Group tables and 1F parking at Dongam Tteokgalbi, Gijang restaurant

If you're looking for a really clean, proper meal near the Busan Gijang Lotte Outlet or Haedong Yonggungsa, there's a place worth knowing about. I went to Dongam Tteokgalbi, a much-talked-about Gijang restaurant where for around ₩10,000-something you get a generous spread — tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty), hotpot rice, seafood soybean paste stew, and over 15 neatly arranged side dishes.

Where is Dongam Tteokgalbi, and what about parking and hours?

Dongam Tteokgalbi is on the 3rd floor of 160 Gijang Haean-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan. Hours are 11:00 - 21:00 with a break time of 15:00 - 16:30, open every day of the year. Parking is free on the building's 1st floor, and on weekends and holidays you just follow the parking attendant's directions.

We wanted to park on the 1st floor of the building, but it was full at the time, so we parked on the shoulder of a nearby building and walked over to eat!

Lively room with wide 6–8 person group tables

We visited during weekend lunch hours and were surprised at how much busier it was than expected. I figured people around here would mostly head to the food court inside the outlet, but there were a lot of local elderly diners and families.

Since it's popular enough to have a wait, there was also a designated waiting area set up.

What stood out especially were groups of elderly diners, from couples on dates to groups of 5–6 or more. The interior is very spacious, with roomy group tables that seat 6 to 8 people at once, making it perfect for family meals or gatherings. I also loved how the full-length windows opened up a nice view outside.

What we ordered at Dongam Tteokgalbi, and how it tasted

That day we ordered the basic classic tteokgalbi set and a slightly more special main, the Cream Cheongyang Tteokgalbi set. I thought about getting the Korean beef tteokgalbi, but ended up ordering the basic one, Dongam Tteokgalbi, haha.

Dongam Tteokgalbi set: 15,000 won

Dongam Tteokgalbi (₩15,000) is a classic tteokgalbi made with low-temperature aging to bring out the meat's deep flavor. As soon as it was set on the table I cut into it — it was clearly on a different level from the mass-produced tteokgalbi you buy at the mart, haha.

It was the kind of tteokgalbi that crumbles softly and lets the juices out, haha. A classic, deep flavor that anyone, any age, would like without complaint.

Cream Cheongyang Tteokgalbi set: 18,000 won

The Cream Cheongyang Tteokgalbi set (₩18,000) has a nutty, mild cream sauce studded with spicy cheongyang chili peppers, giving it a distinctive charm. The spiciness of the cheongyang pepper cleanly cuts through what could otherwise be a heavy cream flavor, and I found myself saying I was really glad I ordered this one. A style women especially will like.

The main tteokgalbi was excellent, but the combination with the accompanying seafood soybean paste stew and freshly cooked hotpot rice was a work of art. Scraping up the crispy scorched rice at the bottom of the pot at the end left me completely satisfied. But that's not even the end of it!!

The self-bar: more than 15 side dishes

The moment I saw the self-bar, I understood exactly why this place is so popular. Beyond the 15 side dishes said to change daily with freshly prepared ingredients, the self-bar had a truly wide variety of dishes ready to go.

The side dish lineup on the day I went: fresh handmade tofu, seasoned squid, fresh salad, seasoned seaweed, and several kinds of namul (seasoned vegetable side dishes)...!!

Menu items kids love: jjajang (black bean sauce), fried rice, steamed egg, and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)

It was such a well-rounded lineup that appeals to every age and taste, which really made it clear why there are so many families here. Not a greasy, over-seasoned outing, but a well-being spread that leaves your stomach comfortable afterward, haha.

Visiting tips and verdict on Dongam Tteokgalbi

Avoid peak hours: during the lunch peak there can be a wait, so going a bit earlier or a bit later seems like it would let you eat comfortably without waiting. I went around 1:30pm, waited a little, and was seated right away. Even around 2pm while we were eating, customers kept coming in.

If you're looking for clean, reliable Korean food and a hearty tteokgalbi set in Gijang, definitely check out Dongam Tteokgalbi, which has it all — ample parking and group seating included. It'll be a meal you won't regret~~