Gyeongju hotpot rice restaurant near Cheomseongdae: Handa Sot

Three of us moms, off on a trip to Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. Weeks before, we'd been scrolling Instagram going 'let's go here, let's go there' — and then once we actually got there, total chaos, haha. But it was still great. I like this way better than everything being perfectly planned ☺️ Even the restaurant, we picked on the spot. And it turned out to be a huge success. Here's the record of it.

Where is Handa Sot Gyeongju? Hours and parking

Handa Sot Gyeongju 111 Cheomseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Daily 10:30–21:00 Last order 20:00 Parking: free lot in front of restaurant (4 spots) Nearby: Jjoksaem parking lot, Daereungwon public lot Hwangnidan-gil public lot (paid)

The weather was still summer but the sky already looked so autumn, you know? Such a pretty cloudy day, and Handa Sot just fit Gyeongju perfectly. We got pulled in craving solbap (hotpot rice). Picked it so we'd have the energy to keep wandering around after.

Second-floor seats at Handa Sot with tomb and sky views

Handa Sot Gyeongju is a hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) spot beloved on Hwangnidan-gil. The 1st floor was full, so we headed straight up to the 2nd floor, which had great views of both the royal tomb mounds and the sky.

Scanning the place~ Looks like the restroom is on the 1st floor only.

Kiosk ordering and the best side dish: gungchae (dried lettuce stem)

At Handa Sot Gyeongju, you order quickly at the kiosk and the banchan (side dishes) get set up right away. We were starving from all the walking, so we dug in fast — and it was so good.

The seasoned perilla leaves were tasty, and the lotus root side dish flavored with perilla seeds was totally my style.

The friend sitting across from me was eating something with such a satisfying crunch — practically ASMR — that I had to try it too. Oh~~ salty and savory, great texture, and my hand kept going back for more, so much that we'd basically cleaned the plate before the food even arrived... Turns out it was called gungchae. Delicious — noted, noted.

Handa Sot menu: premium solbap bowls and sets for two

Handa Sot Gyeongju's menu features a premium solbap line — short rib, abalone, charcoal-grilled eel, soy-braised pork belly, and cockle bibim solbap — plus sets meant for two: the wood-fired grilled fish set (₩38,000 for 2) and the butter-grilled abalone set (₩59,000 for 2). Once the food arrived, full spread shot complete ☺️

The signature set is a table of crispy-outside, moist-inside wood-fired grilled fish with fluffy solbap — mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and hairtail grilled in a 500°C oven, so if you love fish, this one's worth picking. We each went with solbap instead!! The rice is made with in-season ingredients and specially bred rice, so chewy that even eating it plain made our appetites perk right up.

Abalone solbap 21,000 won — innards served on the side

Abalone solbap ₩21,000 A generous serving of abalone with a chewy texture and rich flavor, in premium hotpot rice

My pick was the abalone solbap. I was already impressed just by how beautifully the abalone was cleaned and prepped. Plated it up nicely. I also loved that they served the abalone innards separately. My friend next to me piled the innards right back on and ate it happily. Personally I'm not a fan of the innards, so I really appreciated that thoughtful touch.

Premium short rib solbap 23,000 won — smoky beef with a dab of wasabi

Premium short rib solbap ₩23,000 Tender premium short rib served with a special sauce Hotpot rice known for its rich juiciness and smoky char flavor

The tender short rib with a little wasabi on top was so good, full of that smoky char flavor. Wasn't my pick, but my friend next to me chose it, so I just tried one piece. Eating it with the special sauce really took the flavor to another level — very satisfying.

Soy-braised pork belly solbap 18,000 won — with minari and boiled egg

Soy-braised pork belly solbap ₩18,000 Generously topped with house-braised soy pork belly Sweet and salty sauce that pairs perfectly with the rice

The pork belly solbap, rounded out with minari (water dropwort) and a boiled egg, was soft and delicious with well-balanced nutrition too. We all agreed Korean food really is the best for recharging, and every one of us finished our bowl completely.

Group reservations and what to check before visiting Handa Sot Gyeongju

With clean, well-made banchan and a great menu selection, this is a solid pick for a proper Korean meal. Group reservations for 6 or more are available, making it a great fit for family, friends, travel groups, or work outings. You can book through Catch Table or Naver Reservations. If you sign up for alerts through Naver, you can get a free glass of cold highball too — worth checking before you visit. (Available with a minimum spend of ₩30,000 in-store, usable from 17:00 until before 21:00.)

• 5-minute walk to Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon / 5-minute drive to Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
• 15-minute drive to Gyeongju Expo Park and Gyeongju World
• No pets allowed; wheelchair accessible entrance
• A Korean restaurant right in the heart of Gyeongju's key attractions
• Group seating (minimum 6, up to 38 people)
• Solo seats available (great for dining alone)
• Write a Naver receipt review and get a free fresh-squeezed cheonhyehyang (sweet citrus) juice worth ₩3,000