Suwon Korean restaurant with mild cheonggukjang stew: Boriook Main

I was craving Korean food lately, so I went to Boriook Main Branch.

It's a place where you freely help yourself to barley rice, various namul (seasoned vegetable side dishes), and side dishes buffet-style, and it had more variety than I expected while staying overall clean and well-managed. A bowl of barley bibimbap loaded with namul, cheonggukjang, and even mackerel or pork on top — it felt like a proper meal! Good spot if you're looking for a Suwon Korean set-meal restaurant to bring your parents to, or if you just want to eat a wide variety of Korean side dishes.

Boriook Main Branch: location, hours and parking

Boriook Main Branch is at 99 Yeongtong-ro 200beon-gil, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 1F, open daily from 10:00 to 21:00. Break time is 15:00 - 16:30, last order is 20:30, and reservations are available via Naver Reservation.

• 📍 99 Yeongtong-ro 200beon-gil, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 1F
• ⏰ Daily 10:00 - 21:00 / Break time 15:00 - 16:30 / Last order 20:30
• 🚗 About 6 parking spots in front; double parking may be needed when full
• ✔️ Naver Reservation available

It's located near Mangpo Station, making it a good spot for family meals or a Korean food outing. There's parking right in front but it's not very spacious, so I'd recommend visiting with some time to spare during meal hours.

What the dining room is like, and high chairs for babies

Once you step inside, the restaurant is bigger and brighter than I expected.

When you think of a barley rice restaurant, you tend to picture a slightly old-fashioned interior, but this place was decorated in a clean, modern style overall. The tables weren't cramped together either, and it looked like a good place to bring family.

They even had high chairs ready!

What we ordered at Boriook and what it cost

Ordering at Boriook Main Branch is done through a kiosk. Since just the barley rice set alone felt like it might be a little lacking, we ordered one grilled gochujang pork set for 16,000 won and one mackerel set, half portion, for 15,000 won.

After ordering, they bring out the barley rice first. From here on, it's up to you to go grab whatever side dishes you like!

What is on the namul self-serve bar?

On one side of Boriook, there's a whole row of namul and various Korean side dishes laid out. The food was neatly arranged too, which looked great.

There was quite a variety of side dishes that go well with barley rice — namul, kimchi, geotjeori (fresh cabbage kimchi), braised lotus root, leafy greens for wraps, acorn jelly, and more. I especially loved the range of namul since I'm a fan of bibimbap. Even taking just a little of each one fills up a plate fast.

And it's not just one bowl of rice and done — you can freely go back for more white rice or barley rice too. It really is an all-you-can-eat barley rice spot in Suwon. With unlimited side dishes and rice, if you're looking for that kind of place in Suwon, you can definitely walk out full.

On one side, there's also plum tea and peach tea available. Nice for a refreshing drink mid-meal, or as a palate cleanser after eating.

It's not just namul either. There are also crowd-pleasing Korean side dishes like fried items, braised tofu, and japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), so there's plenty to eat even if someone in your group isn't a fan of namul. There's also sungnyung, perfect as a palate cleanser! Finishing with warm sungnyung really made it feel like a complete Korean meal.

Is Boriook's cheonggukjang strong-smelling?

After piling up my plate with side dishes and heading back to my seat, the cheonggukjang arrives too. I expected cheonggukjang to have that intense signature smell and a thick, heavy texture, but Boriook's version was much lighter than I thought.

It wasn't overly thick or too salty — more savory and comparatively clean-tasting, easy to eat without feeling weighed down. Even people who usually can't handle cheonggukjang's strong smell could probably give this one a try.

Mixing the namul barley bibimbap

Now that we came for barley rice, it's time to actually mix it up! I loaded in all the namul I'd brought over, plus gochujang and sesame oil to taste. Between the spicy-sweet gochujang and the nutty aroma of sesame oil, honestly this alone would've been plenty satisfying. Best part was being able to load in as much of whatever namul I wanted, making my own perfect combination.

Mackerel set or grilled gochujang pork: order both?

Enter the mackerel set and grilled gochujang pork set — the main dishes! The namul and barley rice alone were already pretty filling, but with mackerel and pork added, it turned into a proper full spread.

The mackerel came out grilled golden brown on the outside with tender, moist flesh inside. It didn't have a strong fishy taste and wasn't over-seasoned, so it was easy to eat and had a clean flavor.

The grilled gochujang pork was delicious too. The glossy sauce coated it evenly, and biting in, you get a sweet, spicy gochujang glaze with a subtle smoky char. It wasn't overly spicy, which I appreciated! Since the namul bibimbap was on the milder side, pairing it bite for bite with this bolder-flavored pork worked really well. You can also freely grab leafy greens for wraps, so wrapping the pork with garlic or ssamjang (wrap dip) was tasty too.

Personally, rather than choosing just one between mackerel and pork, if there are two or more of you, I'd recommend ordering one of each to share. The clean mackerel and the boldly seasoned pork worked great taking turns.

Final verdict on Boriook Main Branch

Boriook is a place that'll leave Korean food fans pretty satisfied. I loved being able to pick and choose from namul to japchae, braised tofu, and acorn jelly at the buffet. Loading up on my favorite namul and mixing it into barley rice is exactly my thing too, and adding cheonggukjang on top made it feel like a proper Korean meal.

More than anything, the mains like the pork and mackerel were solidly good overall, so it felt like a hearty, satisfying meal rather than just feeling full from piling on lots of side dishes. It felt more like eating a variety of things well and walking away properly satisfied.

The restaurant was clean and the food stations were well-maintained too, which left a good overall impression. It's bright and tidy, making it a good option for family meals or dining with your parents. If I'm ever craving proper Korean food around Mangpo, this is the kind of place that'll come to mind again.

Who Boriook Main Branch is best for

• Anyone who loves a wide variety of namul and Korean side dishes
• Anyone looking for a good Korean set-meal restaurant in Suwon
• Anyone looking for a Mangpo Station buffet restaurant where you freely choose your own side dishes
• Anyone looking for an all-you-can-eat barley rice restaurant in Suwon to enjoy barley rice and namul to the fullest
• Anyone looking for a clean Korean restaurant to dine at with their parents
• Anyone who wants grilled mackerel or pork alongside barley rice
• Anyone looking for a family-friendly dining spot to visit with kids