Seolleongtang is a milky-white broth made by boiling ox bones for 17-24 hours. Served with sliced brisket, rice and wheat noodles, seasoned with salt.
Seolleongtang is one of the oldest documented Korean dishes, with records dating to the Joseon dynasty when it was served at royal court banquets. The milky-white colour comes from extended boiling of ox leg bones and trotters, which emulsifies the fat and collagen into the broth. Hadongkwan in Myeongdong has been serving seolleongtang since 1939 and is listed in the Michelin Guide. Imun Seolnongtang, established in 1904, claims to be the oldest continuously operating restaurant in South Korea. The dish is eaten for breakfast through to late evening, and many establishments operate 24 hours.
3 editor picks for Seolleongtang (Ox Bone Soup) in Seoul, ranked by editorial score. All Seoul signature dishes · Seolleongtang (Ox Bone Soup) across every city.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.4
Jongno and Insadong · 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Korea's first registered restaurant, open since 1904 in Jongno, still serving a single dish: 17-hour ox bone seolleongtang with sliced brisket.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.3
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hadongkwan has been open since 1939 in Myeongdong and is in the Michelin Guide for a bowl of seolleongtang that has not changed: slow-cooked ox bone.
Dongdaemun Bonga Seolleongtang ★ 4.1
Dongdaemun · 6-1 Majang-ro 43-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Near Dongdaemun Fashion Market, Bonga cooks its seolleongtang in a traditional gamasot (iron cauldron) from ten beef cuts for 24 hours straight.