Gyeongsan Korean dinner with a kid after Neighbor Otter: Bapeul Jitda

Bapeul Jitda, a Gyeongsan Korean restaurant after Neighbor Otter

Bapeul Jitda Gyeongsan Main Branch (밥을짓다 경산본점) is a great hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) place to stop for dinner after the indoor zoo Neighbor Otter in Gyeongsan. This weekend I took my kid to Neighbor Otter, and after a fun time there we headed to Bapeul Jitda nearby for a neat, proper dinner.

The sunset was glowing a warm orange when we arrived, and the exterior was so pretty that I was already feeling all fluttery and happy before we even went in.

Is parking easy at Bapeul Jitda Gyeongsan Main Branch?

The parking lot is wide and open, so even at a busy weekend dinner time there was no parking stress. When I'm traveling with a child, parking is the first thing I check, and we parked comfortably.

The sunset sky stretching out in front of the restaurant was so romantic that I took some nice photos.

Is Bapeul Jitda clean and comfortable for kids?

Inside Bapeul Jitda there is a food safety assurance mark and a hygiene grade sign reading "Excellent." As a designated model restaurant and "safe restaurant," it was clean throughout, which put me at ease as a parent visiting with a child. The high chair was sparkling clean too, which I really liked.

We reserved before visiting, and when the staff showed us to our seat, the table was already neatly and prettily set. Sitting at a table prepared with such care made me feel warmly welcomed, and I was smiling before the meal even began.

The interior is stylish yet warm, and the tables are spaced widely apart, which felt really comfortable. It's perfect for chatting without worrying about the people around you. There are also private rooms, so I thought it would be nice to come back with my parents next time.

Bapeul Jitda menu and ordering the Autumn Set for 2

The menu ranges from seasonal special sets for spring, summer, autumn and winter to a cute kids' menu. Single dishes such as tot bibimbap (rice bowl with seaweed-like tot greens) or abalone seaweed soup can easily be added too. We wanted to feel the abundance of autumn, so we happily ordered the Autumn Set (가을한상) for 2.

Receipt review promotion: free cheese potato balls

After ordering, I spotted a Naver receipt review event, joined it and got cheese potato balls as a free extra. Crispy outside, with cheese and potato blending sweet and savory inside, they were a treat that filled my mouth with happiness. If you visit, I recommend grabbing them.

What dishes come in the Autumn Set?

The Autumn Set came out in order: a seasonal salad, eojhyang-style fried eggplant, gracilaria and gobchang seaweed, slow-cooked chilled pork, steamed abalone, and beef brisket mushroom hot pot. From the fresh salad to the big, savory steamed abalone and the hot pot that warms you right through, the table was filled to the brim.

How to cook the beef brisket mushroom hot pot

We were told the hot pot tastes best if you simmer it over medium heat for 5–6 minutes, and once the vegetables on top are slightly cooked, turn the heat down and dip the food in the hot pot sauce. If it stays on high heat too long the broth reduces and can get salty, so once it's cooked enough, I recommend lowering the heat and eating it that way.

One spoonful of the broth, with its mild beef brisket, fragrant mushrooms and fresh vegetables all blended together, warmed me up and left a deep flavor filling my mouth.

Salad, fried eggplant, chilled pork and steamed abalone

I tasted the dishes of the Autumn Set slowly one by one, and I could really feel the care in every single one.

• Seasonal salad: Grana Padano cheese, crunchy brown rice puffs and Caesar dressing came together with fresh greens for a refreshing bite.
• Fried eggplant: Soaked through with a spicy-sour eojhyang sauce, it was crispy outside and moist inside.
• Chilled pork: The slow-cooked Korean pork front leg was so tender, and topped with a little chive geotjeori (fresh-tossed salad) and dipped in garlic sauce, the combination was wonderful.
• Steamed abalone: Rubbing the big abalone in the rich gewu-jang (abalone innards sauce) gave it a deeply savory flavor.
• Beef brisket mushroom hot pot: The bubbling broth was deep and subtle, a taste that made even my heart feel tidy.

A Korean set meal even a picky kid enjoyed

My kid is usually a picky eater, but seemed to love the Autumn Set and picked up the spoon and chopsticks and ate happily on their own, which made me feel so proud and glad the whole time I watched. The seasoning isn't harsh and the side dishes are nutritious, so it was lovely for the whole family to enjoy together.

Grilled deodeok, abalone porridge and doenjang stew to finish

After the Autumn Set dishes came steaming grilled deodeok (bellflower-like root). It's Hoengseong deodeok brushed with a special gochujang sauce and lightly grilled, and the faint smoky flavor and the root's fragrant taste went really well with warm rice.

For the main meal, rich, deeply simmered abalone porridge came with four simple, tidy side dishes (cucumber salad, stir-fried fish cake, pickles and kimchi).

The porridge, deeply infused with the savory taste of abalone innards, was lovely topped with a bit of crunchy cucumber salad and fresh pickles, with savoriness and freshness blending in my mouth. I really enjoyed it!

The doenjang stew served with it was spicy and savory with a homemade-doenjang (fermented soybean paste) flavor, and spooning up the warm broth now and then settled my stomach. Thanks to its deep broth, I kept reaching for it even though I was full.

Self-serve dessert corner: coffee and yakgwa

On the way out there is a dessert corner. With cold ice, fragrant drip coffee, sweet yakgwa (traditional honey cookie) and coffee cookies all thoughtfully set out, there was no need to go to a separate café, and we could finish the meal warmly and perfectly.

Bapeul Jitda Gyeongsan Main Branch verdict and opening hours

From the pretty sunset view to the warm, hygienic dining room, the attentive service and the tidy food made with heart, every moment of this weekend evening was happy. I hear it has also been featured on "Oh Jeong-yeon's Oh Good Day" and "Gukju's One Ladle."

If you want to be treated to a Korean meal made with care, or spend a warm time with the family you love, do try Bapeul Jitda, a hanjeongsik restaurant in Gyeongsan.

• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Address: 734 Samseonghyeon-ro, 1st floor, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea