Korean beef bulgogi restaurant near Gonjiam: ₩49,000 for 3 at Sodam

Gonjiam Sodam, a Korean restaurant near Green Hill CC, was on the menu after I booked a Friday, September 18 reservation for 1pm.

We ordered 2 servings of hanwoo (Korean beef) cow bulgogi, 1 kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) set, 2 bowls of rice, and 1 zero-sugar cola — the perfect amount for three of us. This was my second visit, so here's an honest review. It used to be floor seating, but it's been completely switched to table seating. Shoes still come off at the door, though.

This one post covers menu prices, ingredient origins, and parking info. If you're searching for restaurants in Gonjiam or Korean food in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, save this for before your visit haha.

What is Gonjiam Sodam like inside?

The inside of Gonjiam Sodam feels cozy and homey, in a word. The dining room used to have floor seating but is now tables and chairs, making it much easier to sit and stand.

Since shoes come off at the door, bring socks haha. Gonjiam Sodam has solid amenities — there's a self-serve bar,

and you can pick between a disposable or cloth apron.

There's also a kids' chair, so it's easy to bring children along. It's apparently known as a spot near the golf course too — being a Korean restaurant near Green Hill CC, many reviews mention groups coming in after a round.

How do you get to Gonjiam Sodam, and where do you park?

There are two ways to get to Gonjiam Sodam.

If you're coming by highway, the Donggonjiam TG exit route is easiest. I came via the back-road shortcut behind Dongwon University, which took 27 minutes by car. That shortcut is an unpaved road, so if it's your first time, I'd recommend the TG route.

From the Donggonjiam TG exit to Gonjiam Sodam

This is based on Naver Place directions.

• ① Exit and turn right.
• ② Go about 1.8km and enter the city road toward Manseon-ri.
• ③ Turn left at Manseon Samgeori intersection.
• ④ You'll see the Gonjiam Sodam sign on the right.

The Manseon-ri area used to be a factory district, so it's set apart from the town center. There aren't many solid places to eat around there, which is why this place feels like a hidden gem.

A vertical sign and a new-menu banner stand right by the road, so it's easy to spot.

Parking at Gonjiam Sodam is not a problem

I thought there were only 3 spots in front, but apparently there's a dedicated lot to the side too. So you can drive over as a Korean restaurant stop near Gonjiam Resort without worrying about a spot. For navigation, just enter 'Gonjiam Sodam' or the address, 8 Naeseon-gil, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

How much is the menu at Gonjiam Sodam?

Gonjiam Sodam's menu is simple, so it's easy to choose. This is based on the in-store menu board as of September 18, 2026. Items covered with stickers on the menu board were left out.

Mains, meal sets, cold noodles, and sides, drinks, and alcohol are all laid out on a single menu board.

Here's what we ordered that day: 2 servings of hanwoo cow bulgogi, 1 old-style kimchi jjigae set, 2 extra bowls of rice, and 1 zero-sugar cola. Total came to ₩49,000, about ₩16,300 per person.

Rice is sold separately with the bulgogi, so add bowls based on your headcount. The set meal already includes rice.

How does the hanwoo cow bulgogi taste?

2 servings of Gonjiam Sodam's hanwoo cow bulgogi was plenty for three of us.

If we'd ordered 3 servings, it would have been way too much and heavy. The new-menu banner says it uses 1++ (the top grade) hanwoo cow beef.

The shallow broth comes loaded with glass noodles, shiitake mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, onion, carrot, and shredded green onion. With so many vegetables, the broth came out deep and rich.

The broth itself is sweet, so you can eat it without it being spicy.

That makes it a great place to bring kids too. Gonjiam Sodam's hanwoo cow bulgogi is a dish you can enjoy hearty, right down to the broth.

What about the old-style kimchi jjigae set?

Gonjiam Sodam's kimchi jjigae set is just one serving, but the portion is huge.

We used a ladle to scoop the broth and pork onto individual plates and tasted it.

The spicy broth had a strong sour kick from the kimchi. It contrasted nicely with the sweet bulgogi, leaving your mouth feeling clean and refreshed.

Our menu picks worked out well that day. 2 servings of bulgogi plus 1 kimchi jjigae set was exactly the right combo for a meal for three. Next time I want to try adding the ₩1,000 ramen noodles.

After the meal, there was a spot for coffee. Great for resting with a cup after eating your fill.

Where does Gonjiam Sodam source its meat and ingredients?

Gonjiam Sodam's ingredient origins are clearly posted on the in-store signage. Most of the notice says the produce is grown directly on fields owned by Sodam.

There was also a note stating that leftover food is never reused.

Any downsides to Gonjiam Sodam?

The only drawbacks at Gonjiam Sodam are the access road and the shoes. The shortcut is unpaved, which is inconvenient if it's your first visit, and you have to take off your shoes at the door, so don't forget socks. The upsides far outweigh these, so I'd go back.

When and with whom is Gonjiam Sodam worth visiting?

It's more relaxing to go before the Chuseok holiday. Gonjiam Sodam is closed from September 24 (Thu) to 26 (Sat) for Chuseok. Otherwise, it's closed every Monday. Double-check business hours on Naver Place before you head over.

Reservations are a simple phone call away. I booked for Friday at 1pm. Last order in the evening is 8:30pm, so plan to arrive with time to spare.

Gonjiam Sodam in Gwangju, Gyeonggi also makes a nice fall outing stop. Many reviews mention stopping by as a Korean restaurant near Gonjiam Resort after seeing the fall foliage at Hwadam Botanic Garden. If you're thinking about a family meal out with Korean food in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, keep this one in mind.

• Golfers looking for a place to eat after a round at Green Hill CC
• Anyone looking for a Korean restaurant near Gonjiam Resort
• Anyone planning a family meal out with Korean food in Gwangju, Gyeonggi
• Parents looking for a Gonjiam restaurant recommendation to bring kids to
• Groups of 2–3 craving hanwoo cow bulgogi in Gonjiam

Good to know before you go (FAQ)

Q1. Where do you park at Gonjiam Sodam?

A. Use the 3 spots in front of the store or the dedicated lot to the side.

Q2. What's the minimum order for the hanwoo cow bulgogi?

A. Main dishes require an order of 2 or more servings. We had 2 servings for three of us, plus 1 kimchi jjigae set.

Q3. Is it okay to bring kids?

A. There's a kids' chair, and the broth is sweet, so it's a good place to bring children.

Q4. How do you make a reservation at Gonjiam Sodam?

A. You can call the restaurant to book.

Q5. How do you get there from Donggonjiam TG?

A. Turn right at the exit, go about 1.8km, and you'll reach the city road toward Manseon-ri. Turn left at Manseon Samgeori, and you'll see the Gonjiam Sodam sign on the right.

Q6. What are the hours and closed days?

A. Open 10am to 9:30pm, last order at 8:30pm. Closed every Monday, and also closed for Chuseok from September 24 to 26.

Gonjiam Sodam is a Korean restaurant near Green Hill CC where 2 servings of hanwoo cow bulgogi and a kimchi jjigae set fed three of us plenty.

Which are you more curious about — the hanwoo cow bulgogi or the ginseng-gochujang pork belly? Let me know in the comments! Next time I'll be back with a revisit review covering the ginseng-gochujang pork belly and the after-meal cold noodles.