Gangneung Korean set meal, no same-day menu change: Saimdang Bueok

When you visit Gangneung, there's a lot to see around Ojukheon, and if you come here, you absolutely have to try Saimdang Bueok, a Gangneung hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) spot near Ojukheon.

Gangneung's famous foods tend to be pretty intense in flavor aside from the white sundubu (soft tofu), so this place is great when you want gentle, heartfelt Korean food or you're stuck on what to order for a kid.

Saimdang Bueok's hours and parking

Saimdang Bueok, a Gangneung hanjeongsik spot, is open daily from 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM, with last order at 7:15 PM. There's a large parking area right in front of the restaurant.

Is the Saimdang set reservation-only? Same-day switching isn't possible

Saimdang Bueok sources fresh ingredients day by day, so if you're ordering the Saimdang or Yulgok sets, I'd recommend booking ahead!

We had booked the Ojukheon Han-sang set, but when we asked if we could switch to the Saimdang set on the day, we were told the prepared ingredients had already run out, ㅠㅠ. You can also call ahead to ask, so calling first before visiting seems like a good idea.

A spot that works for family gatherings and groups too

The restaurant is spacious with a clean interior, so it's also a good place for family gatherings or group visits!

Since it's a hanjeongsik restaurant, it seems like the perfect combo to bring your parents for a meal and then take a walk around Ojukheon. It's also close to the Arte Museum, Gangneung Aquarium, and Jumunjin, so the location is great too~

Ordering the Ojukheon set for three, kids' menu at 9,000 won

What we ordered was the basic set, the Ojukheon Han-sang, for three! From elementary school age it's one menu per child, and the kids' menu can be added for 9,000 won per person. Our Juni eats so well that we just ordered three servings haha.

For reference, the Saimdang set has a richer main lineup — steamed scallops, pork stir-fry, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), Gangneung sundubu, and more. If you just want a simple meal, the Ojukheon set is good, but if you want to taste a variety of Gangneung flavors, I'd recommend the Saimdang set.

What's in the 14,000-won Ojukheon set

And here it is — the Ojukheon Han-sang from Saimdang Bueok, a Gangneung hanjeongsik favorite! Last time I visited I had the Saimdang set — this one has fewer dishes but the side dishes are quite generous, so I think it's great value.

These days even a plain grilled fish restaurant runs about 20,000 won per person, so getting a stew, grilled fish, and 8 side dishes for 14,000 won per person is really an honest price.

House-made braised tofu and cockle salad

Every side dish they make in-house was well-seasoned and tasty without exception — especially the braised tofu made from tofu they make themselves, an absolute work of art 🩷. The chewy cockle salad and the crisp cabbage wraps with gangdoenjang (thick soybean paste) were also the best. Honestly, all the other side dishes were delicious too haha.

The doenjang jjigae is a bit spicy for kids

The doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) comes in a big earthenware pot, and the broth is really punchy and refreshing, so even the stew was so delicious ㅠㅠ. It's a bit spicy for kids, but adding a little water for Juni made it just right and she ate it well.

Grilled atka mackerel and flounder, cooked to order

The grilled fish comes with one atka mackerel and one flounder, fried-grilled until crispy so the skin is crunchy and the inside stays moist — completely delicious. And instead of serving fish that's already been grilled, they grill it fresh the moment you order, so it's even hotter and tastier..🥹

A home-cooked-tasting meal that makes you eat two bowls of rice

Combine the side dishes one by one over your rice and, magically, a whole bowl disappears in no time..🤣 Coming here, you'll definitely refill your side dishes and end up eating two bowls of rice. Guess I'm really a Korean-food person..ㅋㅋㅋ

Wrap rice and fish in a cabbage leaf, top it with a big spoonful of gangdoenjang, and take a big bite — your stomach feels comfortable and full. It was the most home-cooked-tasting, unaggressive, delicious meal I had in all of Gangneung.

If you're looking for a Korean restaurant in Gangneung, come try the generous hanjeongsik table at 14,000 won per person — Saimdang Bueok, a Gangneung hanjeongsik favorite, is a must-visit!