Gwacheon Korean restaurant for birthday meals: Haenon Miyeok

Today I rushed over to a restaurant where seriously luxurious seaweed soup is the star, and it is a real gem. Truly. Honestly. Local-resident approved. ( ˉ ˓_ ˉ )

This is Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch (해논미역 과천직영점), a great Korean restaurant in Gwacheon where you can have a luxurious, filling seaweed soup spread with buffet-style side dishes in a very spacious, spotless setting!!

Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch exterior and parking

Doesn't it look upscale from the outside already..? The exterior was so impressive that I went in like, ooh.. haha. This is Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch, a specialist in original restorative seaweed soup set meals that began in Busan in 2015!!

The parking lot is really spacious too, right? Just bring your car comfortably, haha.

A spacious, atmospheric interior

The interior is the real deal. It is completely~ huge, with high ceilings, and even the inside feels grand and atmospheric, doesn't it..? I love that there is a restaurant this elegant with seaweed soup as its main dish,,𐔌՞ᱹ ତ ᱹ՞𐦯

For a family gathering or family meal in Munwon-dong, Gwacheon, or when you want to choose food that feels a little fancy yet easy on the stomach for a special day, you need to run here!!!! They also have a birthday cake event!! (Scroll right down for it, haha)

Seaweed soup set menu and prices

• Boneless flounder, scallop, mussel meat, and dried pollock seaweed soup sets: ₩19,000 each
• Beef seaweed soup set: ₩20,000 / Tongyeong oyster seaweed soup set: ₩25,000 / Haenon beef bulgogi set: ₩32,000
• Haenon beef bulgogi (500g): ₩30,000 / Wando butter-grilled abalone (4 pieces): ₩25,000 / seasoned flounder: ₩6,000
• Add 2 abalone to seaweed soup: ₩7,000 / ₩4,000 off soup-only takeaway (without side dishes)
• For groups of 8 or more, one menu item per person is required

I had never tried flounder, scallop, oyster, mussel meat, or dried pollock seaweed soup before, so I was super curious (and I still am). The menu is also filled with things that are great when you want to treat someone with good intentions, or go out to eat with family, including beef bulgogi and butter-grilled abalone and so on (˵• ̀⩊•́˵)

Unlimited side dishes and the basic spread

Can you see it..? This is an all-you-can-eat buffet. Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), fried foods, and all kinds of neat side dishes are unlimited! You can keep having them (՞. .՞)ꔫ˖♡ Is there anything left over here, owner?

Aren't the basic side dishes so good too..? That salad was so delicious, I love the fried eggplant, and I kept going back for endless refills of that muk (acorn jelly). There was seasoned raw crab, japchae, and those plump seasoned flounder pieces set on both sides.... Looking at it again makes my mouth water. Even the side dishes are such good quality ʕっ'^'cʔ

Scallop, beef, and boneless flounder seaweed soup sets

We ordered the beef seaweed soup set (₩20,000) + scallop seaweed soup set (₩19,000) + boneless flounder seaweed soup set (₩19,000)!

Scallop seaweed soup set ₩19,000

The first and second photos are the scallop seaweed soup set, and I almost regret that I can only capture it in photos,, It is packed full of seriously thick scallops. (˵• ̀⩊•́˵) What was so fascinating was that the flavor really changed completely depending on what the main ingredient in each seaweed soup was?? This scallop seaweed soup was full of nutty yet refreshingly clear flavor, so I kept eating right to the end, haha.

Beef and boneless flounder seaweed soup

The third and fourth photos are the beef and boneless flounder seaweed soup sets, okay? That visual of steaming-hot soup in earthenware bowls is incredible!!! To show you more closely,

Can you see how thick and plump that flounder is? And it is boneless. Can you see those substantial pieces of beef? The beef seaweed soup has the most amazing deep flavor from the beef broth.. It was full of beef, so we kept eating beef right to the very end, haha.

But my number-one pick was the boneless flounder seaweed soup!!! The broth is seriously no joke. It is so savory and umami-rich, perfectly seasoned with a deep broth, and the tender boneless flounder goes with it unbelievably well ㅠㅠㅠ

I love seaweed soup this luxurious ,, ( ˶˚ˑ˚˶ ) The flavor differs with each menu item, but every one of them has that wonderfully deep broth. My standards have gone up—I can't eat it anywhere else now hahaha.

Rice refills are unlimited too, haha. But the seaweed soup portions are so big that honestly, one bowl fills you up. Can you get a sense of just how deep the broth is, how generous the portion is, and how luxurious this earthenware-bowl seaweed soup is!!?!?! (⸝⸝ ᷇•⩊• ᷆⸝⸝) A Gwacheon gem, a seaweed soup gem.. This place is the best (｡´⌣` ,,)

Restaurant details and the birthday event

The restrooms here are also super clean~ and separate for men and women.

Because the place is so big, the walls are filled with information showing the affection behind Haenon Miyeok ʕっ'^'cʔ It really makes you trust the food even more~ ( ˊᵕˋ)

Also, pregnant guests and birthday guests get one abalone as a service, apparently, haha. My eyes are just spinning ,, (̨̡‎‪´. ̫ .`)̧̢

Things to know before visiting

• It is near the Munwon-dong Community Service Center.
• Pets are temporarily not allowed, though they say this will be addressed quickly, so it may be worth asking.
• With a reservation one day ahead, customers within 7 days of their birthday can receive a cake gift.

The final finale is the birthday person's cake!!!!!! If it is your birthday week and you have not prepared a cake, run here, haha. If you want to enjoy the atmosphere over luxurious Korean food in a special place on a special day and make precious memories, I highly recommend Haenon Miyeok Gwacheon Direct Branch, a wonderful spot for a family meal in Gwacheon~~