Soy-marinated crab at a Bucheon Korean restaurant: Gim Myeongju

When I’m craving a Korean set meal in Jak-dong, Bucheon

I was craving a beautifully laid-out Korean set meal, so I visited this Korean restaurant in Jak-dong, Bucheon. This was Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch (김명주뜰안채밥상), where I got a full spread of freshly cooked, piping-hot stone-pot rice, earthy cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), and home-style side dishes.

If you’re using public transit, it’s about an 800 m walk from Exit 1 of Bucheon Stadium Station and also 800 m from Exit 2 of Kkachisan Station. It sits between the two subway stations. If you drive and search it in your navigation app, a friendly staff member will guide you to parking, so I had no parking worries. Still, when I arrived at lunchtime and saw the lot already packed with cars, I briefly worried that I might have to wait.

After parking, I hurried inside.

Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch is right there when you go up to the second floor.

Lunchtime waiting and reservations

As expected for lunchtime, people were already dining and I had to wait. Next time, I should make a reservation beforehand. I registered for the waitlist on Catchtable, and shortly afterward a friendly staff member showed me to a table.

The Hwangmi rice used for my meal was on display. Just looking at it somehow made me feel healthier!

There’s coffee ready too, which is handy to enjoy after your meal.

Tteuranchae Bapsang and Korean dishes

The signature Tteuranchae Bapsang is ₩13,000. Individual dishes include barley굴비 (dried yellow corvina), soy-marinated crab, and charcoal-grilled pork at ₩18,000 each, plus seasoned cockles and grilled mackerel at ₩16,000 each. The Tteuranchae set must be ordered for at least two people.

The barley굴비, soy-marinated crab, and charcoal-grilled pork sets are ₩31,000 per person, while the seasoned cockles and grilled mackerel sets are ₩29,000. With a range of Korean dishes including soy-marinated crab and barley굴비, this is a great spot for a hearty Korean meal with anyone.

Refill side dishes at the self-service bar

Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch also has a separate self-service bar. Since this is a Korean set-meal restaurant, the basic spread comes with quite a few side dishes. You can help yourself to as many refills as you like.

I especially liked the braised potatoes, fried eggplant, and seasoned dried radish greens, so I went back for refills. It looked like plenty of other diners were refilling the fried eggplant too.

Tteuranchae Bapsang for two with soy-marinated crab

I ordered the signature Tteuranchae Bapsang for two, along with soy-marinated crab.

The soy-marinated crab, made with red snow crab from Jeju, need I say more?

Every basic side dish, prepared daily with fresh ingredients, was delicious. I also loved that the dishes in the basic spread were served in brassware. Personally, side dishes served in brassware somehow look even neater to me.

In particular, the soy-marinated crab at Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch suited my taste perfectly, so I was really glad I ordered it.

Stone-pot rice made with Hwangmi rice milled every day—there was simply no way it could be bad.

With hot cheonggukjang and stone-pot rice, it was a wonderfully filling meal. It’s great for a family meal or a gathering with friends.