Solo dining at Daejeon Korean restaurant Baengnyeon Boribap: pork set

Today I wanted some time to myself, so I headed to Baengnyeon Boribap (백년보리밥) in Wa-dong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon.

Where Baengnyeon Boribap is and where to park on Sintanjin-ro

Baengnyeon Boribap sits at 358 Sintanjin-ro, 1st floor, right on the main Sintanjin-ro street, so finding it was easy, and the large parking lot meant I had no trouble at all parking my car.

I was a little worried about whether it would be a comfortable spot to eat alone, but that worry disappeared the moment I walked in.

After being shown to my seat, I found a tray with plates already set out at the table.

The self-serve namul bar with unlimited refills

Baengnyeon Boribap has a self-serve counter in the center of the restaurant where you scoop your own barley rice and namul (seasoned vegetable) side dishes — there were so many kinds that I found myself happily stuck deciding what to pile on first.

From dotorimuk (acorn jelly) to japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) and even the nostalgic sarada (Korean-style salad), everything was there, so I filled a plate to the brim and headed back to my seat.

The jeyuk set served with black soybean noodles

I ordered the pork bulgogi set that comes with black soybean noodles and barley rice. Taking the first bite of the black soybean noodles, the nutty flavor came through strong and deep.

Made with black soybeans, the broth had a depth that set it apart from the usual soybean noodle soup you'd find elsewhere, and the noodles were chewy and well-cooked, sliding down easily with every slurp.

On a hot day when you're working up a sweat, I can't think of a better dish — cool and satisfying at the same time.

Mixing the barley rice with the namul and pairing it with the pork bulgogi that came with the set worked really well together.

The pork bulgogi, spicy with a rich umami kick, lived up to being the kind of dish that makes you eat an extra bowl of rice, and the springy bite of the barley rice paired with the crunch of the namul kept my chopsticks moving nonstop.

Since the side dishes are unlimited refills, I went back for seconds and thirds without hesitation, and every time it was freshly restocked, which was really satisfying.

Why the 4-piece king shrimp tempura was the best call

I also ordered the 4-piece king shrimp tempura on top of everything, and this was truly a masterstroke.

The batter was fried crisp, and the shrimp inside stayed plump and springy, so much so that I could feel the juices with every bite.

Alternating between the salty barley rice set and the crispy tempura balanced out the flavors, so I never got tired of it and enjoyed every bite to the end.

Review-event caramel snack, plus misugaru and coffee for dessert

When I went to pay after finishing my meal, I was told there was a review event going on. After leaving a review, I was even given a caramel snack — an unexpected little bonus that put me in a good mood.

Nibbling on the crisp, subtly sweet caramel snack as dessert made the end of my day feel even more complete.

There's also a dessert corner on one side of the restaurant where you can freely enjoy misugaru (roasted grain drink) and coffee, which was a nice touch that let me linger a bit before heading out.

Is Baengnyeon Boribap comfortable for eating alone?

I thought dining alone might feel a bit awkward, but there were plenty of other solo diners at Baengnyeon Boribap, so it didn't feel awkward at all.

You can enjoy healthy namul side dishes without limit, and the overall value for the price is really solid.

If you're in Daedeok-gu looking for a hearty meal, I'd definitely recommend Baengnyeon Boribap.

Next time, I want to try the grilled mackerel set or the pork cutlet combo.