Abalone porridge brunch in Gyeongju: Wando Cham Jeonbokjip

Wando Cham Jeonbokjip 📍 48 Alcheonnam-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea ⏰ Daily 11:00–15:00 / 16:00–19:00 (takeout) Closed every Sunday 🚘 Public parking lot

Why abalone porridge for brunch in Gyeongju?

When you're traveling around Gyeongju, there comes a day when you crave something gentle and filling instead of spicy food. We were looking for a brunch spot and thought of warm abalone porridge, so we headed to Wando Cham Jeonbokjip.

It's not just porridge — you can try a whole range of abalone dishes here, from seafood stew to grilled abalone and raw abalone, so I wanted to share it with anyone looking for good food in Gyeongju.

Wando Cham Jeonbokjip hours and closing day: lunch only

Since 2026, Wando Cham Jeonbokjip has been open for lunch only, from 11am to 3pm, so make sure to check the hours before visiting. It's closed every Sunday, so keep that in mind when planning your Gyeongju itinerary.

Inside Wando Cham Jeonbokjip: the room and the live tank

Inside, the space felt clean and comfortable overall, and there were aprons set out on one side for anyone who needed them.

What caught my eye was the fish tank, packed with fresh-looking abalone — it really drove home that we'd come to an abalone specialty restaurant.

Wando Cham Jeonbokjip menu and side dishes

The menu covers a wide range, from jeonbok haemuljjim to jeonbokjuk, abalone mulhoe (cold raw abalone soup), abalone sashimi rice bowl, grilled abalone, and raw abalone. There's also a course meal for trying several abalone dishes at once, plus a set that pairs grilled abalone with porridge — easy to choose from depending on group size or taste.

Once we ordered, the side dishes came out first — cool dongchimi (radish water kimchi), salad, and stir-fried anchovies, all good companions for the abalone dishes.

Jeonbokjuk, 12,000 won: thick and full of abalone

Jeonbokjuk ₩12,000

First up, the abalone porridge I'd been looking forward to! I was surprised by how much came out — I was expecting a light bowl of porridge, but it arrived quite hearty, plenty filling for brunch.

The porridge leaned thick rather than watery. One spoonful and you get a rich, savory flavor that goes down smooth — perfect for a combined breakfast-and-lunch while traveling.

And the abalone was more generous than I expected! Some places call something jeonbokjuk but barely have any abalone in it — here, I kept biting into abalone with every spoonful, which felt really satisfying.

The chewy texture of the abalone paired well with the thick porridge, and overall it was savory and filling. Heavy food first thing in the morning can feel like a lot, but this was just right for filling up before starting a day of Gyeongju sightseeing. If you're debating what to eat for breakfast or a late brunch in Gyeongju, starting with a bowl of abalone porridge isn't a bad idea.

Jeonbok haemuljjim (small), 31,000 won: four abalones plus octopus

Jeonbok haemuljjim (small) ₩31,000

Then the abalone seafood stew we'd ordered alongside the porridge arrived. We went with the small size, but the moment it hit the table, the sheer volume caught our eye. Even at small size, there were a whopping four abalones in it, topped with a hefty piece of octopus.

The abalone meat was plump — thick but not chewy or tough with each bite, and it paired well with the stew's seasoning.

Along with the abalone, there was a whole mix of seafood — crunchy bean sprouts, roe, shrimp, and sea squirts — so it wasn't just one ingredient the whole way through, and picking through the mix was part of the fun. Bean sprouts soaked in the stew's sauce, eaten together with abalone or octopus, gave a nice contrast between crunchy and soft textures.

What is it like to eat the porridge and the stew together?

If the porridge is savory and gentle, the stew lets you enjoy a variety of seafood and bold seasoning — the combination worked well. Filling up gently with the porridge and then mixing in bites of the spicier stew kept things interesting without getting repetitive. If you like abalone, it might be worth visiting with a group and ordering the seafood stew or grilled abalone to share alongside the porridge, rather than sticking to porridge alone.

Who Wando Cham Jeonbokjip suits

If you're craving a warm, filling Korean meal during a Gyeongju trip, or looking for a good abalone porridge restaurant in Gyeongju, Wando Cham Jeonbokjip is worth stopping by. From porridge to seafood stew, you can enjoy a wide range of abalone dishes in one place — especially recommended for anyone who loves abalone.