Paju ssambap restaurant, a hot chili mistaken for mild: Simhaksan

Attention, everyone who loves wrapping food in leaves! I really, truly love ssambap, so when I heard about a place famous for generous leafy greens and side dishes, how could I not go?!?!

What is Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap in Paju?

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap (심학산 들꽃쌈밥) is a ssambap (leaf-wrap rice) restaurant at the foot of Simhaksan in Paju. The address is 55-10 Dolgoji-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. It is open daily 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:00), with a break from 15:30 to 17:00.

• Free parking
• No pets allowed
• Separate men's and women's restrooms
• Group seating available
• Baby chairs
• Wi-Fi

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is a Paju Korean restaurant where you can enjoy spicy stir-fried pork, spicy stir-fried squid, a variety of leafy greens and stone pot rice, all in generous portions.

Parking and wait times at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap

If you want a hearty Korean meal near Simhaksan in Paju, this is a great place to go! It's also perfectly on the way if you're looking for a ssambap restaurant near the Paju outlets.

There's plenty of parking in front of the restaurant, and a public car park is also quietly available, so it's easy to visit by car.

I'd heard there's always a wait, so I came a little after the lunch rush, but what's this? Even after lunchtime, people were still waiting 🤣

What are the dining room and self-bar like?

Inside the restaurant you can see traces of celebrities who have visited. There are autographs on the wall, so looking at them while you wait is surprisingly fun! It made me think lots of people have been coming here for a long time.

The interior is clean. With plenty of tables, it looked good for group meals too.

You order by scanning the QR code on the table.

The one space a ssambap restaurant can't do without: the self-bar 👏 At Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap's self-bar, you can take extra helpings of the basic side dishes, and the leafy greens are set up for easy refills too.

People who love wraps sometimes worry about running out of greens (that's me! me!), so I liked that you can take as much as you want.

It also looked fine for families with kids. There are baby chairs and a kids' menu, so you can order something separate that children can eat.

The restrooms are inside the restaurant, with separate men's and women's ones, which is convenient.

After the meal you can also have desserts like coffee, ice cream and traditional Korean snacks. Being able to freshen your mouth afterward is a small perk too 🫶

What's on the menu at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap?

The menu centers on two set meals: the Deul set (들정식) and the Kkot set (꽃정식). It's packed with set menus that anyone who likes Korean food would be happy with.

• Deul set (들정식): spicy stir-fried pork + spicy stir-fried squid + doenjang stew + ssamjang + stone pot rice
• Kkot set (꽃정식): grilled fish (Atka mackerel, mackerel) + spicy pork + spicy squid + doenjang stew + ssamjang + stone pot rice
• Extras: grilled mackerel, grilled Atka mackerel, potato pancake, extra spicy pork, extra squid, extra stone pot rice, extra steamed rice
• Kids' menu: Spam egg rice

This time I ordered the Deul set for 2 (spicy pork, spicy squid, doenjang stew, ssamjang, stone pot rice).

Side dishes and pumpkin porridge before the meal

Before the Deul set arrived, quite a variety of side dishes were laid out. In Korean food the main dish matters, but varied sides are what make it fun to mix and match, haha!

In particular, pumpkin porridge came out before the meal, and it was just sweet enough and smooth, perfect before the main meal.

I don't even like pumpkin porridge, so why is it so good!?😲

Spicy pork and spicy squid on one sizzling plate

The Deul set's main dishes arrive! The spicy pork and spicy squid come together on one iron plate, and I really liked being able to enjoy both at once.

The spicy pork had plenty of meat and well-blended seasoning, great as a side for rice.

The spicy squid was satisfying too, with hearty squid. The chewy squid with the sauce went well with rice and also worked wrapped in the greens.

One bite with only the pork, one bite with only the squid, and finally one bite with pork and squid together!

Leafy greens, gangdoenjang and doenjang stew

What a ssambap restaurant can't do without is the leafy greens! At Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap you can bring greens from the self-bar, so I could wrap plenty of pork and squid. Add the ssamjang (thick, seasoned doenjang paste) and you really feel the charm of ssambap.

I thought it was a cucumber chili pepper and took a big bite, but it was spicier than expected and I was so shocked 🤣 It must have been a Cheongyang chili (a hot green chili). Ugh...

Doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) came too, so it was nice to alternate between rice and stew. The tofu had soaked up the stew's seasoning so well, which I loved.

Stone pot rice and scorched-rice tea to finish

I love restaurants that serve stone pot rice ❤️ The Deul set comes with it, and the sweet smell of the rice made my mouth water 😋

Anyone who doesn't know about pouring water in?! If you don't, you're not Korean!

Of course you finish with nurungji sungnyung (scorched-rice tea)~ Ending with the warm sungnyung made me feel I'd wrapped up a really filling meal.

Verdict: a generous Korean spread in Paju

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is a Paju restaurant where every side dish is seasoned just right and you can feel the care. Besides the generous portions, you can take fresh leafy greens and sides from the self-bar as much as you like without feeling awkward, so my satisfaction is top-notch 👍

• People who like wrapping meat in leafy greens
• People who want spicy pork and spicy squid in one go
• People who like a Korean meal with lots of side dishes
• People looking for a place to eat before or after a Paju outing or outlet visit
• People looking for a family meal out with their parents

If you're looking for ssambap near the Paju outlets, or a proper Korean meal near Simhaksan, I recommend Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap :)