Lunch with mom at Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang, Changwon: clam sundubu

A revisit review of the signature 10-dish set at Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang, a home-style Korean restaurant in Sangnam-dong, Changwon

Location and hours of Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang Sangnam Main Branch

The address is 10 Madimi-ro 10beon-gil, Seongsan-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam, South Korea, 101ho. Hours are Tuesday to Sunday 11:30-22:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00 and last order at 21:00. Closed on Mondays.

Lunch with mom, and why I came back

After moving to Changwon, I was trying to figure out where to take my mom for lunch, and I thought of Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang, a place I'd visited once before. On that first visit I loved how clean and tidy the Korean set meal was, and I especially remembered enjoying the sundubu jeongol (soft tofu hot pot), so this time I decided to go back with my mom.

Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang is a Korean restaurant in Sangnam-dong that uses seasonal ingredients to put together a whole table of dishes at once.

Atmosphere and seating

Walking in, the whole place felt tidy and clean overall. There's an open table area in the middle, and curtained spaces on either side that let you eat a bit more comfortably.

I'd booked through Naver reservation, and they seated us by a window right away with no wait.

Kiosk ordering and choosing the sundubu jeongol broth

You order at the kiosk, and for the sundubu jeongol you can choose between a clear broth or a spicy broth. You can also adjust the seasoning, which seems great for anyone who likes things milder.

The signature 10-dish set for two

We ordered Anyeosane's signature 10-dish set (10첩한상) for two people. ₩18,000 × 2.

With Yeongho rice, clam sundubu jeongol, gondeurae rice (thistle-leaf rice), jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), braised mackerel, kkomak muchim (blood cockle salad) and more, the table filled up fast as the dishes started arriving one after another.

True to its name, it really was a 10-dish set where you get to try a bit of everything. I think the best thing about this kind of full-table meal is that you get variety without having to order a bunch of separate dishes. It seemed especially good for eating with family.

The gondeurae rice had a subtle aroma that was nice on its own, and eating it alongside seasoned dishes like the jeyuk or braised mackerel gave it a different flavor each time.

The taste of the clam sundubu jeongol

The sundubu jeongol I remembered so fondly was just as good this time. Simmered until bubbling, the soft tofu and broth went perfectly together, and with clams and bean sprouts in it, it had that refreshing yet spicy feel of a jjamppong broth!

Mild seasoning, easy to eat with parents

Eating alongside my mom, I naturally found myself reaching more for the milder, less intense dishes, and overall the seasoning wasn't too strong, which made it a comfortable, low-pressure place to bring parents. When eating with parents, I think it's the Korean-style meals — where you can nibble a little of many banchan instead of something too strong-flavored — that end up being the more comfortable choice. A lot of restaurants these days lean heavy on sauce or strong sweet and salty flavors, but everything here was mild enough that rice and banchan went down easily together. That style suits me since I like clean, mild flavors, and my mom also got to eat comfortably, picking a bit from each of the many dishes.

Mix the kkomak muchim into the gondeurae rice

The kkomak muchim (blood cockle salad) kept its distinctive chewy texture, making it a nice little specialty bite, and mixing it with vegetables into the gondeurae rice gives you a clean, mild version of kkomak bibimbap.

Jeyuk and braised mackerel

The jeyuk had just the right amount of seasoning soaked in and went well with rice — not overly sweet or intense, so I kept going back for more. The braised mackerel was also good, with tender flesh and well-cooked radish, especially nice draped over a bit of the gondeurae rice.

If you're looking for a clean Korean meal in Sangnam-dong, or a place to bring your parents, this could be a good pick. I'd gone back because of how much I enjoyed my first visit, and once again I left full and satisfied after eating a good variety of dishes at Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang.