Yeoju Korean restaurant for braised cutlassfish: Nadeulmok

On a day when we were heading to Yeoju Premium Outlets to shop~~ I know I get tired quickly if I go around on an empty stomach, so we decided to fill up first. The place we found was Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap (나들목 여주쌀밥), a Korean restaurant near Yeoju Premium Outlets.

Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap, close to Yeoju Premium Outlets

Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is at 488-9 Sejong-ro, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is said to be 5 minutes from Yeoju Premium Outlets, 2 minutes from Yeoju IC, 3 minutes from the Insect Museum, 2 minutes from Empress Myeongseong's Birthplace, 5 minutes from Hwanghaksan Arboretum, and 10 minutes from Yeoju Suspension Bridge.

It is open Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday from 11:00 to 20:30, with a break from 15:30 to 17:00 and last orders at 19:30. On Saturday and Sunday, it is open from 10:30 to 20:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 and last orders at 19:00; it is regularly closed every Wednesday. They may close early if ingredients run out.

It was exactly five minutes by car from the outlets, so it did not complicate our route at all. It was also right near the Yeoju IC interchange, making it really easy to find.

There was plenty of parking too, so parking the car was completely stress-free.

After looking into it beforehand, I learned that Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is an eco-minded Korean restaurant that sets out neat meals every day using 100% pure Yeoju rice grown directly in Yeoju and seasonal vegetables they grow themselves.

It is not simply a restaurant selling food—they farm themselves and either grow most side-dish ingredients, including perilla leaves, lettuce, cabbage, young radish greens, and peppers, or source small quantities of many varieties through partnerships with local farms. That made me feel I could eat here with confidence ^^

Just a note: Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap's break time is 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

We went at 11:30 on Thursday morning, and there was only one table of guests at first. But once we started eating, the seats filled up so quickly~ I guess it really is a popular spot.

Fried eggplant, japchae, and tangpyeongchae before the meal

As soon as we sat down, I could not stop staring as the side dishes began arriving one by one, haha. The fried eggplant especially came out practically fist-sized, so that was a surprise.

The outside was crisp, but when I split it open, it was packed with minced meat. The juices burst out the second I took a bite. And this was an appetizer before the meal!!!

There was also japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), tangpyeongchae (mung-bean jelly salad), and a vegetable salad served before the meal, so they really got our appetite going before the main dish even arrived.

The japchae had pleasantly chewy noodles and just the right seasoning. The tangpyeongchae paired the signature soft texture of mung-bean jelly with a nutty dressing beautifully. The fresh dressing on the vegetable salad cleansed the palate too.

Ordering the braised cutlassfish set for two

Looking over the menu, there were many choices: the Nadeulmok set with grilled mackerel, a bulgogi set, a braised cutlassfish set, and a marinated crab set. But without hesitation, we ordered the braised cutlassfish set for two.

Braised cutlassfish is available from a minimum order of two people, so it worked out perfectly!!

They begin cooking as soon as you order and simmer it fresh in house-made seasoning, and wow, the spicy, savory depth was incredible! You know seasoning is everything with braised fish, right? This was the real standout!! Truly delicious, guaranteed ^^

Big pieces of cutlassfish were submerged in a spicy-sweet sauce, topped generously with scallions and Cheongyang chili peppers. That pleasantly spicy kick kept calling my chopsticks back.

I picked the fish meat off the bones, placed it over rice, and mixed in the sauce. One bowl of rice disappeared in no time.

Stone-pot rice and scorched rice too

What I loved most was that stone-pot rice comes as standard with every menu item!

The weather was a little chilly that day, but we poured water into the hot stone-pot rice and enjoyed every bit of the warm, nutty scorched rice crust, nurungji. It made for such a satisfying finish.

A full spread of side dishes I kept reaching for

The assortment of side dishes served with the main course was incredible too.

• Seasoned bellflower root, stir-fried zucchini, kimchi, pickled lettuce stems
• Stir-fried potatoes, seasoned wild greens, seasoned cabbage
• Seasoned eggplant, stir-fried pork, pickled peppers

Every single one was seasoned just right, so I kept reaching for more~ It felt as though even the smallest side dish was served with the care of something they had grown themselves.

Such a good place to fill up before shopping at Yeoju Premium Outlets!!

From the side dishes to the main course, it was a full table that felt thoughtfully prepared, and the price felt reasonable. After enjoying stone-pot rice made with Yeoju rice and even the nurungji, I felt properly recharged for outlet shopping too~~~