Cheonan Korean restaurant for boneless mackerel rice: Hyangtaek

I had some errands in Cheonan and was looking for lunch when I came across Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch (향택 천안불당점), a Korean restaurant well known in Buldang-dong. I went because it had a range of rice bowls that are hard to find in everyday life, including Spanish mackerel gondre rice and eggplant doenjang rice bowls—and after trying them, they were even more delicious than I expected, so here I am writing this post.

Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch: location and parking

Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch is on the first floor of the Golden Plaza 2 building on Buldang 25-ro in Sinbuldang. I could use the building parking lot, so it was convenient to visit by car, and it was nice to enjoy my meal without having to worry about parking.

Even though I visited on a weekday, it was packed, so I couldn't take separate photos of the interior. Still, the restaurant was more spacious than I expected, with both tables and counter seating, so it looked like a good place to come alone for a meal too.

Distinctive Korean rice bowl dishes

The menu ranges from familiar yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef mixed rice) to harder-to-find rice bowl dishes such as herring roe bibim noodles, Spanish mackerel gondre rice, eggplant doenjang rice, and chamnamul greens and squid rice. There are plenty of side dishes too, so it seems easy to choose according to your taste.

I ordered Hyangtaek's signature Spanish mackerel gondre rice, while my boyfriend ordered the yukhoe bibimbap.

The basic sides were seasoned seafood, clear soup, and gobchang gim (thick, crinkly roasted seaweed). There weren't loads of side dishes, but they seemed sufficient to eat with the mains, so I didn't really mind.

Add the yukhoe bibimbap sauce little by little

My boyfriend's yukhoe bibimbap came with a raw egg and the house special sauce.

First, mix the yukhoe, vegetables, and rice evenly, then add the raw egg and mix well. Add the special sauce to season it, but it can become salty, so rather than pouring it all in at once, I recommend adding a little at a time and adjusting it to your taste.

The yukhoe bibimbap was good first of all because the raw beef was fresh. It was tender to chew with a rich, nutty flavor, while the crisp vegetables gave it a nice texture. Once mixed evenly with the special sauce, the seasoning was just right and went beautifully with the yukhoe. The sauce was not overly intense either, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy—just right for lunch.

Easy-to-eat boneless Spanish mackerel gondre rice

The Spanish mackerel gondre rice had large pieces of mackerel on top of gondre rice, and it looked quite appetizing from the start.

Best of all, there wasn't a single bone in the mackerel! I could simply break it into small pieces and mix it with the gondre rice without having to pick out bones, which made it really easy to eat. The fish was so tender that it broke apart easily with just a gentle press of a spoon.

I also noticed a detailed guide on the table for enjoying the Spanish mackerel gondre rice. It said to eat it with gobchang gim and seasoned seafood, or add the special sauce; since the flavor changes depending on how you eat it, I was excited to see what each version would taste like!

The Spanish mackerel was so tender and moist that it paired wonderfully with the rice, with clean yet nutty flavors. The subtle aroma unique to gondre added to it, and the combination worked much better than I expected. It was clean and delicious on its own, but mixing in a little special sauce added extra savoriness and created another delicious version.

It was delicious on its own, but it was much better with gobchang gim and seasoned seafood, which added a savory salty note. Personally, this was the best combination, so I recommend eating it this way.

Hyangtaek's take on Korean food

Hyangtaek is said to be a Korean food brand that began in a tiny space of about 7 pyeong in Gyodong Market in Daegu before growing into what it is today. It says it makes Korean food that brings out the flavor of good ingredients and can be enjoyed comfortably in everyday life.

A filling meal in Buldang-dong

The Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch I visited this time had a tidy menu, and I was overall happy with the food. The Spanish mackerel gondre rice was especially nice because I could eat it easily without picking out bones, and it was even more delicious with gobchang gim and seasoned seafood. If you want a filling meal featuring distinctive Korean dishes in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, or are looking for a place to visit with children as a family, I recommend Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch.