Hanam Misa rice soup restaurant for a couple's dinner: O Hyeongje

My husband and I went out to Starfield Hanam on the weekend for a bit of shopping and a change of scenery. Weekends near the mall usually mean heavy traffic and a fight just to get into the parking lot, so we tend to eat at restaurants outside the mall rather than inside it...

It was nearly dinner time and the weather's been cooling down lately, so I was craving something hot and soupy. A nurungjitang (crispy scorched-rice soup) specialty restaurant caught my eye nearby. I love nurungjitang — I always grab a bowl whenever I'm at a buffet — but I'd never been to a place that specializes in just that, so I was excited.

And that's how we ended up at O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang!!

Parking and size of O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang in Hanam Misa

O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang Hanam Misa Main Branch has a large private parking lot on its own building grounds, so there was no need to worry about parking at all. Parking is always the thing I stress about most when driving somewhere, so having that sorted first put my mind at ease.

Rather than dealing with the stress of lining up in Starfield's parking garage, I felt it was much more efficient to just eat at an outside restaurant with its own ample parking.

Stepping inside, a wide, open hall came into view. The tables were generously spaced and there were plenty of seats, so it felt like a comfortable place to eat. With all that room, it seemed like a great spot for a family gathering near Starfield Hanam, or for bringing your parents along.

What side dishes does the serving robot bring?

The basic side dishes at O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang are salted squid, dongchimi (radish water kimchi), kimchi, and salad. As we settled in and looked over the menu, an adorable serving robot glided up and set out the side dishes for us.

The basic side dishes — salted squid, dongchimi, kimchi, salad, and more — were laid out neatly. I tasted each one and honestly, they were all so good...

My husband in particular fell hard for the salted squid and kept picking at it one bite after another. The dongchimi broth was spicy-tangy in a distinctive way — sipping a spoonful between bites of the hot nurungjitang cleansed the palate perfectly and balanced everything out.

Self-serve side dish refills and dessert oranges

At O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang's self-serve bar, you can refill side dishes and even grab oranges for dessert. The basic side dishes were so good that my husband ended up heading to the self-serve bar for a refill after picking at them a few times.

The self-serve bar was kept spotlessly clean!! It was nice being able to take as much as we wanted without feeling awkward about it.

Browsing the self-serve bar, I noticed fresh oranges set out for dessert alongside the basic side dishes. Perfect for a refreshing palate cleanser after the meal!!

The sizzling tableside broth pour

We ordered the abalone nurungjitang and the mini fresh tenderloin tangsuyuk. Being a nurungjitang specialty restaurant, the menu had a wide variety of options, including seafood and abalone.

After some deliberation, we went with the abalone nurungjitang, good for the body. We also added the mini fresh tenderloin tangsuyuk. Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour fried pork) made with fresh, not frozen, tenderloin — how could I not order that!!!

By the time we got back to our table with our side dishes from the self-serve bar, our main dishes had already arrived. A staff member came over carrying a piping-hot stone bowl and poured the rice and sauce in right at the table. With a loud "shhhhaa" and a burst of white steam, it was a treat for both the eyes and ears.

How do the abalone nurungjitang and tenderloin tangsuyuk taste?

O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang's abalone nurungjitang wasn't heavily seasoned — mild and savory. I stirred the rice in the stone pot with a ladle so it wouldn't burn, then scooped out a big ladleful into my bowl.

What I liked most was that it wasn't over-seasoned. My husband and I don't like our restaurant food too salty, and this mild-yet-deep savoriness suited us perfectly. Because the seasoning wasn't overpowering, it paired even better with the clean, simple side dishes.

The freshness of the seafood and vegetables was excellent too. Loaded with abalone and various other seafood and vegetables, the texture stayed lively with every bite. The nutty, rich flavor of the scorched rice blended with the seafood for real depth. I finally understood why this place has such a reputation as one of the best nurungjitang restaurants in Hanam!!

Midway through the nurungjitang, the mini fresh tenderloin tangsuyuk arrived. Honestly, since this is a nurungjitang specialty place, I didn't expect much from the tangsuyuk — but I was shocked at how tender the meat was from the very first bite.

Crispy on the outside, moist and chewy on the inside — the texture was unmatched. It's not even made with glutinous rice batter (chapssal tangsuyuk), and it was already this chewy and tender — imagine how good the glutinous rice version must be!!! I worried the mini size might not be enough, but pairing one nurungjitang with one tangsuyuk between the two of us turned out to be the perfect, filling amount.

A dinner combo two people can share, and would we return?

One nurungjitang plus one mini fresh tenderloin tangsuyuk is exactly enough to fill up two adults. Alternating bites of tangsuyuk with spoonfuls of hot nurungjitang, we cleaned our bowls before we knew it.

I usually only encounter nurungjitang as one small part of a buffet spread or a Chinese restaurant course meal, so tasting it properly simmered as a standalone dish at a specialty restaurant made the difference really clear.

It's not overly seasoned and packed with nutritious ingredients, so it's the kind of flavor that everyone from little kids to grandparents would enjoy without complaint. Between the food, the service, and the easy parking, this is a Hanam restaurant worth bringing my parents back to soon!!