Gangneung Korean restaurant for family fish and pork: Saimdang Bueok

Saimdang Bueok beside Ojukheon, perfect for a family-trip meal

It was right beside a must-visit stop on a Gangneung trip, so it was very easy to get to. It was also just nine minutes from our hotel, Skybay, which was great.

The Korean set-meal menu was something both kids and adults could enjoy, so I recommend it for a family trip like ours. It was a Korean restaurant where we could enjoy both grilled fish and spicy pork!

A large parking lot and restaurant-like atmosphere

There was a huge parking lot right out front, which made parking so easy. Since we arrived at night, maybe because of the lighting, Saimdang Bueok felt more like a restaurant than a traditional Korean set-meal place.

All the tables were by the windows, which was so nice, and the booth-style seating gave it a somewhat private feel. The interior had a black-toned mood thanks to the lighting, and it really felt more like a restaurant than a Korean set-meal place.

Further inside was this large room, which looked great for company dinners or larger groups. Locals rather than travelers like us would probably enjoy having a get-together here.

We sat where we wanted. Rain suddenly started even though none had been forecast, and it created its own lovely atmosphere. If you are looking for a good restaurant near Ojukheon in Gangneung, the location and atmosphere are both excellent.

Adding spicy stir-fried pork to the Ojukheon set meal

The Saimdang set meal was ₩19,000 and the Ojukheon set meal was ₩14,000, and we decided on the Ojukheon set meal with an added spicy stir-fried pork dish!! There was also a varied selection of add-on side dishes, so it was easy to adjust for your taste or group size.

This was the Ojukheon set meal with spicy stir-fried pork added. The banchan (Korean side dishes) were incredibly plentiful, and the Ojukheon set meal came with grilled fish and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) as standard. Anyone who likes home-style Korean food will be completely happy with it.

Rich, deeply flavored soybean paste stew

The doenjang jjigae had such a rich, deep flavor—so delicious! Mixed with rice, I felt like I could have finished a whole bowl even with just this stew.

Grilled fish for the child, meat for the parents

And then there was the grilled fish. Our child ate only fish while my husband and I ate only meat, so I really loved that the menu included both fish and meat. The fish seemed lightly dried before grilling, and it was incredibly tasty.

Our child ate almost an entire fish alone, and even though they do not usually finish a bowl of rice, they polished one off! Seeing our child eat so well made me want to come back next time.

Sweet-and-spicy pork wrapped in cabbage

And the spicy stir-fried pork was thoroughly soaked in seasoning. It cost ₩13,000, and it was a great addition to the meal.

The sweet-and-spicy pork was delicious on its own, but it was even better wrapped in cabbage. I love ssambap (rice and fillings wrapped in leafy greens), and meat wrapped in steamed cabbage? The cabbage juices (?) and pork seasoning came together and made my mouth water like crazy.

Even the plentiful side dishes were great

There were far more kinds of side dishes than the photos show, and they were all so good. Especially that fresh kimchi, which was truly the best. I do not normally eat much kimchi, but I lost count of how many times I wrapped it around rice. The seasoned gungchae (stem lettuce) and namul (seasoned vegetable sides) were all delicious too.

Was it braised pollock? This braised dish was tasty too. It was a meal both adults and children could be happy with.

There was so much food, but we scraped every last bit clean. It was such a delicious, satisfying spread. We were two adults and one child, and we had two Ojukheon set meals with an added spicy stir-fried pork dish!