Gijang beef tteokgalbi restaurant: a revisit at opening, Dongam

If you want a proper, carefully made meal on a Gijang trip, let me introduce Dongam Tteokgalbi (동암떡갈비), with its 100% beef tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) and table full of side dishes.

It's peak vacation season, so I bet a lot of you are heading to Busan. Many people who come to Gijang also visit Haedong Yonggungsa temple. But even the best trip is better after a good meal, right? We first came here because we had to go to IKEA, and this time we came back on purpose, so let me tell you how satisfying it is.

This is Dongam Tteokgalbi. It's great if you're looking for a good place near Haedong Yonggungsa, and if you're visiting Lotte Outlet Dongbusan or IKEA, the location is so convenient that it's an easy stop. Best of all, you really get to enjoy a neat, proper Korean meal.

• Address: 160 Gijanghaean-ro, 3rd floor, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan
• Hours: 11:00 - 21:00
• Break time: 15:00 - 16:30, no break time on weekends
• Parking lot available

Where is Dongam Tteokgalbi in Gijang, and is there parking?

Dongam Tteokgalbi is on the 3rd floor of the building directly across from Lotte Outlet Dongbusan and IKEA. It's only about 2 minutes by car from Haedong Yonggungsa, so it's a great spot for a meal after sightseeing.

The parking lot is big, too. There's even more space beyond what you see in the photos, so you can visit without worrying about parking, and the elevator takes you right up to the restaurant.

Is Dongam Tteokgalbi busy right at opening time?

We arrived right when it opened, and some people were already eating. By the time we finished and left, the place was steadily filling up, so it's a certified favorite near Haedong Yonggungsa.

The restaurant is clean, and I sat by the window, where I could see Lotte Outlet Dongbusan right from my seat. The location is a clear advantage.

Dongam Tteokgalbi menu: 100% beef basic tteokgalbi and cream cheongyang tteokgalbi

The biggest feature of Dongam Tteokgalbi is that the patties are made from 100% beef.

When I make tteokgalbi myself, I usually mix in pork, so tteokgalbi made with 100% beef had me excited from the start. We ordered the basic Dongam tteokgalbi and the cream cheongyang tteokgalbi, and both were satisfying in their own way.

The basic tteokgalbi was really juicy with a subtle smoky grill flavor, the kind that makes the rice disappear. The cream cheongyang tteokgalbi had a rich cream sauce with the sharp kick of cheongyang chili (a spicy Korean pepper), so it wasn't heavy at all and felt like a fun specialty.

Best of all, it's a Korean set meal with lots of side dishes, so it's a really hearty meal. The crab stew (doenjang jjigae, soybean paste stew) and the rice are served straight from a freshly cooked pot, so it felt like getting a proper Korean spread while traveling.

What's on the Dongam Tteokgalbi self-bar?

Personally, my favorite part of Dongam Tteokgalbi was the self-bar. I figured it would just be refills of the basic side dishes, but there was far more variety than I expected. There was sungnyung (scorched rice tea) and seaweed soup, of course, plus tofu, stir-fried pork, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and sausage and vegetable stir-fry, and you could take as much as you wanted.

I think families with kids will like it even more. There were kid-friendly items like seaweed soup and soft tofu, and with so many side dishes to eat together, it had a real home-cooked Korean feel. You can tell they care not just about the tteokgalbi but about every single side dish, so I was happy all through the meal.

How does Dongam Tteokgalbi taste for a restaurant near tourist spots?

Honestly, restaurants near tourist spots used to have a great location but only so-so food, so I didn't expect much.

One bite at Dongam Tteokgalbi changed my mind. Every time I cut into the patty, the juices were still moist, a subtle grill aroma came up, and the beef flavor felt really deep. Best of all, the side dishes weren't just there for show; each one was neat and well made, so my chopsticks kept going back.

Adding the side dishes from the self-bar made the table even more generous, and it felt like eating a Korean meal laid out by my mom. When traveling you often end up eating only strong, stimulating food, but Dongam Tteokgalbi gives you a filling, balanced meal that's easy on the stomach.

If you're planning to shop at Lotte Outlet Dongbusan, visiting IKEA, or looking for a place to eat after seeing Yonggungsa, I really recommend this restaurant near Haedong Yonggungsa. The location is good and the food is very satisfying, so I'll definitely come back with my child next time!