Yangji-eup Korean buffet with self-serve toast and sikhye: Daedong

Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak, a great-value Korean buffet in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin.

I was around the Yangji-eup area in Cheoin-gu, Yongin and looking for somewhere to have a hearty meal, so I stopped by Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak — all-you-can-eat for ₩9,000, such great value!

Where Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak is and when it opens

The address is 8 Jubuk-ro 94beon-gil, Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 1st floor. There's a large parking lot right in front of the restaurant.

Hours are 06:00 - 15:00, with last order at 14:30.

How much the Korean buffet costs: ₩9,000 for adults

You pay for your meal upfront when you walk in, and the price felt very reasonable.

• Adults ₩9,000
• Elementary students ₩7,000
• Preschoolers ₩5,000
• Under 3 free

Given how much dining out costs these days, being able to try a wide variety of side dishes at a Korean buffet like this doesn't feel like a big burden on the wallet.

A weekly menu posted on Naver, so you can check before you go

Walking in, all the different dishes were laid out in plain view. What's on the menu each day matters a lot at a Korean buffet, and I liked that Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak posts a new menu on Naver every week, so you can check the week's dishes before you go. It seemed like a good idea to pick a day when a dish you're craving is on the menu.

A large dining hall with seats for solo diners

Further inside there are tables with generous spacing between them, comfortable for eating. There are also seats where you can eat solo while looking out at the view outside!

What side dishes were out on the day of the visit

True to a Korean buffet, plenty of side dishes made to pair with rice were laid out on the day I visited.

• Janchi-guksu (noodle soup)
• Beef bulgogi
• Kimchi-pork stir-fry
• Japchae
• Stir-fried anchovy with almonds
• Seasonal namul
• Fried rice
• Fresh cabbage kimchi

There was beef bulgogi and kimchi-pork stir-fry first, so meat lovers could eat a hearty meal too. Alternating between the sweet bulgogi and the spicy kimchi pork made a bowl of rice disappear fast.

On top of that you could add japchae, stir-fried anchovy with almonds, seasonal namul and fresh cabbage kimchi, so the side dish lineup was quite full. Instead of only eating meat dishes, piling on namul and small side dishes too gave it a comfortable, homemade-meal kind of feel.

The great thing about a buffet is being able to pick as much as you want of whatever you feel like eating. I scooped a little of this and that and tasted several dishes at once.

Warm janchi-guksu was also on offer. Being able to have noodles along with the rice and side dishes made the meal feel more varied than just rice and banchan, and it was nice to add a light bowl of noodles too!

Self-serve toast, ramen and sikhye or coffee for dessert

Besides the main dishes, there were plenty of self-serve options too. Bread and jam were set out so you could make simple toast, and ramen and rice cake were there too, easy to add whenever you felt like it during the meal.

After the meal, you can finish off with sweet sikhye (sweet rice punch) and coffee. Being able to take care of everything from the meal to dessert in one place makes this a convenient spot to visit for a meal!!

Is Daedong Korean Buffet worth the trip?

Overall, from meat side dishes to japchae, namul, noodles, and simple snacks and desserts, the menu selection was well-rounded and varied. I liked that a new menu goes up on Naver every week so you can check what's on before visiting, and picking a day when the dish you're craving is on the menu should make for an even more satisfying meal :)