Hwaseong Korean restaurant for a kimchi stew hangover meal: Yangpuni

Kimchi stew in the Gaenari Park food alley

Exterior and location

Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal was really easy to find—it's right at the entrance to the Gaenari Park food alley in Bansong-dong, Dongtan!

Since it's near the park, it's nice to take a walk after eating, too. I polished off my kimchi stew, bought ice cream at a nearby convenience store, and walked a lap around the park. The weather has gotten pleasantly cool lately, so it was perfect for walking haha.

A spacious, comfortable interior

The interior was spacious, with more than 10 tables, plenty of space between them, and a comfortable feel! I went before lunchtime, and it was about half full. It seemed like lots of neighborhood residents come here. You know it's a true local favorite when older guests come in, right?

Ordering the kimchi stew value set

A varied Korean menu, from kimchi stew to pork belly

There was quite a variety of Korean dishes, including kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew), samgyeop kimchi-jjim (braised pork belly and kimchi), duruchigi (spicy stir-fried pork), and samgyeopsal (pork belly)! We had come with kimchi stew on our minds from the start, so we ordered the set with kimchi stew and egg roll!

After ordering, they brought seaweed, squid jeotgal (salted fermented squid), and kongjaban (braised soybeans) as side dishes! There was also a self-service bar, so you can freely help yourself to more bean sprouts, Cheongyang chili peppers, garlic, or ssamjang (savory dipping paste) if you'd like. The squid jeotgal was so good that I refilled it twice haha.

What we ordered was the kimchi stew value set for 2. It comes with two servings of kimchi stew, an egg roll, and rice—a great-value menu item.

Rich kimchi stew simmered over low heat

The portions are enormous! ☺️ Kimchi stew is Korean soul food! In just a few minutes, a big bowl arrived filled to the brim with kimchi stew. It had already been brought to a boil, so we could have eaten it right away, but it develops an even deeper flavor the longer it simmers, so we kept it going over low heat as we ate haha.

There were thick pieces of pork underneath the kimchi stew, so while it simmered, we just cut them into bite-sized pieces! A bite of rice topped with well-fermented kimchi and thick pork was absolutely the best. The tofu in the stew was thick, nutty, and delicious, too!

An egg roll as big as an adult forearm

You know an egg roll is essential with kimchi stew, right?! This one came with the set, and its size was seriously enormous. It was as big as an adult forearm!! It was so large that it could easily take care of a whole bowl of rice on its own, and I don't even need to tell you how good it tasted! You can also order the egg roll à la carte for ₩7,000!

The well-fermented sour kimchi and fresh pork had been simmered thoroughly, making the broth wonderfully rich and deep. It was spicy and refreshing, and it completely settled the alcohol from the night before—such a proper hangover cure haha.

I visited Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal because I was craving a spicy, refreshing broth. Along with kimchi stew, this is a place where you can enjoy a variety of Korean dishes, including duruchigi, pork belly, and naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles). The value set we ordered lets you enjoy kimchi stew and egg roll together, and it was not only great value but also very generously portioned, making for a personally satisfying and filling lunch! With pork belly and so many Korean dishes on offer, I think it would also be great for a company dinner or a family meal.