Gangneung hanjeongsik at 2 p.m. with no wait: Saimdang Bueok

An early August trip to Gangneung! I think the first meal you eat after arriving somewhere really matters. Since we were headed to the beach and planning raw fish for dinner, I wanted something filling and Korean for lunch. So I booked Saimdang Bueok, a well-known spot near Ojukheon in Gangneung, haha.

Three minutes by car from Ojukheon: how is parking at Saimdang Bueok?

Saimdang Bueok sits right in front of Ojukheon, so it's easy to stop by while sightseeing, and the parking lot is spacious enough that you can visit without any worry. Some travel spots have tiny lots or no parking at all, but here the lot in front of the restaurant is genuinely huge, so even groups arriving in multiple cars can visit without stress.

It's only a 3-minute drive from Ojukheon, so it works well whether you're starting your trip here or wrapping it up. My schedule got shuffled around and I didn't end up making it to Ojukheon this time, but Gangneung is a place I think of every summer, so I'm saving it for next time, haha.

The menu is structured differently from other Korean restaurants — it's a neat hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) with a wide variety of side dishes, which makes it a good choice to bring parents or kids along.

Inside the dining room, and booking for groups

The interior of Saimdang Bueok is spacious with wide gaps between tables, so we could eat comfortably. Group reservations are also possible, so if you're on a bus tour or traveling with a big family, it's worth booking ahead.

What comes with the 19,000-won Saimdang Hansang set?

We ordered the Saimdang Hansang, which comes with a whopping 17 items. Even the basic side dishes were neat and varied enough that I didn't know where to point my chopsticks first, haha.

Saimdang Hansang / ₩19,000 per person / 12 base side dishes plus japchae, steamed scallops, pork bulgogi, grilled fish + sundubu or seaweed soup / chrysanthemum tea for dessert

The Saimdang Hansang I ordered is the safest choice, but the Ojukheon Hansang (₩14,000) and Yulgok Hansang (₩35,000) look good too. Check the menu composition and pick what suits you for a filling, tasty meal.

Butter-grilled scallops: 10 pieces for 3,000 won extra

The basic side dishes came out first, then the steamed scallops and japchae followed in turn, arriving at a good pace for two people. I didn't expect much since it came as a side dish, but the butter-grilled scallops were genuinely delicious. You can order more if you like them — only ₩3,000 for 10, so no worries about the price, haha.

The japchae was loaded with vegetables and mushrooms, and the glass noodles weren't mushy, so it was genuinely tasty. Having these side dishes come out before the main dishes helped curb our hunger.

Gangneung sundubu without the Chodang tofu village queue

Rice and our chosen soup, sundubu (soft tofu stew), came out at the end. Since we were in Gangneung, I figured I'd try it once, and it was savory even eaten plain. This Gangneung restaurant near Ojukheon was on another level, haha. The famous sundubu spots nearby usually have long waits, and I didn't want to lose that much time on a trip, so I hadn't even tried. Getting to eat this sundubu at Saimdang Bueok by chance turned out to be excellent.

Arriving at 2 p.m.: the table was set in minutes

Then came the grilled flounder and pork bulgogi! Not having to wait long was another thing I liked about this Gangneung spot near Ojukheon. I skipped snacks at the rest stop and arrived around 2pm genuinely starving, but the table was set up quickly after ordering.

I first tried the pork bulgogi, which I love — the meat was chewy with good texture and the seasoning soaked in nicely, so it was delicious! Wrapping it in the cabbage that came alongside was great too. If you're looking for a restaurant near Ojukheon in Gangneung, Saimdang Bueok is a must.

The fish was big with plenty of flesh, and grilling out the oil seemed to bring out a savory, umami flavor. Normally I'd only eat meat and skip fish entirely, but that day I ended up eating a bit of everything, haha.

The spread was such a great composition that if I ever crave a Korean meal on a future Gangneung trip, I'll head back to Saimdang Bueok! Stopping by at the start or the end of a trip and eating a bit of everything would make for a good start or finish.

Is Saimdang Bueok worth it? Final verdict

If you want a hearty, filling meal of a homemade 17-dish table with a great, varied composition, I'd recommend Saimdang Bueok as a Gangneung restaurant near Ojukheon! I visited this time as part of a sponsored campaign, but I wouldn't mind paying out of my own pocket for this either, haha. I'd 100% go back.