Bossam, gondeure rice and shabu kalguksu course in Byeollae

This time I visited Onjeongban, which has been getting a lot of buzz lately as a must-visit restaurant in Byeollae-dong, and honestly it exceeded my expectations, so I'm writing this review right away. The hot, deep broth, the tender bossam, and the combo of gulrim mandu (rolled dumplings) with the finishing porridge were so perfect that I couldn't stop marveling the whole meal.

If you're looking for a Byeollae work dinner spot, a family gathering place, or a date course, you absolutely need to save this one.

What was the atmosphere and seating like?

The moment I walked in, I really liked the clean, tidy interior. The tables were spaced generously enough to eat comfortably, and the restaurant was kept so clean overall that it put me in a good mood before I'd even eaten anything.

The staff greeted us kindly too, so we sat down happily and finished ordering.

The menu lineup was so solid that I immediately understood why everyone recommends this place as a Byeollae favorite.

Tender, juicy bossam and fragrant gondeure rice

Before diving into the shabu kalguksu itself, we started with the bossam and gondeure rice that came out first — and it genuinely held its own next to the main dish.

The bossam pork was boiled perfectly with no gamey smell at all, so tender and moist it practically melted in my mouth. Piling on the bossam kimchi or dried radish strips that came alongside and taking a big bite felt like having the whole world.

Pairing it with the gondeure rice, fragrant with the aroma of gondeure (wild thistle greens), doubled the nuttiness.

Every single grain of rice was seasoned so well that this dish alone could have finished off a whole bowl of rice by itself.

Stuffed gulrim mandu and hot shabu kalguksu

Now it was time to taste the star of the show — the shabu kalguksu.

Simmering all kinds of vegetables and meat in the bubbling broth made the soup taste incredibly rich and refreshing.

It wasn't an artificial seasoning flavor at all — the deep, rich umami of the broth itself really came through, and it felt like it was soothing my whole body.

What impressed me most was the gulrim mandu. The wrapper was almost nonexistent, with the filling packed full of meat and vegetables, giving it a proper bite. Sinking your teeth into a mandu soaked in the broth made the juices burst out and fill your mouth with nuttiness — it was genuinely amazing.

The springy kalguksu (hand-cut noodles) soaked up the broth so well that I kept slurping them down.

The noodles themselves had such a chewy texture that even the very last bite stayed delicious without going soft.

The highlight you can't skip: nutty porridge

The real finish of a shabu kalguksu meal is the noodles and then the porridge, right? After finishing the noodles, the rich leftover broth gets simmered down with rice, egg, and assorted vegetables into a porridge — and it was pure art.

The deep flavor of the broth melted completely into the porridge, so every spoonful drew another sigh of admiration.

Even though I was already full, the addictive flavor kept my spoon going, and I scraped up the very last bite.

Overall thoughts on Onjeongban, a Byeollae favorite

From the bossam to the gondeure rice, the gulrim mandu, the shabu kalguksu, and the nutty porridge, there wasn't a single dish that left anything to be desired — it was a perfect meal.

I could feel the care put into every single dish, which made it all the more satisfying.

And at the end, you even get to enjoy a slushie and snacks, haha!!

If you're after a hearty, easy-on-the-stomach meal, or you're looking for a great-atmosphere restaurant in Byeollae-dong, I really recommend Onjeongban. The taste and the lineup are both so solid that it's a place I want to visit again, haha.