of the category. It is 250m from Euljiro 1-ga Station. The first sip reveals a roasted, clean depth built from layered beef bone flavor. The restaurant uses hanwoo, and the resulting meat quality is noticeably superior: tender in texture where conventional seolleongtang shops often serve something chewier. Upgrading to the special order adds meat, though typically by only two to three pieces, so expectations should be calibrated accordingly. The kakdugi served alongside has a restrained tang that pairs cleanly with the mild broth, while the baek-kimchi runs slightly sweet. A recommended approach is to drink several spoonfuls of plain broth first before adding pepper, allowing the flavor to shift in a second register. The suyu-k is another strength here: the hanwoo brisket is tender and free of off-flavors, and the price sits more reasonably than at other prominent seolleongtang restaurants. Broth refills are available, and the seolleongtang runs around 14,000 won. The narrow alley setting carries a distinctly Myeong-dong character, and the fast turnover means even lines move within a manageable time. Staff numbers are lean, which can make kimchi refill requests difficult during rush periods, and the broth arrives cooler than ideal on occasion.