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Restaurant

358-11 in Jongno, Seoul: Spicy Dongtae-tang (Pollock Stew) in a Hanok Alley

A hanok-style alley restaurant in Jongno serving a single dish, a rich, spicy pollock stew with radish, tofu and house-made kimchi.

WooleeSouth Korea9 photos
Around lunchtime, customers line up in the narrow alley in front of 358-11 waiting for their turn.
A sign at the alley entrance announces that 358-11 was selected as an outstanding tang (soup and stew) restaurant in a consumer evaluation.
358-11 sits in the alley beneath the eaves of a hanok roof, with a blue door and potted plants. Customers can be seen eating through the glass windows.
The entrance to 358-11 is welcomed by a brown vertical wooden sign and green potted plants. Cozy lighting shines past the counter inside, building anticipation before you even enter.
The dining hall at 358-11 is full of customers under white walls and a low ceiling. The open layout lets you see right into the kitchen, and many people wait for a seat.
The spicy fish stew comes in a large bowl, accompanied simply by white rice and several side dishes.
Dongtae-tang generously topped with large pieces of radish, tofu and green onion over a spicy broth. Side dishes like kimchi come alongside, making it a hearty meal.
A whole fish head sits beside thickly sliced radish and tofu in the dongtae-tang. The broth looks rich, as if simmered for a long time, making it a good match for a bowl of rice.
White fish flaking tenderly along the grain in the spicy broth looks appetizing. The pale meat is lovely eaten piece by piece with the broth.

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This is 358-11, located at 358-11 Jongno, Seoul, South Korea. It used to be inside Dongmyo Market, but it moved to a quieter spot away from the bustling crowds.

By lunchtime, a long line had formed in the narrow brick alley. At the entrance to the alley stood a sign saying the restaurant was selected as an outstanding tang (soup and stew) restaurant in a consumer evaluation. It's a neat restaurant with a blue door, potted plants and a brown vertical wooden sign beneath the eaves of a hanok roof. Through the glass windows I could see customers eating, which got me excited before I even went in.

Inside, the place was packed with customers under white walls and a low ceiling. It had an open layout where you could see right into the kitchen, and many people were waiting for a seat. The wait took about an hour. I arrived at 12:40 and was let in after waiting about an hour.

The only menu item is dongtae-tang (spicy pollock stew), so there was no need to order separately. It came in a large bowl with a spicy broth, generously topped with thickly sliced radish, tofu and green onion. The pollock came as three large pieces, and with plenty of tofu and radish, the portion is big. The kimchi definitely tasted like it was made in-house.

The white fish flaked apart tenderly along the grain, and I ate it piece by piece with the broth. The broth, eaten while hot, was really clean and delicious. There was no muddy or heavy aftertaste. The fish meat was plump and tasty. The wait was so long that going again is a little daunting, but it's a flavor I want to eat again.

The line can be long around lunchtime, so it's best to go with time to spare. With only one menu item you'd expect fast turnover, but at certain times a fresh batch of pollock has to be boiled, so there were times when I waited more than 10 minutes even after being seated. Also, quite a few older customers enjoy drinks with their meal, so turnover wasn't fast. The owner is very kind.

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Good to know

  • Parking available
  • Reservations accepted
  • Takeout available