Hwangnidan-gil restaurant dinner, sold-out pork kimchijjim: Goyu

Heading out for dinner on the way to Tareudang, the Instagram-famous bakery, I spotted Goyu right next door on the main street of Hwangnidan-gil. It takes traditional Korean dishes and gives them a modern spin, and customers kept streaming in to check the menu — I didn't hesitate to walk in for dinner.

Goyu / 49 Sajeong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk / Daily 11:00–21:00 (Break time 16:00–17:00) / Use nearby public parking lots

Where to park and what the menu board at Goyu's entrance shows

Goyu doesn't have its own parking lot, but there are paid public lots nearby like Hwangnidan-gil Central Parking Lot and the Hwangnam-dong public/private lot. There's also a standing sign at the entrance with photos of the menu, which was handy to check before going in.

Goyu's half-open kitchen and full-window seats

Walking in, you're greeted straight ahead by a half-open kitchen where you can watch the cooking happen. The space is L-shaped with 2- and 4-person tables. Big windows and wood tables keep it looking clean overall, with lighting that adds a nice mood.

It was already packed early on, but we grabbed the one remaining 2-person table. There were high chairs ready too, and the tables had generous spacing, making it a comfortable Hwangnidan-gil spot for a meal.

Goyu's menu, tablet ordering and the hair ties at each table

Every table has a tablet ordering device, with set menus that let you try several dishes at once, plus ssambap (lettuce-wrap rice), yukhoe (beef tartare), potato pancake, pork kimchijjim, eggplant gangjeong, buckwheat noodles, and more mains and sides. And what a nice touch — hair ties! Long hair gets in the way while eating, so having hair ties right at the table let me eat comfortably, at least for a bit.

What we ordered: pork kimchijjim for two and cheese potato pancake

• Slow-simmered whole pork kimchijjim ₩15,000 x2
• Cheese potato pancake ₩9,000

It looked like almost every table had the slow-simmered pork kimchijjim. Right after we ordered it sold out — we caught the last train haha. The ssambap looked super popular too, so I want to try that next time. Visually it's gorgeous, almost like gimbap >.<

The beef radish soup and geotjeori that come with every meal

After ordering, Goyu brings out geotjeori and beef radish soup as complimentary starters — you can see the beef is thick-cut and generously portioned, right? The soup is seasoned just right, savory yet clean, and the geotjeori is crisp and delicious, great for waking up your appetite before the meal.

Korean pork shoulder kimchijjim: mild enough for spice wimps

The kimchijjim, made with slow-simmered domestic refrigerated pork shoulder, was a visual knockout. Along with the whole cabbage kimchi, there were big chunks of tofu and generously sized pork shoulder — you really need scissors to cut it up.

They give you scissors and tongs, so once you cut it into bite-size pieces, you can see just how thick the meat is. Even so, there was no gamey smell at all, and the rich, slightly thickened broth was so good — no funky sourness from the kimchi either, and two spice-wimps like us had no trouble finishing it. It has that savory, umami kind of mild spiciness that keeps you coming back for more.

It melts in your mouth, so I think even elementary-school-age kids could handle it without it being too spicy. The combo of tofu, kimchi, and pork shoulder 👍 — pile it on white rice and a whole bowl disappears in no time. It also pairs really well with the complimentary beef radish soup, making this a solid Hwangnidan-gil restaurant pick.

Cheese potato pancake with spicy mayo sauce

We also ordered the cheese potato pancake in case the kimchijjim turned out too spicy, and it was super crispy *_* dusted generously with cheese powder, with the savory flavor turned all the way up.

Crispy, and it goes really well with the spicy mayo-ish sauce that comes with it. The crunchy texture combined with the potato's savoriness makes this cheese potato pancake a hit with all ages.

Why Goyu fits easily into a Hwangnidan-gil walking route

Goyu sits right on the main street of Hwangnidan-gil, so it's easy to find, and it's close to Tareudang, the Korean-style ten-won bread stall, and more, making it easy to pair with other stops on a course. Customers of all ages were dining there. It reinterprets Korean food in a modern way, so you can eat something clean and delicious, and even a simple meal feels like it sets the mood — the staff were kind too. Next time you're craving a good meal, how about Goyu, a Hwangnidan-gil restaurant in Gyeongju?