# Korean restaurant in Gyeongju's Hwangnidang-gil: mackerel gondre rice - By Minsol (https://superchart.com/en/@daegu-little-breaks/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a complimentary meal in exchange for a store visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@daegu-little-breaks/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@daegu-little-breaks/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/index.md) ## In short Hyangtaek is a Korean restaurant on Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju known for its mackerel gondre rice. Visiting just after the Friday lunch rush meant no wait, and an order of mackerel gondre rice, eggplant doenjang rice bowl, and a side of grilled mushroom platter arrived with different banchan set for each main dish. The seasoning was light and the presentation neat, making it a lunch spot that works equally well for a date or a meal with parents. ## Good to know - **Address**: 7-7 Sajeong-ro 57beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea - **Hours**: Mon–Sun 11:00–20:00 - **Break time**: Weekdays 15:00–17:00 / Weekends 16:00–17:00 - **Ordered**: Mackerel gondre rice, eggplant doenjang rice bowl, grilled mushroom platter - **Review perk**: Free pungyeong sikhye (rice punch) with a Naver receipt review *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* ![Hyangtaek Gyeongju cover image](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-01-vk1oh-1200.webp) ## Location and hours of Hyangtaek in Gyeongju - 📍Address: 7-7 Sajeong-ro 57beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do - ⏰Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–20:00 - Weekday break time 15:00–17:00 - Weekend break time 16:00–17:00 ## Why Korean food feels right in Gyeongju Why does Korean food feel so right in Gyeongju? With so many historical sites and the whole city wrapped in a hanok atmosphere, it just feels like you should have a proper, neat Korean meal here. So while we were traveling in Gyeongju, we decided to stop by Hyangtaek's Gyeongju branch, which is famous on Instagram for its mackerel gondre rice (herb rice bowl)! ![Entrance view of Hyangtaek Gyeongju on Hwangnidang-gil](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-02-1268f-966.webp) ![Exterior and signboard of Hyangtaek Gyeongju](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-03-1ky2r-m-966.webp) ### Friday lunch — was there a wait? I was worried there'd be crowds and a wait, but since we went a bit after the lunch rush and it was a Friday rather than the weekend, we didn't have to wait! (Though there were still quite a few customers inside.) ## The menu at Hyangtaek Gyeongju ![Menu board at Hyangtaek Gyeongju](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-04-130ki-966.webp) ![Rice dish page of the Hyangtaek menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-05-1rm86-966.webp) ![Side dish section of the Hyangtaek menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-06-f6fs7-966.webp) ![Beverage section of the Hyangtaek menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-07-rtffs-966.webp) ![Additional page of the Hyangtaek menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-08-10ifa-966.webp) If you look at Hyangtaek's menu, you'll see every dish has its own character — I wanted to try them all. I think I'll have to come back and work my way through the whole list. ![Notice about the pungyeong sikhye receipt-review perk at Hyangtaek](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-09-k3iq3-966.webp) ### Pungyeong sikhye for a receipt review Right now, Hyangtaek Gyeongju is offering pungyeong sikhye (a traditional sweet rice punch) if you leave a Naver receipt review. It's perfect as a dessert, so make sure you write that review and try the sikhye. It came with fine ice slush floating in it, which felt like it cleaned up the palate nicely after the meal. Perfect for a finishing touch! ## The dishes we ordered and the full banchan spread ![Banchan spread set at Hyangtaek](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-10-ebznj-966.webp) ![Different side dishes served for each menu item](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-11-dqvay-966.webp) ![Close-up of Hyangtaek's banchan plates](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-12-1ydag-966.webp) Before the main dishes came out, they set the table with banchan (side dishes) first. The sides that went with the mackerel gondre rice and the eggplant doenjang rice bowl were different from each other. ![Full Korean meal spread on the table at Hyangtaek](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-13-1qytu-966.webp) ![Hyangtaek's neat spread served in tidy dishware](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-14-1xhzc-966.webp) As someone who takes photos often, I've noticed that a proper Korean spread really does photograph beautifully because of all the varied colors. Everything came in neat dishes, arranged tidily, and it genuinely felt like being treated to something special. No wonder this place has a reputation as a great date spot... ## Mackerel gondre rice ![Hyangtaek's signature mackerel gondre rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-15-yh40l-966.webp) ![Mackerel gondre rice mixed the recommended way](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-16-l0sn2-966.webp) ![Close-up of mackerel flesh and gondre rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-17-qomws-966.webp) This is Hyangtaek's signature dish, the mackerel gondre rice. They didn't give any specific instructions on how to eat it, so I just dug in — and the mackerel wasn't fishy at all, just wonderfully savory. The seasoning wasn't too strong, so it went down really easily. It paired perfectly with the gondre (Korean thistle) too. I want to try making this at home. ![A spoonful of mackerel gondre rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-18-2ekjq-m-966.webp) ## Eggplant doenjang rice bowl ![Hyangtaek's eggplant doenjang rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-19-4lqnv-966.webp) ![Close-up of eggplant and doenjang sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-20-1hgiu-966.webp) Next up is the eggplant doenjang (fermented soybean paste) rice bowl. The flavor is really different from the mackerel gondre rice, so I think it'd be great to order one of each and share. The doenjang wasn't salty, just savory and rich, and it worked really well with the eggplant. The eggplant was so soft that even people who don't usually like eggplant might enjoy this. The portion wasn't small either, but we finished it all without getting tired of it. ## Definitely order the grilled mushroom platter side ![Hyangtaek's grilled mushroom platter side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-21-1x3zm-966.webp) I'd seen reviews saying the grilled mushroom platter was a must-order, so we tried it. (Hyangtaek's prices aren't steep overall, so it felt like an easy add.) ![Grilled mushroom platter cooked to a golden brown](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-22-ec6y3-966.webp) ![Cross-section of the mushroom platter showing its chewy texture](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-23-imojb-966.webp) The mushroom platter came out grilled to a golden brown, almost like a mushroom pancake — crispy outside, chewy inside, and totally my kind of texture. I'd really recommend ordering this as a side to go with the rice bowls! ## Would this work for a meal with parents? ![Table at the end of the meal at Hyangtaek Gyeongju](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik-24-yqodf-966.webp) I get why Hyangtaek Gyeongju is such a hot spot on Instagram among Hwangnidang-gil restaurants. If you're visiting Gyeongju and want a neat, proper Korean meal — whether for a date or for a lunch spot to take your parents to — this is one I'd recommend. Honestly, I already have a strong feeling I'll be back the next time I travel to Gyeongju... haha. ## Where it is - Hyangtaek Gyeongju (향택 경주) - 7-7 Sajeong-ro 57beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea - 경상북도 경주시 사정로57번길 7-7 향택 - 35.8371313, 129.2090937 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%96%A5%ED%83%9D%20%EA%B2%BD%EC%A3%BC/@35.8371313,129.2090937,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@daegu-little-breaks/hyangtaek-gyeongju-hwangnidan-hansik/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt