Korean set meal near Ojukheon in Gangneung: Saimdang Bueok

For the last lunch of our Gangneung trip, we visited a Korean set-meal restaurant that was absolutely perfect. We wanted to wrap up the trip with a hearty meal, so we headed to the much-talked-about Saimdang Bueok (사임당부엌).

Saimdang Bueok at a Glance

• Recommended for: Family travelers, visitors with children, and anyone looking for a neat, traditional Korean meal
• Signature menus: Saimdang Set Meal, Ojukheon Set Meal, and Yulgok Set Meal
• One-line review: A Gangneung restaurant with immaculate side dishes and deeply savory, nutty Chodang sundubu (soft tofu)

• Address: 1F, 6 Jukheon-gil 85beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 10:30–20:00; last order 19:15
• Open 17:00–20:00 in the evening; dinner requires a reservation (closed for Chuseok)
• Features: House-made Chodang sundubu or miyeok-guk (seaweed soup) to choose from, group dining for up to 40, Wi-Fi, separate restrooms, and robot serving
• Parking: A large dedicated parking lot makes parking easy

What Comes with the Saimdang Set Meal?

🍱 A generous spread that won us over You have to eat well on the last day of a trip so that the ride home does not feel quite so sad, right? That is why we ordered Saimdang Bueok’s popular Saimdang Set Meal (₩19,000), at this Gangneung Korean set-meal favorite.

The basic spread came with 12 beautifully arranged side dishes, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), butter-grilled scallops, spicy stir-fried pork, and grilled fish—it was far more abundant and satisfying than I expected. For reference, there is also the great-value Ojukheon Set Meal (₩14,000) and the even more lavish Yulgok Set Meal (₩35,000), so it is easy to choose according to your appetite.

As the table filled up with dish after dish, the happy dilemma of deciding which banchan (side dish) to try first began. Every single one was delicious, so our chopsticks simply never got a break.

How Was the Robot Serving with Children?

🤖 Smart, comfortable robot service The food was great, of course, but what I was really pleased with was the restaurant’s atmosphere and comfortable service. Going to restaurants with children these days can mean worrying about busy walkways and getting around.

Here, robot service has been introduced, so the food arrived neatly and safely. The children were fascinated by the serving robot, and thanks to that, we could relax and focus on our meal so much more.

What Did the Chodang Sundubu Taste Like?

🍲 The appeal of deeply flavorful, house-made Chodang sundubu When you order the Saimdang Set Meal, you can choose either miyeok-guk or Chodang sundubu as your soup. Since we were in Gangneung, naturally, I chose the nutty Chodang sundubu without hesitation.

The Chodang sundubu here has a mild yet deep flavor that lets you feel the care that goes into making it in-house. From the first spoonful, its nutty flavor spread gently through my mouth, and it felt as if all the fatigue from the trip simply melted away.

Actually, our eldest is quite a picky eater and will not eat much if a flavor is too strong or does not suit them. But this Chodang sundubu must have been really good: their eyes lit up, and they picked up the bowl and drank every last drop of the broth in one go! Seeing that it had completely won over even a child’s palate, I thought, ah, this really is a local Gangneung favorite.

Is Parking Easy Near Ojukheon?

🚗 Perfect access and convenience near Ojukheon Saimdang Bueok is about a five-minute walk from Ojukheon in Gangneung, so it fits wonderfully into a sightseeing itinerary. It is also very accessible as a restaurant near Arte Museum, making it ideal for a hearty meal before or after exploring.

Along with its spacious dining area for groups of up to 40 people, it has a very well-equipped dedicated parking lot, which is another huge plus—you can visit without worrying about parking. If you are looking for a filling, easy-on-the-stomach Korean meal, I strongly recommend stopping by for lunch in Gangneung.

Saimdang Bueok, which we chose for our final meal in Gangneung, had such neat and satisfying side dishes that our whole family ate with admiration. Thanks to the nutty, house-made Chodang sundubu and the generously served set meal, everyone from the children to the adults finished every bite.

With its friendly atmosphere, comfortable robot service, and large parking lot, this is a Gangneung Korean set-meal restaurant I definitely want to revisit on our next trip!