Geumsan Korean restaurant for ginseng set meals: Madang Itneun Jip

When you want to treat someone to a refined meal in Geumsan

When I want to take my parents out or treat someone dear to a neat, thoughtful meal, Madang Itneun Jip (마당있는집) is one of the first Geumsan Korean restaurants that comes to mind. I visited this spot at 26 Dwitdammal-gil, Geumsan-eup, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.

This is already a celebrated Geumsan destination for Korean set meals, to the point that it was recently featured in episode 303 of Heo Young-man's Food Travel, in its distinguished-guests-table episode. Once you follow the navigation into downtown Geumsan, the welcoming exterior greets you with the owner's artistic sensibility and the charm of age. With a name like Madang Itneun Jip, I pictured a grassy yard, but it is actually a tidy decked terrace yard, so even on a rainy day I could visit comfortably without worrying about getting mud on my shoes.

There is room for about four cars by the entrance, and you can also park easily in the large vacant lot directly across the street. The outdoor restrooms are separated for men and women and kept very clean, too.

The atmosphere for reservations and group gatherings

We arrived for our noon reservation, and it was already fully booked from its 10:00 a.m. opening—such a popular place. The room had a warm, cheerful atmosphere, with groups of four or more and adult children dining with their parents. Unlike the bustle of a big chain restaurant, it feels calm and cozy, like a quiet place known regulars come to, and you really feel looked after. With group seating and private rooms for 8 to 60 people, it is also an excellent choice for family gatherings or work dinners over a healthy seasonal table.

What comes with the ginseng set meal?

Looking over the menu, I noticed a special premium table setting worth about ₩1,000,000, which made me curious about what rare seasonal ingredients it might include. We ordered the signature ginseng set meal instead.

Seeing the neatly arranged table of traditional Geumsan Korean food, I knew we had found the right place.

The first banchan (small side dishes) that caught my eye were gat kimchi, made with mustard greens, and a dark jangajji (soy-pickled vegetable) said to be made with winter radish. The pickled radish left such a deep savory finish that I kept reaching for it.

Each person gets one piece of ginseng tteokgalbi, a tender Korean grilled beef patty, and it goes down so softly from the first bite. Just when it begins to feel a little rich, adding some gat kimchi brings the appetite right back to life.

Marinated seafood and braised eel in harmony

One of this restaurant's specialties is its marinated seafood. The soy-marinated shrimp in particular came fully peeled, making it easy to eat, while its pleasantly chewy texture and gentle sweetness really stood out.

The spicy stir-fried pork, cooked in a house-made sauce, and the braised semi-dried pollock, flavorful enough to pick clean right down to the head, were both wonderfully savory.

The generously sized braised eel and crisp fried ginseng perfectly show the wholesome character of a Geumsan ginseng table. After a bite of the nutty, rich eel, I followed it with gat kimchi, perilla leaves dressed in doenjang (fermented soybean paste), or pickled radish. My palate felt instantly refreshed, and I could keep enjoying new combinations of flavors.

They serve freshly cooked rice in individual bowls, and the ginseng rice itself, topped with ginseng, is wonderfully earthy and delicious.

It comes with hearty cheonggukjang, a pungent fermented soybean stew, and dark neungi mushroom radish soup. At first I thought it was beef-and-radish soup because the neungi mushrooms were so soft in texture and the broth was so refreshing. It was very distinctive.

A Geumsan Korean set meal that is lovely with parents

It was a harmonious table filled with care, comforting on the stomach like a meal my mother would make with natural ingredients. Seeing a couple dining happily with their parents warmed my heart, too. This is an outstanding Geumsan Korean restaurant where both the host and the guest leave satisfied, and not a single won feels wasted.

It is perfectly placed for a stop while traveling around Daejeon, Daedunsan, Jinaksan, Gubongsan, Edinburgh CC, or Boseoksa. I strongly recommend it for a meaningful family gathering or a polished date, and please do not forget to reserve in advance before you go!