Buldang-dong Korean restaurant solo lunch, octopus jeotgal: Hyangtaek

I had some errands to run in Buldang-dong a while back, and ended up with an awkward gap right around lunchtime, so I found myself eating alone! Normally I'd have just grabbed something quick, but that day I really wanted a solid, filling meal, so I looked up Korean restaurants in Buldang-dong and ended up at Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch.

Parking and opening hours at Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch

• 🅿️ Parking: Available (in-building parking)
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–20:00 (break time 15:30–17:00, last order 15:00/19:30)
• 📝 Other notes: Birthday/anniversary perks, group dining available, takeout, delivery, reservations, wifi, separate men's/women's restrooms, high chairs, wheelchair access to restroom, entrance, and seating, disabled parking

Is Hyangtaek in Buldang-dong comfortable for eating alone?

Sinbuldang has so many great restaurants, but places where you can eat alone comfortably and still get a really solid meal are fewer than you'd think. Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch had a no-pressure vibe even for a solo visit, so I could relax and eat. When I went in at lunchtime, nearly every table was full.

This one I took on my way out 📷 The interior was overall clean and tidy, and the tables had generous spacing, so it looked like a good fit for everyone from solo diners to office workers grabbing lunch to families. Even at the time I visited there were quite a few people eating alone, so it wasn't awkward at all haha. Honestly, I'm pretty much a pro at eating solo 😸

The Hyangtaek menu and what the writer ordered

Looking over the menu, there was a wide range of Korean dishes — mackerel gondre rice, eggplant doenjang rice bowl, yukhoe bibimbap, and more. I went with the mackerel gondre rice and hanpan galbi (grilled short rib platter), the two dishes most Hyangtaek regulars order ✔️

They're also running a weekday Naver receipt review event! (ว˙∇˙)ง

There was even a note on how to eat it for the best taste haha.

The food came out fairly quickly, and it arrived as a full, neatly arranged spread.

Mackerel gondre rice: boneless, so you can mix it right away

The mackerel in the mackerel gondre rice is boneless, so they said you can go ahead and mix it right away 🖤

The mackerel had a moist, tender texture that made it easy to eat, and the distinctive gondre (mountain thistle greens) aroma wasn't overpowering, so it was easy to enjoy without any pressure. Mixing in the seasoning sauce that came with it brought out even more savory depth. I tend to like my food mild, so I ate it without the sauce at first and only added a spoonful or two near the end haha.

The mackerel is huge, right??

Eating the mackerel with the gondre rice, the balance really worked, and it felt like a light yet filling meal! If you're someone who prefers Korean food over heavily seasoned dishes, this one would hit the spot 🖤

Putting the bibimbap into dried gim (seaweed) and topping it with octopus jeotgal (salted octopus) is genuinely the move.

Hanpan galbi, the grilled short rib platter ordered alongside

The hanpan galbi (grilled short rib platter) I ordered alongside was also tender and full of juice — delicious. Sweet-and-salty, that classic combo 🖤

Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch has a clean, neat, mostly Korean-food menu, so it's perfect for lunch 🫶 If you're looking for a good spot to eat alone in Buldang-dong, or hunting for a solid lunch place in Sinbuldang, it's worth a visit!