In-law meeting lunch at Pyeongtaek hanjeongsik restaurant Suksudaega

Suksudaega is a Korean set-meal restaurant in Pyeongtaek that I stopped by on the way to Haemieupseong Fortress in Seosan. The exterior is a stately hanok and the inside is divided into private rooms, which made it feel really private. Maybe because of that, it seemed like a great spot for a matchmaking meeting (sangkyeollye), and also good for all kinds of group gatherings. The side dishes were neat and tidy, and the borigulbi was delicious.

What Suksudaega looks like and where it is in Anjung-eup

The exterior is a stylish hanok, so it looked like the right restaurant for a fancy, formal occasion.

Suksudaega's address is 131 Gangbyeon-ro, Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Parking, opening hours and why a reservation matters at Suksudaega

Suksudaega serves fusion Korean set meals made by a chef with a hotel culinary arts background, and the parking lot, despite being large, was completely full by lunchtime. I went early, before noon, so I was fine. A lot of people come with reservations, so I'd recommend booking ahead before you visit.

Hours run from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM, with a break time from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

What is on the Suksudaega set-meal menu?

The menu is posted outside, so you can check it before going in. There was a weekday lunch special, a weekday Beopseongpo dried croaker special, a weekend braised king short rib set, and the regular Beopseongpo borigulbi set, among others.

The main building and the annex are separate, and there's a dedicated waiting area too.

A look at the Suksudaega menu board

I came on a weekday, so I ordered the Beopseongpo borigulbi set for two.

Wine list and the private room at Suksudaega

Suksudaega is running a zero-margin wine heritage special, selling Dom Pérignon 2017 for ₩330,000 a bottle for a limited quantity. Anyone who loves wine might want to keep this in mind.

It seemed like a great place for formal gatherings of all kinds — group meetings, family gatherings, matchmaking meetings — since the interior has that hanok feel and is set up as rooms, making it private.

Because I'd reserved ahead, I got to eat in a fully private room. People who came without a reservation were seated in other, more open rooms.

There's also a huge selection of wine, so you can enjoy wine alongside your Korean set meal.

How the Beopseongpo borigulbi set for two is served

The first thing to come out was sweet pumpkin porridge.

It was soft and just right for soothing the stomach before the meal — really tasty.

Tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty), yukjeon (pan-fried beef), japchae (glass noodles), salad, bean-sprout stir-fry with beef brisket, shrimp, perilla leaf fritters — every single side dish was made with care.

The tteokgalbi was juicy the moment I bit into it, so moist inside.

The perilla leaf fritters were warm and really tasty too. When I go to a Korean set-meal restaurant, I don't love it when the side dishes are cold, but these were as warm as if they'd just been made.

The bean-sprout stir-fry with beef brisket was good too, and the shrimp were plump and delicious.

The Beopseongpo borigulbi comes together with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and pot rice. Freshly made rice just can't be bad, haha.

I didn't love borigulbi much as a kid, but the older I get, the tastier it seems.

How big is the borigulbi and how does it taste?

And above all, one piece of borigulbi is huge. Usually when you order borigulbi it comes already trimmed, but this wasn't that half-dried, and it wasn't fully raw either — it felt like exactly the midpoint between the two.

It had a moderately chewy bite, right in between freshly grilled fish and dried fish, so there wasn't even any fishy smell, which I liked, haha. It's a dish that's hard to make at home, so I ate it with extra enthusiasm, haha.

Instead of green tea, dip a piece into hot sungnyung (scorched rice tea) and it's an absolute rice thief, haha.

Is Suksudaega right for an in-law meeting or family gathering?

Even outside the private room, the space is divided up, and there are seats with an outdoor view too. If a family gathering or an important occasion came up and someone asked me for a recommendation, this is a place I'd want to suggest.

It also has a weekday lunch special for casual visits, so I think the price range and portions are reasonable, not too much of a burden. If you're looking for a place in Pyeongtaek for a matchmaking meeting, family gathering, group event, 60th or 70th birthday celebration, how about Suksudaega?