Paju ssambap restaurant, Atka mackerel my child loved: Simhaksan

Why I came back to Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap

This time I went with my child to Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap (심학산 들꽃쌈밥), a well-known restaurant near Simhaksan mountain. I was so happy with my last visit that I came back without a second thought. It's the place that comes to mind whenever I crave a hearty Korean set meal, so I was really looking forward to this return trip.

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap hours and parking

• Address: 55-10 Dolgoji-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–21:00 (break time 15:30–17:00, last order 20:00)
• Parking: large private parking lot in front of the restaurant

The private parking lot in front is big, so driving here is no worry. The first thing I noticed on arrival was that wide lot. There was plenty of room, so getting around with a child was easy. As lunchtime got closer, guests kept trickling in, as you'd expect from a popular spot, but there was still plenty of parking and it was comfortable to use.

Wrap greens and side dishes, all you want at the self-bar

The wrap greens at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap are at a self-bar, so you can take as much as you like. They were fresh, which made it even better. The side dishes work the same way: grab more whenever you run low and enjoy as much as you want.

What's in the Flower set (₩26,000)?

Flower set (꽃정식) ₩26,000

The Flower set comes with grilled Atka mackerel (imyeonsu, 임연수) and mackerel, stir-fried pork, stir-fried squid, plus gangdoenjang (thick soybean paste sauce), doenjang stew and freshly cooked stone-pot rice. I ordered the Flower set this time. After a short wait, a generous spread arrived. The mains alone were really plentiful: the grilled Atka mackerel and mackerel, the stir-fried pork and the stir-fried squid. With the gangdoenjang, doenjang stew and fresh stone-pot rice alongside, it made a really filling meal.

Before the mains came out, I soothed my stomach with pumpkin porridge and had fun tasting the various side dishes one by one~ I especially liked that the doenjang stew and gangdoenjang are unlimited refills, and that you can grab fresh wrap greens and side dishes from the self-bar whenever you need more.

How were the stir-fried pork and squid?

The stir-fried pork and squid here come in generous portions with a lovely smoky grill flavor. When the pork and squid arrived a little later, I immediately understood why so many people seek this place out near Simhaksan. The pork was tender with a slightly sweet seasoning that went really well with rice, and the squid was springy and not tough at all, so it was a pleasure to eat.

Personally, eating the stir-fried pork and squid together was the best combo. The sweet pork and the savory, umami squid seasoning blend naturally, and whether I had them with rice or wrapped in greens, I kept reaching for more~

Fine with a child? The grilled fish is the answer

The grilled Atka mackerel and mackerel in the Flower set aren't strongly seasoned, so they were great to share with my child. Golden-grilled, crispy outside and moist inside, with no fishy taste, just clean and mild. My child ate the fish really well, in particular. Since the flavor isn't harsh, I think it's an easy choice for anyone visiting with kids.

Finishing with stone-pot rice and nurungji

The stone-pot rice was cooked nicely fluffy and went really well with the mains. Even the rice on its own tasted nutty, and with the stir-fried pork and squid on top it was even better. To finish, I had the nurungji (scorched rice tea) too, toasty and comforting, and wrapped up a satisfying meal.

Still just as good on a return visit

Once again it was as satisfying as I'd hoped. The generous Korean set meal, fresh wrap greens, and smoky stir-fried pork and squid all tasted the same as before, which made it even nicer. My child ate the grilled fish happily, so the whole family had a hearty meal. The food, the spread and the atmosphere are satisfying every time, which is why our family keeps coming back to this Simhaksan favorite!! If you want a filling Korean set meal, give Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap a visit :)