Brunch stop in Daebudo: mushroom kalguksu and pork cutlet at

Brunch in Daebudo on the way to camping

The day we headed to Yeongheungdo to camp. Traffic on this route is hopeless if you leave late, so we set off early — and my stomach was already growling 😩 Pitching a tent takes energy too, so we made sure to grab brunch in Daebudo on the way to the campsite. After looking around, we landed on Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch, a Daebudo restaurant known for its seafood jjim (braised seafood stew).

Location, parking, and the mood inside

Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch was easy to find by car, and there's a Hanaro Mart nearby too, so it's a handy spot to grab groceries while you're traveling.

Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch

Parking space was plentiful too, which was great since most people get around Daebudo by car.

It seems like the place hasn't been open long — everything from the exterior to the interior felt clean and put-together. It looked like a solid spot for a family meal or a group outing.

What's on the menu

True to its reputation as a Daebudo seafood jjim spot, the signature menu has dishes made for sharing — seafood rib jjim, seafood jjim, abalone seafood hot pot, boneless monkfish jjim, spicy pork rib jjim, and more! There's also a good lineup of single or two-person meals like mushroom kalguksu, cold kalguksu, and handmade pork cutlet — plus a lunch special discount on weekdays. Pretty thoughtful, Haemokjeong ☺️

I did consider the seafood jjim since it seems to be the signature dish, but a whole pot of it felt like a lot for the morning ✔️ So we settled on mushroom kalguksu for two plus handmade pork cutlet.

Here's the current promotion — 🎂 if you visit on your birthday, you get free squid seaweed soup 🍀 write a Naver receipt review and get 3 pieces of fried squid on the house.

Mushroom kalguksu, ₩9,000 x 2

Mushroom kalguksu, ₩9,000 x 2

First up was the mushroom kalguksu 🍄 It arrived in a big pot topped with oyster mushrooms and minari (water dropwort), looking seriously appetizing.

The basic side dishes came out neatly arranged too — braised potatoes, chive salad, white kimchi, pickled peppers, and kimchi.

It doesn't come fully cooked in a bowl — each table has two built-in burners, so you get to simmer it yourself, which I loved 🔥

The longer it simmered, the more the mushroom's distinct flavor and the minari's fragrance came through. One spoonful of that hot broth and my stomach felt instantly settled~😋

How spicy is it?

Haemokjeong's mushroom kalguksu comes in a red broth style 🌶️ Nicely spicy and tangy enough to wake up your appetite! But it's not extreme — even our household's official spice wimp of a kid could handle it just fine ☺️

The noodles were chewy and smooth with no starchy heaviness, so they disappeared fast. Wrapping them around the well-cooked minari and oyster mushrooms made it even better!

Handmade pork cutlet, ₩13,000

Handmade pork cutlet, ₩13,000

Haemokjeong's handmade pork cutlet comes with crispy cutlet, rice, and angel hair salad. For families with kids, there's nothing more reliable than a cutlet~

True to its name, the pork cutlet came out extra-large, and since I'm a dip-not-drench person, I appreciated that the sauce came on the side. Cutting it into bite-sized pieces and dipping into the sauce gave that familiar, satisfying taste 😋 Alternating with the slightly spicy mushroom kalguksu made for a great combo!

Finishing with snow cheese fried rice

Finishing with snow cheese fried rice

Once we finished the kalguksu, the owner offered to make fried rice and told us to just let him know when we were ready! The fried rice is a self-serve, DIY situation.

With a small amount of leftover broth, you stir in the fried rice ingredients he sets out, and then pile on a generous heap of snow cheese at the end — pure bliss 😀

The savory depth of the broth combined with the nutty richness of the snow cheese made for an unbeatable combo. And honestly, isn't the truest way to end a carb feast — with more carbs?? We scraped the bottom clean and ate every last bit before heading out ✌️

From seafood jjim and rib jjim to easygoing single-serving meals, there's a lot on offer here — if you're looking for a hearty, clean meal in Daebudo, give Haemokjeong Daebudo Branch a try!