Songganae Gamjatang has been a thriving eatery for 23 years as one of the best-known reliably delicious restaurants near Hongdae. When it was first established, gamjatang (spicy pork and potato stew) was sold primarily to taxi drivers. Songganae flourished thanks to its dark broth with extra spice. One day, a busy taxi driver requested something that was quick to eat than stew; hence, they started selling bossam (boiled pork belly with sauces, wrapped in greens).
The owner vowed to focus on taste without considering the cost of ingredients. Thus, his delicious bossam plates began to sell like hot cakes. For the customers who requested other dishes, they began to serve oysters in the winter and raw cuttlefish in summer. Soon, the “janchitsang" (feast table) was introduced for those who wanted to taste both gamjatang and bossam. Whenever anyone asks what the secret to the diner’s success was, the owner humbly responds that he just listens to his customers' requests. But the real secret to his success is the taste of his food. The smell of Songganae's spicy gamjatang broth with its perilla leaf flavors is enough to whet your appetite, no matter how full you think you are.