Suwon Station pub with stone-roasted squid on a candle grill: Paldal

The weather suddenly got so chilly~ When my fingertips start to freeze, there's one pub I always think of~ It's where I go when I want tasty snacks in a place that feels like a warm home~

Where is Paldal Jutaek near Suwon Station?

Paldal Jutaek (팔달주택) is a Korean pub in a residential area, about a 10-minute walk from Suwon Station. I wondered why a pub was called "jutaek" (housing), and then I got it: it's written 酒택, with the character for liquor, hahaha. Sounds like a place where the drinks just slide down~!

Inside Paldal Jutaek and the terrace seats

Inside, the lighting is soft and there are plants here and there, so it felt cozy and snug~! There are also terrace bar seats outside~! If you like an outdoor vibe, keep that in mind~!

What are the signature dishes at Paldal Jutaek?

The signature dishes were the Bulnae Hanpan, sukiyaki (Japanese-style hot pot), fried pork ribs, beef intestine hot pot, soupy boneless chicken tteokbokki and soupy chicken feet~!

We ordered the Bulnae Hanpan we enjoyed last time~ And I'd been craving Banseok-roasted squid lately, so we ordered that too~!

The candle grill and complimentary snacks

First, the friendly owner came over and lit the candle for us~! It seemed to be there to keep the food from going cold until we finished~ An unexpected bit of campfire-gazing bliss, haha. They also bring peanuts and pretzels as complimentary snacks, and they're tasty enough that you keep reaching for them~

Bulnae Hanpan for ₩28,000: what's in it and how does it taste?

Paldal Jutaek's Bulnae Hanpan lets you taste four things at once, all with a fire-grilled flavor: baby octopus, intestines, chicken feet and bulgogi. It costs ₩28,000. It came out faster than I expected, and I loved the big pile of bean sprouts in the middle~! It looked filling enough for two, and for ₩28,000 isn't that great value? haha

I wrapped the bulgogi in bean sprouts first~ Sweet, with the smoky fire flavor hitting right away~! It goes so well with the crunch of the sprouts~! Who came up with this combo, haha. I tried the baby octopus too, and the quality isn't top-notch, but it's still a decent snack~! Chewy and tender~

Then the chicken feet and intestines, one after the other! I liked the boneless chicken feet best~~ Dipped in the mayonnaise sauce that came with it, the nutty flavor came out and I kept going back for more~! My husband said the intestines were the best~ Even with a group, everyone can enjoy something to their own taste, which I like~!

How was the Banseok roasted squid at Paldal Jutaek?

The Banseok roasted squid (맥반석 오징어, squid grilled on heated stones) was bigger than I expected, and it was scored so you can tear it apart easily. Wow~~~ I always buy it at highway rest stops, but this is my first time eating it properly like this~~ It was grilled a beautiful golden brown~! The Bulnae Hanpan was more food than I expected, so I was worrying about being full, but the moment I smelled the squid my hand went right for it, haha

Dipped in the mayo sauce and gochujang (chili paste) sauce that came with it, it was nutty and not greasy, and I enjoyed it to the end~ The squid is domestic, and it was fresh and delicious~!

Reheating cooled squid on the candle grill

When the squid started to cool, I put it on the empty grill plate with the candle underneath to warm it up~ It tasted even better that way~ haha. We cleaned every plate and left, hehe. Even though it's a pub, it had a camping mood, and the owner was lovely too, so I left in a great mood~!

Paldal Jutaek opening hours

• Daily 17:00–24:00
• Last order 23:00