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KVIBE IDOLS › Food guides › Korean dishes explained › 감자탕 (gamjatang)
🍜 Korean dishes explained
Gamjatang (Pork Bone Soup)감자탕 · gamjatang
What is it?
A hearty, spicy soup of slow-cooked pork spine with potatoes, cabbage leaves and ground perilla seeds. Single bowls are called ppyeo-haejangguk; the big shared pot is gamjatang. Korea Tourism Organization card data showed gamjatang spending by foreigners up 44% year-on-year in July 2025.
How to eat it
- Pick bones up with gloves or chopsticks and pull the meat off.
- Put bones in the empty bowl provided.
- Finish with fried rice in the pot (bokkeumbap).
- Typical price
- ₩10,000–12,000 per bowl; pots ₩30,000+
Where to try it
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Why is it called "potato stew"?
It contains potatoes, though the name's origin is debated; the star is the pork spine.
Is it a late-night food?
Yes — many gamjatang restaurants are open 24 hours and it is a popular hangover meal.
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