Songjeong Korean restaurant, abalone pot rice with soy crab

On days when I want a hearty meal in Songjeong, picking a menu is trickier than you'd think. There are plenty of cafés and seafood spots near the beach, but sometimes what I really want is a warm pot rice with a table full of side dishes.

This time I visited Songjeongok, a Korean restaurant in Songjeong, on exactly that kind of day.

What I ordered was the abalone pot rice full-table set. From boiled pork to black sesame tofu, soy marinated crab, and cockle salad, the table came so packed that it felt hearty from the moment the food landed.

Songjeongok's abalone pot rice set centers on abalone pot rice and rounds it out with boiled pork, various side dishes, and soybean paste stew — a full Korean table setting. It's a satisfying choice for a family meal where everyone wants to try a little of everything, or when you just want a filling meal.

Songjeongok's location, hours, and parking

• Location: 54-1 Songjeonggwanggol-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea (1F, 2F)
• Hours: 11:00–22:00
• Parking: Available in front of the restaurant

What's the atmosphere like inside?

Walking in, the place has a calm, tidy atmosphere that lets you focus on enjoying the food. It's not flashy or overly decorated — more the kind of space where you can sit comfortably with family or friends and just enjoy a meal.

Especially when dining with parents or looking for a family outing spot, the atmosphere matters just as much as the food, and in that sense, this Songjeong Korean restaurant suits family visitors well.

Menu and prices

• Abalone Pot Rice Set: ₩19,000
• Abalone Seafood Hinoki Steam Set: ₩23,000
• Whole Octopus Boiled: ₩20,000

Why I'd recommend Songjeongok as a Songjeong Korean restaurant

The biggest advantage is that it never feels like you're just eating one dish. Abalone pot rice is the main event, but the variety of side dishes surrounding it is pretty wide.

Boiled pork, black sesame tofu, and soy marinated crab — each with its own distinct character — arrive together, so it's not a meal you finish in one bite; you end up slowly tasting your way through several dishes. This kind of full-table setting is especially convenient when eating with parents or as a family.

Someone might love the boiled pork, another the crab or cockle salad, but everyone finds something to eat. Personally, when I look for a Korean restaurant in Songjeong, I tend to gravitate toward places with a rich full-table spread rather than a place famous for just one dish.

Centered on the main abalone pot rice, boiled pork, black sesame tofu, and soy marinated crab were arranged around it, along with a variety of kimchi and side dishes — white kimchi, green onion kimchi, fresh kimchi, and radish salad.

On top of that came cockle salad, a fresh vegetable salad, and soybean paste stew. Honestly, this kind of full-table setting feels even more generous in person than in photos. You come for the rice alone, but as you taste one side dish after another, the meal ends up quite substantial.

Abalone pot rice — you end up scraping the pot clean to the last grain

For me, the centerpiece of the table was definitely the abalone pot rice. When you lift the lid, warm steam rises along with that distinctive nutty aroma of pot rice, and it's clearly different from eating plain white rice. With abalone on top, the meal feels a bit more special.

With so many side dishes, I wasn't sure where to start at first, but eventually a spoonful of pot rice went with the boiled pork, then with the soy crab, then with the cockle salad.

I liked being able to keep making new combinations with the same bowl of rice. Pot rice like this really shines when paired with a full-table setting — as you add one side dish after another, the rice disappears faster than you'd expect. If you're searching for a Korean restaurant in Songjeong and you love pot rice, this is the dish I'd recommend first.

Boiled pork as the tender centerpiece of the Korean table

The boiled pork that came with the abalone pot rice also made the table feel hearty. Pot rice alone can feel a bit plain, but the boiled pork brings balance to the meal.

A tender slice of boiled pork paired with a side dish and a spoonful of pot rice worked well together. When eating a full Korean table setting, having a meat dish really boosts satisfaction, and the boiled pork plays that role well. Eating rice, side dishes, and soup while getting a bite of meat now and then made the meal feel much more filling.

Soy marinated crab and cockle salad — the rice thieves you can't skip

The dishes that made the rice taste even better in this abalone pot rice set were, without a doubt, the soy marinated crab and cockle salad. Soy marinated crab naturally makes you reach for another spoonful of rice when eaten with pot rice.

The cockle salad, with its seasoning and the chewy texture of the cockles, also went well with the rice. With so many side dishes like these, there's no room to get bored while eating the pot rice. You go from the boiled pork to the crab, then from the cockle salad back to fresh kimchi and rice. New combinations keep forming throughout the meal. That's why this Songjeong Korean restaurant suits people who enjoy tasting a little of many dishes.

Seafood hinoki steam — another standout added to the full-table set

The abalone pot rice set alone was already plenty filling, but the seafood hinoki steam we had alongside it deserves a mention too.

Steamed in a hinoki wood steamer with a subtle fragrance, the seafood wasn't greasy or heavily seasoned, so it paired especially well with the Korean full-table setting. Sitting between hearty dishes like the pot rice and boiled pork, it felt like a clean palate reset that balanced out the table.

Frequently asked questions

What's the most recommended menu at Songjeongok?

If you want to enjoy several dishes at once, go for the abalone pot rice set. It centers on abalone pot rice and includes boiled pork, soy marinated crab, black sesame tofu, various side dishes, and soybean paste stew.

Is it good for a family meal in Songjeong?

Since so many dishes come together on one table, it's a great spot for a family visit. The advantage is that everyone can enjoy their own favorite side dishes and menus together.

Are there many dishes served besides the pot rice?

Along with boiled pork, black sesame tofu, soy marinated crab, and cockle salad, the table includes kimchi, seasoned vegetables, salad, and soybean paste stew — the full spread is quite generous.

The abalone pot rice set I had this time was fun to eat right to the end, adding one side dish after another, and by the time I finished the pot rice and soybean paste stew, it felt like a proper full meal.

Next time I'm craving a Korean restaurant in Songjeong with plenty of side dishes and warm pot rice, this is the place that will come to mind.