Ulsan haejangguk spot where yukhoe bibimbap stole the show: Boksan

I was looking for a hearty lunch in Ulsan and ended up at Boksan Haejang Nam-gu Sinjeong Branch. Conclusion first: the yukhoe bibimbap (beef tartare bibimbap) is a must-order! And for curing a hangover, the kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) is great!

Is Boksan Haejang only a haejangguk place?

Boksan Haejang is a Korean restaurant with a wide menu: haejangguk (hangover soup), yukhoe bibimbap, yukhoe mulhoe, haejang kalguksu and even pork bulgogi. With a name like that I assumed it was a hangover soup specialist, but the menu was more varied than I expected. We ordered the Boksan haejangguk, the yukhoe bibimbap and a Coke Zero.

Boksan Haejang Nam-gu Sinjeong Branch at a glance

• Boksan haejangguk ₩11,000
• Yukhoe bibimbap ₩12,000
• Parking for about 5 cars in front
• Opening hours are short, so check before you go

What are the side dishes and atmosphere like?

The side dishes were kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and pickled shredded radish, set out before the food arrived. The kkakdugi went especially well with the hot, spicy haejangguk.

The inside of the restaurant is tidy overall, so it looked comfortable for a solo lunch or a workday lunch.

If you can't decide what to order on a first visit, I recommend doing what we did: get one haejangguk and one yukhoe bibimbap and share. You can alternate between the spicy broth and the bibimbap and enjoy both at once.

Boksan Haejang menu and prices

On the menu, Boksan haejangguk is ₩11,000, haejang kalguksu ₩13,000, yukhoe bibimbap ₩12,000 and Boksan yukhoe mulhoe ₩13,000. There are also pork bulgogi and yukhoe Boksan mungtigi, so it looked good not just for a lunch but also for a group picking different dishes.

The side dishes were kkakdugi and pickled shredded radish, and overall they paired well with the soup.

Is there plenty of yukhoe in the yukhoe bibimbap?

The yukhoe bibimbap (₩12,000) comes in a big bowl with a generous pile of yukhoe, vegetables, seaweed flakes and an egg yolk. Personally, the one that beat my expectations was the yukhoe bibimbap!

Add the rice, break the yolk and mix it all up, and you get the soft texture of the yukhoe plus the crunch of the vegetables. I wondered whether a hangover soup place could do good yukhoe bibimbap too, but after eating it I'd order it again next time. For ₩12,000, the portion was satisfying too.

What does the Boksan haejangguk look like?

The Boksan haejangguk (₩11,000) arrives still bubbling in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot). It has meat, bean sprouts and glass noodles in it, and the broth is hot and spicy, a good fit for a hangover soup, just as the name says.

I started with the solid ingredients and at the end put the rice into the soup, and yes, that's the proper way to do it. A bite of yukhoe bibimbap followed by a spoonful of hot haejangguk was a great combo too.

Parking and last order at Boksan Haejang

When I visited, Boksan Haejang Nam-gu Sinjeong Branch had space for about 5 cars in front of the restaurant.

However, the opening hours are short, so a late lunch may not work. Last order is at 2pm!!

If you're looking for a hangover fix or a hearty lunch in Ulsan, it's a good choice! The haejangguk was tasty, but surprisingly the yukhoe bibimbap is what stuck with me more. Next time I plan to have the haejang kalguksu and the yukhoe bibimbap!!

The menu overall suits a filling meal, and the food came out quickly. I think it suits anyone who wants a simple but proper meal at lunchtime.

One-line review

Went for the hangover soup and came out satisfied with the yukhoe bibimbap too!