As if you didn’t know already, my love for gisa sikdangs is only surpassed by my love of Korean fried chicken. But the gap is closing, all thanks to a local eatery serving up delicious, homestyle meals at a reasonable price point.

Ranging from grilled fish and meat to spicy soups and stews, Hyungjae Gisa Sikdang (aka “Brotherly Taxi Driver Shop”) is a 24-hour magnet for taxi drivers and locals—many of them seniors who’ve come for a quick bite with long-time friends or serving as a reliable drinking venue for cheap anju. For me, I just wanted delicious, honest, and inexpensive food, which is what I got with their bulnak jeongol (pork and octopus hot pot) and bulbaek (pork bbq set meal). Recommended by the friendly emo, both really hit the spot and left me feeling like a million bucks because the bulnak wasn’t doused with gochugaru (chili flakes) for a change and the bulbaek caramelized nicely with the onions. They were both eaten to start off one of my long bike rides this past summer, so it was the perfect fuel for a nice balance of carbs and proteins. Their menu is quite extensive here, so I’ll most definitely make way down the list whenever I’m craving something quick and delicious.

Most gisa sikdangs are very generous in portion size and a few extras–and this place is no exception. Besides getting all this glorious food for 15,000 won (approx $15), there’s a self-service corner where you can get unlimited refills on soup and rice. But, be cautious, as the sign above reads “Please, don’t use the rice scooper to pour soup into your bowl, and please don’t use the soup ladle to scoop rice into your bowl.” 🙂

Food: ★★★★ out of 5 stars

Service: ★★★★ out of 5 stars

Ambiance: ★★★½ out of 5 stars

Value: ★★★★½ out of 5 stars

Hyungjae Gisa Sikdang 형제기사식당

Gil-dong 383-1 (서울 강동구 길동 383-1)

Phone: 02-472-8015

Hours: Open 24 hours every day

Click here for an interactive map: http://naver.me/5A8QGvYi