Non-spicy cheese braised pork bones for kids in Suncheon: Namdareun

About once a month I get a fierce craving for rich, spicy pork bone hangover soup, but today I wanted something a little different and special instead of my usual.

Where is Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch, and where do you park?

Namdareun Gamjatang (남다른감자탕) Suncheon Jorye branch is at 123 Baegyeon-gil, Suncheon, South Korea, on the 1st floor of the shops below Suncheon Farmers Market. It's open 10:00–23:00 with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. It's my beloved regular spot, the Suncheon gamjatang (pork bone stew) place I always come back to.

For parking, there seemed to be room for about 5–6 cars in the dedicated spaces right in front of the shop.

Inside, the restaurant is quite large and comfortable. The 4-person tables are spaced widely enough to seat more than 50 people at once, so it never feels stuffy.

Namdareun menu: today it's griddle braised pork bones

Here's the menu. I usually go for the clean-tasting Namja-tang or the spicy budae haejang-guk (army stew hangover soup), but today I boldly decided to try the griddle braised pork bones (cheolpan ppyeo-jjim), served generously on a big iron griddle.

You order through the table order screen. I browsed the drinks, and there's a wide range from lightly fragrant black garlic makgeolli (rice wine) to nutty Suncheon makgeolli, so take note if you like a drink with your meal!

Is Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch easy to visit with a child?

The restaurant is well stocked with kids' tableware and chairs, and thoughtfully provides disposable aprons too. And of course, local gift certificates are accepted :)

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

The basic side dishes are kimchi, peppers, and crunchy seasoned bean sprouts.

If you need more side dishes, or sujebi (hand-pulled dough flakes) or onions, you can grab them yourself at the self-serve bar.

Griddle braised pork bones, medium, ₩34,000: portion and taste

Griddle braised pork bones, medium (₩34,000)

And here it is, the griddle braised pork bones filling the whole table, haha. Dig in once the savory cheese on top starts to melt gently from the induction heat.

This is the steamed egg they gave us as a free side for ordering the griddle braised pork bones! It's fluffy, soft and tasty, so isn't it a perfect side for a kid? haha

Look at the contents, isn't it generous? There were about 5–6 big pork spine bones, plus cabbage, onion, bok choy and other vegetables, and plenty of sweet potato.

If bone soup is a meal built around the broth, the griddle braised pork bones is a treat where the meat and all the extra ingredients soak up the sauce, giving you a rich mix of textures.

Every time I come to Namdareun, I think the same thing: the pieces of meat are seriously huge, haha. The meat also comes off the bone so easily, which makes it quick to eat even with a kid who won't wait around.

Ordered non-spicy to share with my child

The cheese was starting to melt and my child kept pestering me to eat, so we started picking up pieces one by one, haha.

Of course, since I planned to share it with my child, I ordered the griddle braised pork bones with no spice at all. Eaten with crisp bok choy, it had a colorful flavor totally different from regular bone soup.

The lean meat itself is very tender, and dipped in the savory-sweet sauce it just melts in your mouth, haha.

How many people does the medium griddle braised pork bones feed?

The medium griddle braised pork bones was plenty for two adults to eat their fill, and I think it works as a meal or as a perfectly good drinking snack.

Hangover soup built around broth is great, but now and then this dish, where you toss generous vegetables and tender meat in the sauce, is a truly different treat. With its spacious room and friendly owner, Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch is perfect for a family meal or a casual get-together! If you're craving a different kind of bone dish, do stop by :)