Home-style Korean restaurant near Gyeongpodae, Gangneung: Saimdang

When you travel around Gangneung, sightseeing is great, but a proper, filling meal matters too, right? 😊 This time I wanted Korean food, so I went to Saimdang Bueok (사임당부엌). It's a good place to visit when you're craving a neat, traditional Korean table. What I ordered was the Ojukheon Hansang (Ojukheon set meal)!

If you're looking for Korean food in Gangneung near Gyeongpodae, or somewhere to eat near Ojukheon, have a look at this one.

Saimdang Bueok in Gangneung, for when you crave a tidy Korean meal

What I looked forward to most at Saimdang Bueok was a full Korean table with lots of side dishes to eat alongside a hearty meal. Even for a single meal, I like having rice, soup and side dishes together, so a hanjeongsik (Korean table d'hôte) menu was a welcome sight.

Especially while traveling, there are times you want familiar, comforting Korean food rather than something strongly flavored. On days like that, this was a great fit for anyone looking for hanjeongsik in Gangneung.

If you're looking for a place to eat before or after visiting Ojukheon, it's worth a look too. I thought a stroll around nearby Ojukheon after the meal would be nice as well.

Saimdang Bueok Ojukheon Hansang: price and what's in it

The dish I ordered that day was the Ojukheon Hansang (₩14,000).

The Ojukheon Hansang comes with 8 side dishes plus grilled fish and doenjang jjigae, so it's a great choice when you want to eat with a variety of side dishes.

Part of the fun of Korean food is eating a little of many side dishes rather than just one main, isn't it? With eight side dishes on the table, I liked that I could enjoy so many different things with my rice.

The grilled fish makes it hearty as a side for rice, and with warm doenjang jjigae alongside, the whole meal felt even more satisfying.

From 8 side dishes to grilled fish and doenjang jjigae

What caught my eye in the Saimdang Bueok Ojukheon Hansang was that so many side dishes and a soup dish come together.

The 8 side dishes can be enjoyed evenly with the rice, and the grilled fish was a mild, clean-tasting partner for it. Add the doenjang jjigae and it felt like sitting down to a comforting home-style Korean meal.

I like alternating between side dishes rather than eating just one thing, and with this many items on the table, I got to enjoy lots of different flavors throughout the meal.

When you want to eat a proper, filling meal even on a trip, a spread like this feels so welcome. 🍚

If you're craving Korean food on a Gangneung trip

On a Gangneung trip you end up enjoying cafés and desserts too, but sometimes you want a real bowl of rice in between. If you prefer a meal with rice, side dishes, grilled fish and doenjang jjigae like I do, take a look at Saimdang Bueok's Ojukheon Hansang.

It's especially handy if you're looking for somewhere to eat around Ojukheon, or want a hearty lunch in Gangneung. When you're after a neat Korean table with lots of side dishes, keep Saimdang Bueok in mind. 😊