Paju ssambap restaurant with sunny window seats for two: Simhaksan

When my husband and I get free time on a weekday lunch, we love to drive out toward Simhaksan in Paju for clean, comforting Korean food. Not long ago on a weekday, he said, "The weather's great today — let's head to Simhaksan for some tidy ssambap and freshly cooked stone-pot rice!" so we happily drove over.

The place where we enjoyed fresh leafy greens and hearty portions of appetite-boosting pork and squid stir-fry in a spacious, comfortable dining room was Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap (심학산 들꽃쌈밥), located at 55-10 Dolgotgil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea!

Parking and dining room at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap sits at 55-10 Dolgotgil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, and has a very spacious private parking lot, so you can visit without worrying about parking at all. The restaurant itself is large too, with a comfortable hall and well-equipped group seating that's perfect for family gatherings or group visits.

The moment we arrived by car, what I liked most was the wide-open parking area. At Korean restaurants near Simhaksan in Paju, cramped parking can wear you out before you even eat, but here the private lot was spacious and let us park comfortably before heading in.

Stepping inside, the ceilings were high and everything was neatly, comfortably arranged. The tables were spaced generously and the large group seating area was well set up, so it would be great for bringing parents along or for a weekend family gathering or group meal. Since we came on a weekday lunch, we settled into a sunny window seat and cozily began getting ready to eat.

What's on the self-serve ssam vegetable bar?

The leafy greens at Deulkkot Ssambap can be grabbed unlimited from a self-serve counter at the center of the restaurant. Lettuce and perilla leaves, of course, plus chicory, red chard and various other greens are neatly laid out for you to pile onto your plate as you like.

After ordering, we went over to the self-serve counter and found a colorful array of visibly fresh greens laid out neatly. Not a single wilted or soft leaf among them — everything looked crisp and fresh, which got me excited before the meal even arrived.

What comes with the deul jeongsik set for two?

For our weekday lunch, we ordered the deul jeongsik set for two. It's a spread of pork stir-fry, squid stir-fry, doenjang (soybean paste) stew, gangdoenjang (thick seasoned soybean paste), and stone-pot rice.

A little while later, the deul jeongsik set for two arrived filling the whole table like a royal spread! Just looking at the mouth-watering red-sauced pork and squid stir-fries, the savory doenjang stew and gangdoenjang, and the freshly cooked stone-pot rice still steaming — it was a feast for the eyes too.

Stir-fried pork and stir-fried squid

The main pork stir-fry had no meaty smell, the seasoning had soaked all the way through, and there was a faint smoky char that came through nicely. The squid stir-fry, too, had big, chewy pieces of squid coated in a spicy-sweet sauce that practically begged for rice. Layering a fresh lettuce leaf with perilla, topping it with a piece of pork and a piece of squid, then adding a touch of gangdoenjang and wrapping it up — every bite exploded with savory flavor.

Gangdoenjang and hearty doenjang stew

The gangdoenjang that came with the meal wasn't salty — it had a deep, savory, nutty flavor that was perfect for topping the ssam wraps. Taking a spoonful of the rich, savory doenjang stew in between bites felt like it cleaned my palate right up.

Freshly cooked stone-pot rice and sungnyung (toasted rice tea)

What really finishes off ssambap is the freshly cooked stone-pot rice! After the rice was scooped into a bowl, warm water was poured into the hot pot to make nurungji (scorched rice). Piling the spicy squid stir-fry on top of the glossy, warm rice was fantastic. After finishing the meal, scraping up the savory sungnyung (scorched rice tea) and nurungji as a palate cleanser left my stomach warm and comfortable — the perfect ending.

Tips to know before visiting Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap

• Make the most of the self-serve veggie bar: with unlimited refills on a variety of leafy greens, layering several kinds together when wrapping the pork and squid stir-fry gives you a much richer texture.
• Making sungnyung from the stone-pot rice: pour warm water into the stone pot right after scooping out the rice, before it cools, so you can properly enjoy warm, savory nurungji sungnyung after your meal.
• A note for weekend visits: the restaurant is spacious and the lot is large, but during weekend peak hours there are many families, so waits can happen. If you want a leisurely meal, we'd recommend visiting on a weekday lunch or slightly off peak hours.

Verdict: is the deul jeongsik worth it?

From the tidy, generous pork and squid stir-fries to the savory gangdoenjang and doenjang stew, the fresh ssam greens, and the freshly cooked stone-pot rice — nothing was lacking on this visit to Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap!

It's been a while since I ate proper, comforting Korean food and felt so full and satisfied.

That's what my husband said, and it made all the effort of finding this restaurant worth it. If you're looking for a ssambap spot recommendation near Simhaksan in Paju, or want to enjoy tidy ssambap and stone-pot rice with family or a partner in a spacious lot with a comfortable dining room, I'd recommend this place without hesitation!

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap: address and details

• Name: Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap
• Address: 55-10 Dolgotgil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Key features: A well-known tidy ssambap specialist in Paju, with a spacious private lot and group seating, plus fresh unlimited ssam greens
• Recommended menu: Deul jeongsik (pork stir-fry + squid stir-fry + doenjang stew + gangdoenjang + stone-pot rice), Kkot jeongsik