Dish guide · Soups and stews
Kongnamul-gukbap
콩나물국밥
Bean sprout soup with rice
A clear, lightly peppery soup of soybean sprouts and rice, famous as Jeonju's breakfast and as a hangover cure.
What it is
- Jeonju has two main styles. In one, rice and cooked sprouts are placed in the bowl and hot broth is poured over, with a soft egg served separately. In the other, everything is boiled together in a pot with an egg.
- The soft egg on the side is called suran.
- A cup of moju, a warm, sweet drink made from rice wine and spices, is the classic partner.
How to eat it
- 1With a separate egg, spoon a few spoonfuls of hot broth over it, add seaweed flakes and eat it before or alongside the soup.
- 2Adjust the seasoning with salted shrimp, and ask for less spicy if you prefer.
History
- It's closely tied to Jeonju, and one account places its beginnings in Nambu Market, but there's no firm date. Jeonju's reputation for clean water is often given as one reason its sprouts and soup are so good.
Allergies and diet
Usually contains
- There's no meat in the bowl in most Jeonju versions, but the broth is often made with anchovy, squid or dried seafood.
- Salted shrimp and kimchi on the table contain seafood.
- Moju contains a small amount of alcohol.
Recipes differ between restaurants. If you have an allergy, always ask the staff before you order.
🗣️ Allergy card for the staff
Pick your allergy to see the sentence in Korean.
📍 Where to try it
- 🍲
Sambaekjip 삼백집
Soups & stews · Jeonju Hanok Village & Nambu Market · Since 1947
The historic name in Jeonju bean sprout soup, going since about 1947. The name means 'house of 300': the story goes that it closed for the day after selling 300 bowls. Here the egg is cooked in the soup, unlike the separate egg of the Nambu Market style, so it's a good comparison. Try moju too.
Try: Kongnamul-gukbap (bean sprout soup with rice)
Short wait - 🍲
Hyundaeok (Nambu Market) 현대옥 남부시장점
Soups & stews · Jeonju Hanok Village & Nambu Market
A small Blue Ribbon counter in Nambu Market, serving the market style of kongnamul-gukbap, in business since the late 1970s. The soup comes with a separate soft-poached egg, and you can add squid. Eating at the old counter while the market wakes up is the best way to start a Jeonju morning.
Try: Kongnamul-gukbap (bean sprout soup with rice)
Short wait - 🍲
Waengi Kongnamul Gukbap 왱이콩나물국밥
Soups & stews · Jeonju Hanok Village & Nambu Market
Jeonju's other great dish is kongnamul-gukbap, a clear bean sprout soup with rice, loved as a breakfast and a hangover cure. Waengi is the big-name shop near the Hanok Village, with a hill of sprouts in every bowl. A soft-poached egg (suran) comes on the side, and sweet moju, a warm herbal rice drink, finishes the meal.
Try: Waengi-gukbap (bean sprout soup with rice)
Short wait
Sources
We check every fact against at least two sources and write it in our own words. Last checked: 2026-10-31.