Sanggye-dong Korean restaurant, 27,000-won set for two: Sutgarak Masil

Where is Sutgarak Bansang Masil, and is there parking?

• 📌 Location — 412 Nowon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul
• ⏰ Hours — 11:30–21:30 / break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:30
• 🚗 Parking — Private lot on site, staff on hand so parking is easy

The Sanggye-dong storefront and the private parking lot

Today I visited Sutgarak Bansang Masil, a well-loved restaurant in Nowon. It took about 5 to 10 minutes to walk from Nowon Station, and once I got near the place, a huge building really stood out. It had a parking lot big enough to match, so it seemed great for coming with family.

At the entrance, the operating hours were clearly posted, and there was a standing sign with the menu and prices so you could check ahead of time.

Opening the door, the wood interior gives off a lyrical, tidy atmosphere, and the plant decor was pretty too. There were spacious 4-person tables as well as private rooms, which seemed good for family gatherings.

Sutgarak Bansang Masil menu and set prices, 22,000 to 42,000 won

The menu is broadly divided into set courses — Special 42,000 won / Gwihan 37,000 won / Chamjoeun 32,000 won / Masil 27,000 won / Basic 22,000 won. The options were broken down quite finely by price.

What order does the 27,000-won Masil set for two arrive in?

The first thing to arrive, yulmu cherry blossom porridge (job's tears grain porridge), definitely had a mild, plain flavor and was good for soothing an empty stomach.

The orange butterfly salad was cute, with pink butterfly-shaped pasta noodles. The tangy sauce paired well with the fresh vegetables.

The chilled whelk salad had an appealingly crunchy texture. Cucumber, lotus root, and whelk were stacked in order, and since most of them are crisp ingredients, my mouth was filled with crunch rather than softness. If you're looking for a proper Korean restaurant in Nowon, I'd recommend it. It seems good for family gatherings or meetings between families before a wedding.

The bossam (boiled pork wraps) came in just the right portion. The tender pork and the kimchi were both seasoned just right. It could've been a bit more, but since there was so much else, this amount was fine.

The japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) was the most delicious dish. It's honestly a dish that's hard to mess up, but japchae from a proper Korean restaurant really does taste better.

Of course, fried dishes can't be left out. Next came buckwheat fritters shaped like forsythia flowers, apparently — the creativity was really impressive. One was shrimp and I don't remember what the others were, but I do remember they were tasty haha. The chili sauce drizzled on top paired well too. If you're looking for a reliable spot in Nowon, I'd recommend it.

These are savory pancakes (jeon), good for one bite each. This one wasn't bad either.

Mushroom braised short ribs and tteokgalbi, the main courses

The mushroom braised short ribs came out warm. This small bowl was packed with more meat and mushrooms than I expected.

The meat pulled easily off the bone, and the broth was rich and tasty. The mushrooms had soaked up the seasoning well too, so much so that I reached for the mushrooms more than the meat — sweet and appealing.

There's an induction burner hidden underneath so you can eat the tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) warm, and it's good with the lightly grilled onions underneath.

Finishing with the doenjang jjigae spread and green tangerine juice

And finally, a homestyle spread haha — anchovies, bean sprouts, garlic scapes, kimchi, doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and more, a hearty and satisfying way to finish. The doenjang jjigae sits on an induction burner, so letting it boil for a few minutes brings it to a nice hot, well-seasoned finish.

We split the rice evenly, and as expected, the seasoning was just right and delicious. The portion of rice was surprisingly generous too, so I was full after finishing it all.

For dessert, a refreshing green tangerine juice. It was a great way to cleanse the palate. That's it for Sutgarak Bansang Masil, a great Korean restaurant in Nowon for family gatherings.