Cheonan Korean restaurant with Daegu Seomun Market roots: Hyangtaek

Sometimes you just crave a Korean meal that's both tidy and filling. My mom told me about a good Korean restaurant that opened in Buldang-dong, so we went together, and everything from the food to the service was satisfying. Let me tell you all about Hyangtaek, a great find in Buldang-dong, Cheonan.

Where is Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch?

Hyangtaek, a Korean restaurant spot in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, is located in Sinbuldang. It's in the building at the intersection with the Sinbuldang fire station, so it was easy to find.

Is parking at Hyangtaek easy?

Parking at this Buldang-dong favorite was really convenient — it's a parking tower building with a spacious lot, so there was no need to worry about parking at all.

Hyangtaek's opening hours and break time

This Buldang-dong Korean restaurant is open year-round, operating daily from 11am to 8pm, which made it easy to drop by. Just keep in mind there's a break time from 3:30 to 5pm.

Inside Hyangtaek: atmosphere and solo bar seats

The inside of Hyangtaek was pleasant and clean. Even before lunchtime officially started, a lot of people were already eating — clearly a popular spot in Buldang-dong. There are also solo bar seats, so it's easy to visit without any pressure.

Is Hyangtaek good for visiting with kids?

Hyangtaek was also a great place to visit with a child — plenty of baby chairs on hand, and they prepare kids' tableware when you come with a little one, making it perfect for eating out as a family. The flavors are mild and clean too, so it seems ideal for feeding kids — I'm planning to come back with mine.

What's on the menu at Hyangtaek?

Hyangtaek is said to be the real deal, tracing back to Daegu's Seomun Market. The menu is made up of tidy, well-put-together Korean dishes, and even the side dishes looked delicious. We ordered mackerel gondre rice (rice with dried gondre greens) and perilla squid rice bowl as mains, plus mushroom pancake.

Hyangtaek's review event: a free mushroom pancake

Hyangtaek's review event had a next-level payoff — if you join on a weekday, you get a free mushroom pancake worth ₩6,000. Definitely worth taking part.

The banchan (side dishes) at Hyangtaek

The basic banchan (side dishes) included doenjang soup that pairs with everything, along with gim (seaweed), salted seafood, and pickled vegetables. Staff refilled anything that ran low.

Mushroom pancake: a crispy, nutty appetizer

Food came out freshly cooked as soon as we ordered — it didn't take long, which was another plus, and the presentation was flawless too. The mushroom pancake side dish was crispy with a standout nuttiness, and dipped in soy sauce it made the perfect appetizer.

How do the mackerel gondre rice and perilla squid rice bowl taste?

Soon the main dishes, mackerel gondre rice and perilla squid rice bowl, arrived — the presentation was beautiful and neat, which put us in a good mood. The mackerel came boneless, so we could just eat it straight with the rice, which was even better.

The squid rice bowl had the fragrant scent of perilla leaf spreading through, crisp and fresh, and the squid itself wasn't heavily seasoned — its subtlety balanced well. Nothing about it was overpowering, so it felt filling and easy on the stomach while eating. I could tell why it's such a well-known spot.

The mackerel gondre rice had soft gondre greens paired with moist mackerel — mixed with the seasoning sauce, it tasted amazing.

It was delicious even on its own, but eating it wrapped in gim with salted seafood, as suggested in the 'how to eat' guide, made it even more harmonious and tasty.

Every dish at Hyangtaek was mild and clean while eating, with no harsh flavors, which made it comfortable. Being rice made it filling, but the flavor itself was so refreshing that it tasted even better.

The two of us ordered different dishes and shared, and both were so appealing we ate without even noticing. Personally, I preferred the mackerel gondre rice, the signature dish with gondre greens.

Every dish at Hyangtaek, this tidy and clean-tasting Korean restaurant in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, was delicious — from the crispy mushroom side to the lightly seasoned rice bowls, everything left my stomach feeling comfortable. I'm planning to come back often. Highly recommend Hyangtaek in Buldang-dong, Cheonan.