Nampyeong Halmaejip Review: Authentic Naju Beef Soup

On a recent weekend, I packed up the kids and headed out with my mother for a family day trip to Naju. It's the perfect destination for catching some fresh air and grabbing an incredible local meal. When anyone mentions Naju, the very first thing that comes to mind is their famous local specialty: Naju Gomtang (a clear, comforting beef bone soup).

As you can see, there is an entire street dedicated to this legendary dish, known as Naju Gomtang Alley. While there are dozens of shops to choose from, the undisputed "Big Three" are Hayan-jib, Noan-jib, and Nampyeong Halmae-jib. I have reviewed all of them previously, but I wanted to write a fresh update because Nampyeong Halmae-jib has recently relocated to a brand-new building!

We parked in the public lot right in front of Noan-jib (my usual go-to spot), but the weekend line was incredibly long. While Hayan-jib used to draw the biggest crowds, Noan-jib seems to have taken the crown recently with massive wait times.

Walking slightly past Noan-jib, we checked out Hayan-jib, but their queue was just as intimidating. That's when we decided to head over to Nampyeong Halmae-jib.

Nampyeong Halmae-jib (60-Year Original Naju Gomtang)

Address: 2 Geumseonggwan-gil, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
Hours: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Phone: 061-334-4682

Nampyeong Halmae-jib used to be located right next door to Noan-jib, but they recently built a beautiful new building diagonally across from their old spot. Since the line here was moving relatively fast, we jumped right in.

Even with the new, larger space, the restaurant was completely packed. However, because it is a brand-new facility, the interior felt incredibly clean, bright, and modern compared to the older, more rustic spots nearby.

I managed to snap a quick photo of the freshly boiled, tender beef brisket being prepped and stored in the kitchen display fridge. It looked absolutely mouth-watering!

The Menu

The menu here is beautifully simple, which is typical for the authentic spots in Naju Gomtang Alley. You have three choices: Regular Gomtang (about ~$7), Suyuk Gomtang (soup with premium tender beef slices for about ~$10), and a large platter of Suyuk (boiled beef slices for about ~$22 to ~$32).

Suyuk Gomtang (Premium Beef Soup)

We ordered five bowls of the premium Suyuk Gomtang. Fresh kimchi and kkakdugi (spicy radish kimchi) are kept in containers at the table, so you can serve yourself as much as you like. While the broth volume is the same as the regular soup, the meat in the Suyuk version is incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth soft, and packed with flavor. I highly recommend spending a few extra dollars to upgrade to the Suyuk Gomtang. Just a heads up: they often run out of the premium beef slices later in the day, so you might have to settle for the regular version if you arrive late!

With regular Gomtang, you might notice subtle differences in the cuts of meat depending on which restaurant you visit. However, when it comes to the premium Suyuk Gomtang, the quality is remarkably consistent across all of the "Big Three" spots. True food connoisseurs might argue there is a difference, but to my palate, they are all equally spectacular.

If you are curious about the specific broth styles of the other two spots, feel free to search through my previous posts where I did deep dives into both Hayan-jib and Noan-jib.

The Dad-of-Two Verdict

That wraps up our weekend trip to the famous Naju Gomtang Alley and our first look at the newly relocated Nampyeong Halmae-jib! After a hearty, warming meal, we drove just a few miles over to Seungchonbo. It was the perfect spot to grab a hot coffee and take a relaxing stroll around the Seungchonbo camping grounds. In my next post, I’ll share some highlights from the campsite and a great local cafe we discovered, so stay tuned!