Namdong Korean restaurant with squid pork ssam bap: Chagane Ssam Bap

A little while ago, I visited Chagane Ssam Bap with my husband and child. We could eat as many fresh vegetables as we wanted, and the food was not overly seasoned, so it was a nice place for an easy family meal.

Chagane Ssam Bap location and parking

Chagane Ssam Bap is near Gil Hospital in Guwol-dong. It is about 805 m from Arts Center Station Exit 2. There is a parking lot right beside the restaurant, so driving was convenient too.

Outside

We parked and went straight into the restaurant.

Parking and getting in were easy, so it seemed fine for a visit with a child too.

A spacious, relaxed interior

Once inside, the space felt larger and neater than I expected.

Flowers and plants were placed throughout, giving it a slightly relaxed atmosphere even though it is a restaurant.

They also had child seats ready, which made dining with a child comfortable.

Ssam bap menu and our order

The menu is divided into ssam bap (rice served with vegetables for wrapping), meat dishes, and add-ons.

• Pork ssam bap set ₩14,000
• Squid pork ssam bap ₩18,000
• Beef bulgogi ssam bap set ₩18,000
• Fresh pork belly set ₩18,000

That day, we ordered two servings of squid pork ssam bap.

Self-serve wrap vegetables

After ordering, we first picked up wrap vegetables from the self-serve bar.

There were lettuce, perilla leaves, and more, so we could take as much as we wanted. We ate plenty of wraps and went back for one refill.

How was the squid pork ssam bap?

Soon, the squid pork arrived on a hot plate. It was generously piled on and looked appetizing.

The warm squid pork was good with rice and also worked well wrapped in vegetables. Its spicy flavor was not especially strong.

Rather than a sharply spicy seasoning, it had a clean, wholesome feel, which I actually liked. I put a piece of squid pork and a little wureong ssamjang (freshwater snail soybean paste dip) on lettuce and perilla leaves, then wrapped it up properly.

With plenty of wrap vegetables, the seasoning tasted even gentler, and I kept making more wraps.

The wureong ssamjang was especially good. It tasted homemade and paired nicely with the vegetables.

There were also many side dishes: kimchi pancake, pickled cucumber, miyeok-guk (seaweed soup), wureong ssamjang, seasoned zucchini, braised potatoes, seasoned bean sprouts, and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles).

The kimchi pancake was nicely crisp.

The miyeok-guk tasted as though it had simmered for a long time, making it nice to enjoy warm by the bowlful.

The braised potatoes were fluffy, and the black rice had a pleasant nutty flavor.

My child ate rice with the miyeok-guk and japchae too.

After the meal, we tried some sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) and each had a cup of instant coffee and yakwanmun tea.

Post-visit event terms

Chagane was also running an event for social-media posts after a visit. Upload a post with one hashtag and you can receive a soft drink or one bottle of soju.

They also said people who post on a blog can be checked on their next visit and receive ₩10,000–₩20,000 off per table. This applies when ordering for two or more people, so it may be worth checking the terms if you are planning another visit.

A family meal with a look around Chagane Garden

The three of us—my husband, child, and I—had a relaxed meal. Most of all, I liked being able to bring over as many wrap vegetables as we wanted. The squid pork was not intensely seasoned either, so it was easy to eat with the wraps.

With easy parking and a fairly spacious interior, it was a good place for a family meal. On the way out, we also took a quick look at Chagane Garden beside the door.

It was full of pretty plants that looked lovingly tended, so it was fun to look around. After seeing the fresh greenery too, the meal felt like it ended on an even nicer note.

When I am in Guwol-dong and craving mild Korean food with all the wrap vegetables I want, this is a place I think I will come back to.