Danyang restaurant with baby chairs, free parking: Heukmaneul Ssambap

The weather finally turned nice so we took a family trip to Danyang 🌿 Good food is always the important part of any trip, and I already knew Danyang was famous for black garlic. But when I heard there was a ssambap (wrap rice) place built around that black garlic, we went straight there the moment we arrived in Danyang. Here's my review of Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap, a recommended restaurant near Danyang Gugyeong Market.

Where is Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap, and is parking free?

Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap sits right near the entrance to Danyang Gugyeong Market, so parking at the Danyang Market public lot put us super close by. On top of that, the parking lot is free, which made things really convenient.

Right from the entrance, the walls were covered in celebrity signatures, which told me this was already a well-known Danyang restaurant.

What we ordered: black garlic pork ssambap set for two plus black garlic squid

The menu had black garlic boiled pork ssambap, black garlic stir-fried pork ssambap, and black garlic squid ssambap. We went with the black garlic boiled pork ssambap set for two (₩38,000) plus a black garlic squid add-on (₩12,000). Since we were traveling, boiled pork alone felt like it wasn't enough — the black garlic squid was too intriguing to pass up, so we added it.

Why Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap works with a baby

Maybe because so many families bring babies on Danyang trips, there were plenty of baby chairs on hand beyond the one at our own table. It was nice to see quite a few other tables with babies too, haha.

Side dishes, wrap greens and stew on the table

The side dishes came out first. Right from the first taste I could tell everything was fresh and made in-house. Since the side dishes themselves were already tasty, I got even more excited for the main dish.

True to a ssambap restaurant, a wide variety of wrap greens and dipping sauces came out too.

How the black garlic boiled pork ssambap tastes: the sauce cuts the richness

Then the main event arrived — the black garlic boiled pork ssambap for two, plus the black garlic squid we added. The presentation alone already earned this place its reputation as a Danyang favorite.

The pork was boiled until tender, then topped generously with black garlic sauce. The radish kimchi served alongside was neither too sweet nor too spicy — even my husband, who doesn't usually go for radish kimchi, kept eating it. The black garlic sauce paired so well with the pork and cut through its richness that I think it would appeal to every age group. Maybe that's why there were so many tables of couples our age (30s) as well as plenty of elderly guests — I'd love to come back next time with my parents.

Is the 12,000 won black garlic squid worth adding?

The black garlic squid was stir-fried squid drizzled with black garlic sauce, but it tasted different from the sauce on the pork. The black garlic flavor felt stronger and more savory, and it went perfectly with the stir-fried squid. I'm currently trying to eat less and told myself I'd just have a bite and give the rest to my husband — but at some point I caught myself scarfing it down 🤦‍♀️

What does the black garlic rice taste like?

The black garlic rice served here was even more unusual! The color of the rice was different from anywhere else — apparently it's made with both black garlic and ginseng mixed in. Even so, only a subtle sweet aroma remained, so I think even people who don't like black garlic or ginseng could enjoy it without really noticing those flavors.

My husband put both the pork and the squid on a lettuce leaf together and wrapped it all up — instant thumbs up 👍. It was my first time combining the two in one wrap as well, and now I'd recommend anyone ordering the pork set to definitely add the squid too. Why? Because you really can't give up either flavor!!

Eventually a stew arrived too, and with that addition the full ssambap set course really came together.

Fresh greens, wraps of pork and squid, and a bubbling stew in between — one bowl of rice disappeared in no time. Starting our trip off with a meal this good made for a wonderful beginning to our Danyang trip.

The black garlic sauce was piled on so generously that even the wraps carried a rich black garlic aroma. Strong garlic flavor can sometimes be off-putting, but somehow they managed to make it neither spicy nor sweet — just right.

The kimchi was so good on its own that we ended up eating it bossam-style — just kimchi with the pork, no wrap — and the combination of black garlic aroma and crunchy kimchi still gave a really rich flavor in every bite.

The black garlic squid was also plump and springy, with just a touch of spice that kept it from feeling heavy, pairing well with the deep black garlic sauce on top.

Monthly review contest and final verdict on Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap

Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap also runs a monthly review event! Even third place gets to eat generously at the restaurant, but first place wins a whopping ₩100,000 — a pretty generous prize.

Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap, a Danyang Market restaurant we found on a quiet autumn trip! We ended up overeating even though it was just lunch, and with baby chairs available it was easy to visit with our baby too — this one is going to be a good memory ✨