Cheonan Korean restaurant, gim refills for a party of three: Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek in Sinbuldang, Cheonan. I went with my mom and dad, the three of us. I'd heard the name a lot but never actually been, so I was half excited, half curious.

Quick summary

• Yukhoe bibimbap ₩14,000 ×2 + eggplant doenjang rice ₩13,000, ₩41,000 total for three people
• Yukhoe bibimbap's meat portion is surprisingly generous; adding the egg yolk and mixing it in makes it mild; recommend using all the sauce
• The eggplant doenjang rice has minced meat mixed in, so it's manageable even if you dislike eggplant
• 9 tables plus 5 solo seats, white and wood-tone interior that felt clean
• Not jaw-dropping value, but a reasonable price range for a family meal

It's a rice-focused place, but the menu lineup felt a bit different from a typical Korean restaurant.

For anyone wondering whether it's worth a trip, here's my honest take.

Where is Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch, and what are its hours?

• 1F 109-110, 192 Buldang 25-ro, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–20:00
• Break time: 15:30–17:00
• Building parking available

Inside Hyangtaek: the room and the solo-dining seats

Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch has 9 tables plus a separate section with 5 solo seats. The white and wood-tone combo gave it a clean impression.

Walking in, my first impression was that clean white-and-wood combo.

There are about 9 tables, and 5 solo seats set up separately.

So it works for a family visit or a solo meal without feeling awkward. Most seats were filled, so there's clearly a reason it's popular.

Hyangtaek menu and prices

Rice dishes

• Mackerel gondre rice ₩14,000
• Eggplant doenjang rice ₩13,000
• Yukhoe bibimbap ₩14,000
• Perilla leaf squid rice bowl ₩13,000

Noodle dishes

• Herring roe bibim noodles ₩13,000

Sides to share

• Chilled deodeok (mountain root) grill ₩9,000
• Assorted cold appetizer ₩6,000
• Assorted galbi ₩10,000
• Cheongsong-style dak bulgogi ₩9,000

We ordered two yukhoe bibimbap and one eggplant doenjang rice. Yukhoe bibimbap ₩14,000 ×2, eggplant doenjang rice ₩13,000, ₩41,000 total.

Hyangtaek yukhoe bibimbap: how much beef, and how to eat it

Hyangtaek's yukhoe bibimbap is ₩14,000 and comes with the egg yolk served separately. The meat portion wasn't small for the price.

At first glance, it's the classic yukhoe bibimbap look. But the meat portion turned out to be more than I expected.

It was bunched up at first so I couldn't tell, but once I spread it out and mixed it in, the portion wasn't small for the price.

The egg yolk comes separately, and adding it on top of the yukhoe before mixing makes it much milder. I'd recommend using all the sauce.

Gim (seaweed) also comes with it, and if you ask for more they'll refill it, so make sure to wrap some in gim too. An extra spoonful of mildness!

Hyangtaek eggplant doenjang rice bowl: can eggplant haters eat it?

Hyangtaek's eggplant doenjang rice is ₩13,000 and has minced meat mixed in. I don't usually eat eggplant, but a few spoonfuls were fine.

I usually skip eggplant, so I passed at first, then tried a few spoonfuls of my mom's.

But it was better than I expected.

The minced meat mixed in keeps the eggplant flavor from being too strong. I think even people who dislike eggplant could eat this without much resistance.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a meal for three cost at Hyangtaek?

Two yukhoe bibimbap plus one eggplant doenjang rice came to ₩41,000 total.

Is the eggplant doenjang rice bowl worth it if you dislike eggplant?

Since minced meat is mixed in, the eggplant flavor isn't too strong and it's manageable.

Does Hyangtaek have a break time?

Yes, there's a break time from 15:30 to 17:00, so check before you visit.

Final verdict on Hyangtaek Cheonan Buldang Branch

I wouldn't call it jaw-dropping value, but it was a clean, reasonably priced place for a meal. Good for a family visit, and the solo seats make it fine to go alone too. The eggplant doenjang rice is worth trying even if you're not an eggplant fan, and I'd strongly recommend eating the yukhoe bibimbap with the full yolk-and-sauce setup.

Next time I'll come back to try the mackerel gondre rice and the herring roe bibim noodles.