Self-serve banchan bar at a Ruwon City restaurant: Hangsangcharim

Lots of new restaurants have been popping up in Ruwon City lately, and this time I checked out a newly opened one.

"Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch" is a place worth visiting if you like braised kodari (dried pollock stew). Having eaten there myself, the main dish was tasty, but what I really liked was the self-serve bar where you can help yourself to as much banchan (side dishes) as you want. Let me introduce this to anyone looking for a new restaurant in Ruwon City.

Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch: hours and location

Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch is a second-floor restaurant on Bongojae 3-ro in Incheon, open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. It's a restaurant in the Ruwon City/Gajeong-dong area where you can eat kodari and pollock stew.

How big is the dining room at Hangsangcharim?

Going up to the second floor and into Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch, the place was much bigger than I expected. The wood-tone tables and chairs against dark-colored walls gave it an overall stable, clean feel, and as befits a newly opened restaurant, the interior felt fresh and pleasant.

There was also a long row of seats by the window, so it didn't feel cramped at all, and there were plenty of tables.

It looked like a good spot for eating with a group, or for family gatherings and group meals.

So it seemed like a good option not just as a local Gajeong-dong spot to grab a meal, but also as a place to take your parents out to eat or for a family outing.

What is on the self-serve banchan bar?

One thing I really liked at Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch was the self-serve bar. They bring out the initial table setting, and whatever side dishes you run low on, you can go get more from the self-serve bar as much as you want.

From seasoned lotus root to seasoned tofu, bean sprouts, cabbage salad, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), and white kimchi, there was quite a variety, and they also had seaweed ready, which goes great with the kodari.

I especially love japchae, so I liked being able to help myself to more without any guilt. There's a fun little pleasure in picking out each side dish yourself, and it really gave off the feeling of a hearty, satisfying meal at a Ruwon City restaurant.

Spicy braised pollock for two at basic spice level

My spouse and I ordered the spicy pollock stew for two, choosing mild spice. Neither of us handles spicy food well, so I was a little worried at first, but the mild option was just right. Pleasantly spicy with a deep, savory sauce that kept making me want more rice!

Best of all, the pollock flesh wasn't dry at all — it was thick and moist, so piling it up with plenty of sauce over rice made it a total rice thief.

My favorite way to eat it was wrapping the pollock in seaweed! Putting the sweet-and-spicy sauce-soaked pollock on top of salty seaweed and eating it in one bite is such a great combination.

I also tried mixing bean sprouts from the self-serve bar into the pollock stew sauce, and that turned out to be a real treat too. If you're looking for a good restaurant in Gajeong-dong, I'd definitely recommend trying this combo.

Is Hangsangcharim worth a return family visit?

The main pollock stew dish was delicious, but between the spacious, comfortable dining room and the self-serve bar you could use freely, it was an overall satisfying meal. Kodari and pollock stew are dishes that even the older generation tends to love, so it seems like a great spot for a family meal out.

This newly opened Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch has a generously sized dining room too, so it looked like a good option for anyone looking for a place for a group meal or family gathering. With thick, moist pollock, a pleasantly spicy sauce, and seaweed and bean sprouts to go with it, a bowl of rice disappeared in no time. If you're looking for a new restaurant in Ruwon City or a family-friendly spot in Gajeong-dong, this one's worth a visit.