Grilled ojam bulgogi at Sonamu Sikdang, a Gimcheon restaurant in Apo

Today I'm bringing you an honest review of 'Sonamu Sikdang' (소나무식당), a grilled skewer restaurant in Apo, Gimcheon. I was craving smoky, fire-grilled skewers so I paid a visit, and I ended up enjoying everything from the main dish to the sides. Here's my honest take on the taste plus all the tips you'll want to know, starting with parking!

Basic info and parking at Sonamu Sikdang

• 🏠Address: Guksa-ri 1105, Apo-eup, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
• 📲Phone: 0507-1349-7169
• 🕑Hours: Wed–Mon 11:00–20:00 (break time 15:00–17:00 / closed every Tuesday)
• 🚘Parking: Use Guksa-ri Public Parking Lot across the street

The restaurant doesn't have its own parking lot, but don't worry at all! There's a public lot called 'Guksa-ri Public Parking Lot' right across the street with room for about 30 cars, free of charge! Everywhere around here is free and easy to park, so it's a great spot to visit even if you're a nervous driver.

Atmosphere and amenities

The inside wasn't so packed that there was a line out the door, but a steady stream of customers kept coming in the whole time we were eating, which gave it that hidden-gem, local-favorite vibe.

They have aprons and baby chairs ready to go!

The side dishes look self-serve, but here's the thing — they're not!!! If you run low, just ask a staff member and they'll bring more.

*No dedicated lot on-site, but you can use the free public parking lot right across the street.

What we ordered and the prices

• Grilled ojam bulgogi (squid and pork bulgogi, 180g) ₩14,000×2
• Grilled deodeok (mountain bellflower root) ₩10,000
• Buchujeon (chive pancake) ₩6,000
• Suhyangmi rice ₩1,000×2
• total: ₩46,000

Grilled ojam bulgogi

Personally, if you come to Sonamu Sikdang, I highly recommend trying the ojam bulgogi! The chewy squid and savory pork belly soak up the spicy-sweet sauce along with tons of that smoky char, and it's basically a total rice-thief. The sauce clings so well to both the meat and squid that it's delicious wrapped in lettuce, and just as good spooned over rice and mixed together — you'll polish off a whole bowl in no time.

Grilled deodeok

The fragrant scent of deodeok mixed with that signature charred flavor made for a real treat. It kept a nice crunchy texture, which paired perfectly alongside the main dish.

Buchujeon (chive pancake)

It came out fried crispy, making it perfect to pick at before the meal or in between bites. There wasn't too much flour coating it, so it felt nice and light!

Free doenjang jjigae with a rice order

Here, rice has to be ordered separately from the main menu! We each ordered our own bowl of rice, and here's the thing — ordering rice comes with a savory doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) on the house! They do sell doenjang jjigae as its own menu item too, but keep in mind that ordering rice already gets you one, so be careful not to accidentally order it twice ><!

Once we finished eating, there was plum tea and coffee ready to cleanse the palate. This is self-serve, so help yourself freely. Finishing with the sweet-tart plum tea especially left my mouth feeling nice and refreshed.

Menu board and review event

Like I mentioned above! Rice needs to be ordered separately! And ordering rice gets you a free doenjang jjigae, so keep that in mind too 😝

Write a Naver review and get a free drink! We had eaten such a well-rounded meal that we wrote one and got a can of sprite as a gift,,, so nice when that happens 😝

Moda Outlet as an after-meal stop

After a satisfying, filling meal, it felt like a waste to just head straight home, so we stopped by the nearby Moda Outlet to do some shopping! Sonamu Sikdang to Moda Outlet is a super close drive, less than five minutes. Filling up on delicious grilled skewers, then taking a light stroll around the outlet while shopping, made for the perfect outing!

When you're craving good Korean food or smoky grilled skewers near Apo, Gimcheon, be sure to try the delicious ojam bulgogi at 'Sonamu Sikdang' and follow it up with a shopping trip to Moda Outlet!