Gimhae Chinese restaurant jasmine tea self-bar, lunch course A

I went with a friend to have a nice lunch at Dongbaek, a Chinese restaurant in Dongsang-dong, Gimhae.

What I especially liked about this visit was that they have a variety of lunch specials and family set menus ready. It seemed perfect for when you want to try several different Chinese dishes at once.

What are the private rooms like at Dongbaek in Dongsang-dong, Gimhae?

Dongbaek is a Chinese restaurant in Dongsang-dong, Gimhae where you can eat in a private room. I thought it would be a great fit for anyone looking for a room-seat restaurant in Gimhae — good for a private meal, but also for company dinners, get-togethers, and group gatherings.

What comes with Dongbaek's 20,000-won lunch course A?

We ordered Dongbaek's lunch special course A. At ₩20,000 per person for a whole course of dishes, I was already excited, and each dish that came out was more satisfying than I expected.

As soon as we sat down, they brought out jasmine tea. You know how well that faint jasmine fragrance goes with Chinese food, right?

At the self-bar you can refill extra side dishes and jasmine tea, and jazangyeon (Chinese pickled radish) is self-serve too, just so you know. First up were the abalone porridge and Dongbaek cold appetizer.

First courses: abalone porridge and Dongbaek cold appetizer

The abalone porridge had a rich, savory depth and was so smooth that it really got the appetite going, and—

—the Dongbaek cold appetizer had a wonderfully tangy flavor. Eating it as the first dish of the course, that sourness really woke up my appetite.

Yusanseul: stir-fried seafood and vegetables in thick sauce

Next was yusanseul (stir-fried meat, seafood and vegetables in white sauce). It wasn't salty at all and had a light, clean taste, so it was easy to eat without feeling weighed down.

The crispy fried noodles on top especially added a nice crunch, which made the dish even better paired with the soft yusanseul.

Overall, Dongbaek's Chinese cooking leaned more toward light and clean than heavy or overpowering. It kept that deep, distinctive Chinese-restaurant flavor while not feeling like too much after eating, which I personally liked even more.

Tangsuyuk and yurinji, the two fried dishes

Then came the tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) that I really enjoyed. The batter wasn't thick — quite thin, actually — and the meat felt really fresh.

There was no gamey smell to the meat at all, and it was so clean-tasting that I thought, 'so tangsuyuk can be this light.'

Next up was yurinji (crispy chicken with a tangy sauce), and the meat quality there was really good too.

My friend even said they must be using good quality meat, and having my friend enjoy the meal that much made me feel proud, like I'd picked a great spot.

Finishing with jjamppong, jjajang and dessert

For the final dish of the course, you could choose between jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and jjajang (black bean sauce noodles). We ordered one of each and shared, and after all those dishes, finishing with jjamppong and jjajang felt really hearty. I really loved the texture of the noodles!

At the end, dessert came out too, which really rounded off the meal like a proper course.

What I liked most was being able to enjoy such a wide variety of Chinese dishes as a course for just ₩20,000 per person.

Does Dongbaek work for team dinners and family gatherings?

Since Dongbaek has private rooms, it seemed like a good spot for company dinners, gatherings, and group meetups in Gimhae. With plenty of lunch specials and family set menus, it would work well for family outings and also for planning something a bit more special.

Dongbaek in particular has private room-seat spaces for eating comfortably, plus rooms set up for group use, so it seems like a great match for anyone looking for a spot for company dinners, gatherings, or group meetups in Gimhae.

I also thought it would work well for a slightly more special occasion, like a family event or first birthday party (doljanchi).

If you want to try a variety of Chinese dishes all at once and are looking for a room-seat restaurant in Gimhae where you can eat comfortably, Dongbaek is worth remembering.

I'd love to come back here the next time I have an important gathering. Both the food and the atmosphere were satisfying at Dongbaek in Dongsang-dong, Gimhae — it had been a while since I enjoyed a proper Chinese course meal like that.

Dongbaek in Gimhae: location, hours and parking

• Address: 1F, 514 Gaya-ro, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, South Korea (lot address: Dongsang-dong 494-16, Gimhae)
• Hours: 11:00–21:00, break time 15:30–16:30
• Parking: dedicated basement parking behind the building available, some parking possible in front of the store