Spicy octopus vs pork jowl pot rice in Ansan: Dongyang Sotbap

What is Dongyang Sotbap near Ansan Jungang Station like?

Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch (동양솥밥 안산본점) is a pot rice spot I often visit near Jungang Station when I want a hearty Korean meal. Every time I go, I notice it's packed with customers, even outside lunchtime.

It opens at 10 a.m., and it's popular enough that people show up to eat even that early. This time I had the Minari Octopus Pot Rice, the Minari Pork Jowl Pot Rice and guobaorou. Personally, the spicy octopus pot rice suited my taste best, and the value for the price is good too, so I'd like to introduce it as a lunch spot near Ansan Jungang Station.

• Address: 11 Yesuldaehak-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi, 2nd floor
• Hours: 10:00–22:40 (last order 22:00)
• Parking: not available

It's close to Jungang Station, so it's a good choice when you have a lunch appointment nearby or just want a filling meal.

And it wasn't a one-time fluke of hitting a busy hour. Each time I've visited, the tables were full even when it wasn't mealtime.

What are the atmosphere and basic setup at Dongyang Sotbap?

The interior is decorated in warm wood tones and is neat and tidy overall. It doesn't feel awkward to eat alone, and it's a nice atmosphere for visiting with friends or family too.

Here's what I ordered this time.

• Minari Octopus Pot Rice ₩13,900
• Minari Pork Jowl Pot Rice ₩13,900
• Guobaorou ₩4,900

When you order pot rice here, seaweed soup and side dishes come together on a neat tray. With the main dish plus soup and sides, it felt like a filling meal, and I was happy with the value for the price.

The self-serve bar had kimchi, stir-fried nuts, salted squid and more.

I'm told the main branch is a food-safety-designated restaurant (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety "Anshim Restaurant" program) that uses good water.

How does the Minari Octopus Pot Rice taste?

Of everything I ate at Dongyang Sotbap this time, my favorite was the ₩13,900 Minari Octopus Pot Rice.

Octopus and minari (water parsley) were piled appetizingly on top of the rice, and the fragrant minari got my appetite going right away. The octopus was springy and chewy, and with the green chili on top and the spicy seasoning mixed into the rice, it had a great savory depth.

The fresh scent of minari goes really well with the spicy seasoning, so I kept reaching for more. It isn't heavy or greasy, yet it isn't bland either, so it was the dish I was happiest with. If you usually like spicy food, I'd say give it a try.

Is the Minari Pork Jowl Pot Rice too greasy?

I ordered the Minari Pork Jowl Pot Rice (₩13,900) because I was curious about pork jowl (hangjeongsal) paired with minari. The nutty flavor of pork jowl plus fragrant minari made the first bites good.

But pork jowl is a fatty cut, so as I kept eating, I started to notice a bit of that greasy taste. The minari did cut the richness to some extent, but personally my vote goes to the spicy octopus pot rice. If you like rich, savory meat, this would probably suit you; if you prefer clean and spicy like me, the octopus one will be more satisfying.

Is the ₩4,900 side of guobaorou worth ordering?

Two pot rice dishes felt like a little too little, so I also ordered guobaorou as a side. At ₩4,900, it wasn't a burden to add to the mains.

It's not a Chinese restaurant, but the texture was crispy outside and chewy inside, just like you'd get at one, and it paired nicely when I alternated it with the spicy octopus pot rice. If you're wondering about a side to go with pot rice, guobaorou seems like a good choice.

Shrimp seaweed soup served with the pot rice

The seaweed soup that came with the pot rice had plenty of seaweed plus shrimp, so even though it's a standard side, it felt substantial.

Having warm seaweed soup alongside the pot rice made the meal feel even more filling.

Final verdict on Dongyang Sotbap for lunch near Ansan Jungang Station

I've visited Dongyang Sotbap many times, and seeing it full even outside lunchtime makes me wonder why people keep coming. Having eaten here, I'd say the strengths are the variety of pot rice menus, the neat full-table setup and the not-too-pricey costs.

My all-time favorite is the abalone pot rice, but after today my personal recommendation is the Minari Octopus Pot Rice! Next time I crave spicy pot rice, I'll probably come back. If you're looking for a place near Ansan Jungang Station to eat solo, or a hearty Korean lunch with a friend, I'd recommend Dongyang Sotbap.