Hwaseong Korean restaurant for cabbage-wrapped dumplings: Baekok Dongtan

A Korean meal with my dad at Lotte Department Store Dongtan

I went to Lotte Department Store Dongtan with my dad and stopped by Baekok Dongtan because we wanted a hearty Korean meal! Since Baekok Dongtan is inside the department store, it was conveniently accessible. We came by car, and being able to use the department store parking meant there was less to worry about.

Come down the central escalator and it is immediately on the right, so it was super easy to find!

Maybe because we visited on a weekday, there were relatively plenty of seats and it was nice that it was not crowded. I think it would suit anyone looking for a good Korean restaurant in Dongtan to eat at with their parents!

There were also packaged products prepared along one side. The pink bags had the Baekok logo on them, giving the packaging a neat, polished feel! It looked convenient not only for eating there but also for taking home. It seems like a good option for anyone who wants to pick up something to eat at home after their meal too, haha.

Clear pork gomtang and cabbage dumplings

The menu centers on gomtang (Korean beef or pork soup), so it was easy to choose. Baekok Dongtan has three signature gomtang options: pork gomtang, spicy gomtang, and herbal gomtang. We tried the clear pork gomtang along with cabbage dumplings. With warm soup and dumplings too, it made for a well-rounded meal. They also sell a separate kids’ gukbap (rice soup)! (₩7,000)

Clear pork gomtang that was light yet deeply flavored

I had the clear pork gomtang, and first of all, the broth was deep and delicious. I thought the clear broth might taste light, but once I tried it, it had real depth. At the same time, it was not overly rich or heavy, and its clean flavor made it easy to keep eating.

There was none of that distinctive pork smell at all! My dad, who came with me, really enjoyed it. He said it was so tasty and clean. The portion was quite generous too, so it is a satisfying meal on your own.

Cabbage dumplings wrapped in cabbage leaves with kimchi filling

And the cabbage dumplings we ordered alongside it! At first, I wondered what kind of dumplings they would be based on the name alone, but it is easiest to think of them as kimchi dumplings. Instead of a typical dumpling wrapper, they are wrapped in cabbage leaves, which was unique, haha. I have a friend who does not like dumpling wrappers and therefore does not like dumplings, and this made me think of that friend.

The cabbage dumplings were generously filled with kimchi dumpling filling. Maybe because they were wrapped in cabbage leaves, they felt different from ordinary dumplings, and almost like a healthier way to eat?! They tasted so good too ㅠㅠ Looking at the photos makes me want them again... A dumpling spot I had not been to in a while... Since I love kimchi, this was especially suited to my taste, so I really want to recommend it if you like kimchi dumplings!!

A great spot for a filling meal

From the clear, deeply flavored broth to the tender meat with no unpleasant smell, everything was easy and comfortable to eat. My dad enjoyed it too, and adding the cabbage dumplings made it an extremely filling and satisfying meal, haha. It feels like a place that would be nice to revisit when I am craving Korean food at Lotte Department Store Dongtan! I think it would be especially good in winter.

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for a meal at Lotte Department Store Dongtan
• Those who enjoy clean yet deeply flavored gomtang
• Anyone looking for a comfortable place to eat with their parents
• Those who like kimchi dumplings or cabbage dumplings