Paju ssambap restaurant two days before my due date: Simhaksan

Today I'm bringing you a review of a place known as a Paju Simhaksan must-visit: Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap. Two days before I gave birth, I suddenly craved ssam (lettuce wraps) so badly that I went with my mom. I really wanted to write this up for anyone searching for Paju Outlet restaurants or Simhaksan restaurants.

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap hours and break time in Paju

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is open daily from 11am to 9pm, with a break time from 3:30pm to 5pm. I'd recommend checking the break time before you go — I only just found out myself that you can't just show up anytime. If you visit around 2pm like we did, you'll have a relaxed meal before the break starts.

• Location: 55-10 Dolgoji-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Break time: 15:30–17:00

We'd originally planned to meet for lunch, but my mom's hair appointment ran long, so we didn't head to Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap until around 2pm. I figured it'd be quiet on a weekday afternoon, but I was surprised — the moment we walked in, almost every table was full. True to its reputation as a Paju Simhaksan must-visit, the place stays busy no matter the time.

Parking and the two set menus: kkot-jeongsik and deul-jeongsik

Parking is limited to about 6–7 spots right in front of the restaurant. It's not a lot, so keep that in mind if you're visiting during busy hours. Looking at the menu, the set courses were split into two options: Kkot-jeongsik and Deul-jeongsik.

After some deliberation, we ordered two Deul-jeongsik sets. It comes with both stir-fried pork and stir-fried squid, so we got to enjoy two main dishes at once.

What comes first: side dishes and pumpkin porridge

The side dishes came out set on the table too, and each one was neat and delicious. They weren't salty and let the natural flavor of the ingredients shine through, so I kept reaching for more. Before the main meal, we started with the pumpkin porridge — warm and sweet, a light starter that made even this Korean set-meal feel like being genuinely taken care of.

Refilling ssam greens and banchan at the self-serve bar

At Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap, the ssam greens aren't brought to you — you get them yourself from a self-serve bar. You can take as much as you want, and refill anytime you run out, which was really convenient.

Next to the ssam greens refill, there was also a spot to refill side dishes, so we could eat whatever we wanted without feeling like we had to hold back.

Mild doenjang stew and pork-and-squid stir-fry, easy at nine months pregnant

One bite of the doenjang (soybean paste) stew and it was seriously amazing — exactly like the stew my mom used to make at home. Mild and savory, with that comforting home-cooked feel, it was perfect for me since spicy or strong flavors felt like too much at full term.

The pork stir-fry comes with squid stir-fry mixed in, and honestly that combo can't miss — the spicy seasoning with rice was easy for even nine-months-pregnant me to digest. The ssam greens were especially fresh. There were plenty of different leafy greens at the self-serve bar, and even though I worried my mom had piled on too much, the greens were so fresh we finished it all. They looked crisp and fragrant, clearly fresh at a glance. With vegetable prices going up lately, a lot of other restaurants don't have much variety or freshness in their ssam, but here the range of greens made wrapping pork and squid genuinely fun.

Making nurungji from the stone-pot rice

We piled the spicy pork stir-fry and chewy squid stir-fry onto the greens for all sorts of wraps, and that combination was honestly the best. To finish, isn't it basically an unwritten rule to pour water into the hot stone-pot rice and make nurungji (scorched rice)?

You pour in hot water, and while you keep wrapping pork and squid with the plain rice, the nutty nurungji finishes forming on its own.

Dessert at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap: ice cream and coffee

After the meal, there's ice cream and coffee waiting for dessert. After eating so heartily, a bite of sweet ice cream and a cup of warm coffee would've been the perfect ending, but since I couldn't eat too much more, I let my mom have it and we headed out.

Why it works as a stop on a Paju outlet trip

If you're out for a Paju Outlet trip, or looking for a good Korean set-meal restaurant near Simhaksan, I'd strongly recommend Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap. Home-style doenjang stew, refillable ssam greens, a filling pork and squid stir-fry set, and refillable side dishes — the value was really great too. For me, it's an extra special place because it holds a precious memory with my mom right before giving birth. If you're looking for a Paju Simhaksan restaurant or a ssambap place near the Paju Outlet, I confidently recommend Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap.