Hapjeong Korean restaurant for bone soup rice: Pyeongidambaek

A Hapjeong restaurant recommendation: Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch. It's a Hapjeong spot famous for its suyuk (boiled sliced pork).

• ⏰ Hours: 11:00 – 22:00 (break time 15:00 – 17:00)
• 🚗 Parking: ❌

Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch, between Mangwon and Hapjeong Stations

Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu is located between Mangwon and Hapjeong Stations. Since it's the main branch, I had high expectations — you know the main branch is always the tastiest, right? Places labeled as the original/main branch usually deliver more than the basics.

The inside is clean with plenty of tables. There's seating all the way to the back, so turnover seems fast too. Apparently it's especially popular at lunchtime. The reviews were all so good that I was really curious to try it!

Popular menu items and prices at Pyeongidambaek

At Pyeongidambaek, the perilla oil noodles, bone soup rice, and bossam seemed to be the dishes most people order.

• Perilla oil noodles (deulgireum kalguksu): ₩11,000
• Bone noodle soup / bone soup rice (ppyeo kalguksu / ppyeotangbap): ₩12,000
• Bossam: ₩42,000

I heard the bossam portion is generous and the meat is tender and delicious, but we were craving bone soup rice more, so that's what we got this time..! (Definitely trying the bossam next time haha)

Bone soup rice ₩12,000 — the special sauce is the real kicker

Our ppyeotangbap came out faster than I expected — a bubbling stone pot topped with plenty of egg. Inside, the milky broth held two big chunks of meat.

The meat chunks were huge, packed with flesh, and the broth that had simmered out of them was clear and savory. The pieces were so big that when I scooped them out with a spoon, wow — they felt genuinely heavy.

You can see how meaty it is, right? Plenty of meat, plenty of egg garnish, and glass noodles came along with the toppings too — light and tender, which I loved.

They also give you a special sauce for dipping the meat, and this is truly the kicker! Dip a bite in and the broth is savory, but then a slightly sweet-and-sour, spicy kick from the sauce hits on top, boosting the umami even more.

The lean meat was so tender that when dipped, it just melted in my mouth.. I get why the bone soup rice is so popular. If Pyeongidambaek were near my office, I'd go every single lunch and my paycheck would vanish, ugh.

And the kimchi that comes with it is genuinely delicious.. You know the saying that if the kimchi's good, it's a real gem of a restaurant? I think Pyeongidambaek is exactly that. The kimchi is spicy and so tasty!

Perilla oil noodles ₩11,000 — piled with perilla powder and seaweed flakes

I also tried Pyeongidambaek's perilla oil noodles. This one, too, seemed to be something a lot of people order and recommend? If it's a popular dish, there must be a reason! So I ordered it.

The perilla oil noodles came piled almost mercilessly with perilla powder and seaweed flakes, giving off an incredibly nutty, fragrant smell. They'd tossed in finely chopped scallions too, and the bowl was huge with a generous portion — I loved it ( ˊ ᵕ ˋ )♡

There must have been plenty of perilla oil in there too, because mixing it was smooth, and the whole time I was stirring, the smell was so good I was practically drooling in anticipation.

Wow, one bite in and my friend and I both did a double take. The nutty perilla aroma spread everywhere, and the seaweed and perilla powder weren't heavy at all — thick and rich, but still easy to slurp down.

Along with the perilla oil noodles, they also give you the milky bone broth. Taking a bite of noodles then sipping the warm bone broth made the meal even better. Nice touch from the owner giving out the broth too — someone who really knows what they're doing ෆ

Squid chive pancake — crispy all the way through

I was on the fence about ordering the squid chive pancake, but then I remembered wanting jeon (savory pancake) recently, so I got it. And this squid chive pancake is honestly a total scam.. just visually, it looks so crispy it practically bursts out of the photo — the real thing outshines the picture.

On top of that, the owner cleverly placed grease-absorbing paper under the pancake in the dish, which kept it crispy for a long time and stopped it from getting soggy.

The squid wasn't just a little garnish either — it was overflowing, practically half squid, half chives. When I cut into the pancake, it was crispy not just at the edges but all the way through, so cutting it was effortless.

You know how really crispy fried food makes that crunch sound when you bite in? This squid chive pancake had exactly that sound, while the squid inside stayed plump — the kind of taste that keeps you reaching for more. On a rainy day, coming here for this pancake with a bowl of makgeolli (rice wine) would be the perfect combo ⟡

Final thoughts — expect a wait at lunch

Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch is apparently popular even on regular days, and now I get why it's such a well-loved spot! (You'll need to wait at lunchtime, so hurry over..!) Overall, everything was savory and light without being greasy — food I kept reaching for ෆ It's known as a Hapjeong spot famous for its suyuk, so next time I'll definitely order the bossam or suyuk too..!

Among everything we ate, it's impossible to pick a favorite — all of it was great. (The main branch really never disappoints..!) If you're ever in Hapjeong or Mangwon, I hope you'll stop by Pyeongidambaek at least once. How about lunch at Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch today? :)