Danyang ssambap restaurant, squid stir-fry: Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap

Hi, this is Cat Cheesemom. This past weekend I went on a one-night trip with my family to Danyang, Chungbuk. Let me tell you about our visit to Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap, the hottest spot near Danyang's Gyeonggyeong Market.

Why go to Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap early in the day

Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap usually has a wait and closes early once ingredients run out, so we went for dinner before 5pm. I'd heard this place specializes in handmade black garlic sauce, garlic rice, and garlic dishes — it's known as a Danyang restaurant with a reputation, so waiting is common.

The menu at Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap

The menu has just three items: black garlic squid stir-fry ssambap, black garlic pork ssambap, and black garlic boiled pork ssambap. My family is three people — my spouse, our 7-year-old, and me.

With only three options, there wasn't much to agonize over, which was perfect for someone like me who struggles with decisions haha. All three use black garlic in the cooking, which makes them a distinctive Danyang restaurant menu.

Since our 7-year-old can't handle spicy food yet, we ordered two servings of the black garlic boiled pork ssambap that the child could eat too. And since we figured we'd miss out on something spicy, we added the squid stir-fry for the adults, thinking — we're in Danyang, might as well eat freely :)

Side dishes that work for eating with kids

Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap basically has a really wide, generous side dish spread — every dish felt carefully made. Along with the wrap greens, there were plenty of mild sides like quail eggs, stir-fried seaweed stems, and stir-fried mushrooms, which made feeding my child so much easier.

(When you're with a kid, having side dishes they can actually eat matters so much!)

How do the black garlic boiled pork ssambap and squid stir-fry taste?

We didn't wait long after ordering before the delicious Danyang black garlic ssambap arrived along with the squid stir-fry. Oh... aside from the variety of wrap greens, the spicy doenjang jjigae (fermented soybean stew) and the tender, soft boiled pork! And the garlic sauce on top was genuinely so good.

I knew Danyang was famous for garlic, but I hadn't realized just how delicious this garlic sauce would be alongside the tender boiled pork — that sweet yet deep garlic aroma was so good. And the pork was boiled so perfectly, I wanted to know the secret.

The garlic sauce was sweet without being too spicy, so even our child had no trouble eating it :) And I loved that it was only drizzled over half the dish!

The squid stir-fry was spicy, with black garlic sauce drizzled on top too, and it was so good. I can't handle spice well, but I ate it happily even with my nose running. That sauce is truly the best!!!!

We wrapped rice with the thick soybean paste and greens, sometimes adding the boiled pork too — and even the plain doenjang jjigae was enough to make you eat extra rice. There were so many delicious sides I didn't know where to point my chopsticks next :)

Is Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap worth it for a family trip meal?

Between the garlic rice, side dishes, and main dish all tasting so good, I totally understood why there's a weekend wait. It's a great place with kids and just as good for taking your parents.

If you asked me for a Danyang restaurant recommendation from this trip, I'd strongly recommend this Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap near Gyeonggyeong Market! If we come back to Danyang, I'd want to revisit this place.

That wraps up my review of Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap, a great Danyang black garlic spot. It's good for lunch and just as good for dinner, so for anyone wanting to visit, I'll post the location below for reference.

Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap location and hours

• 9 Dojeon 2-ro, Danyang-eup, Danyang-gun, Chungbuk, South Korea
• Daily 10:30–20:00 (break time 14:30–16:00)
• Last order 19:20