Geomdan hanjeongsik course: pine nut porridge to shrimp tempura, Damil

I finally had a proper hanjeongsik (Korean set-course meal) after a long while 😋 If you're looking for a good hanjeongsik spot, I want to recommend Lotus Leaf Rice and Noodles Damil Geomdan, a Korean restaurant near Wanjeong Station 💛

This was my first visit, and every dish that came out was so generous and delicious that I ended up far more satisfied than expected 🙌 The table was packed full, so I ate until I was completely stuffed — my belly grew right along with the spread 😂

The menu is varied enough to work for a family meal, a work dinner, or a gathering with friends 😊 If you ever want a filling, clean hanjeongsik, this is the Wanjeong Station spot that'll come to mind — let me introduce Lotus Leaf Rice and Noodles Damil Geomdan ✨

Where is Damil Geomdan? Second floor, walking distance from Wanjeong Station

Damil is located close to the exit of Wanjeong Station 📍 It's not far from the station, so it's easy to get to by public transport, and it's on the 2nd floor of the building 😊 A great location if you're looking for a Korean restaurant near Wanjeong Station or a hanjeongsik spot in Geomdan 💛

Floor seating or tables? Damil's chairs and tables suited my parents

Inside, Damil has a clean, tidy atmosphere befitting a hanjeongsik restaurant 😊 Best of all, it's table seating with chairs rather than floor seating, which made it much more comfortable to visit with older family members 💛

No need to worry about sitting on the floor for a long stretch, so it seems great for a meal with your parents or a family gathering 🙌 If a clean atmosphere and comfortable seating matter when you're choosing a Korean restaurant near Wanjeong Station, Damil is a solid choice ✨

Damil's menu: lunch specials, course meals and delivery lunchboxes

Damil's menu ranges from lunch specials to full course meals 🍽️ And of course, hanjeongsik wouldn't be complete without a course where dishes arrive one after another 😊

It's good for a light lunch visit, and if you want to properly enjoy a full spread for a family gathering or work dinner, the course meal is the way to go 💛 There's also a separate delivery lunchbox menu, and apparently a lot of people order that when they can't make it to the restaurant 🙌 Whether it's a lunch special or a full course, pick what suits you at this Korean restaurant near Wanjeong Station ✨

The event that comes with lotus leaf rice

If you join the event, you can also get lotus leaf rice 🍚 The lotus leaf rice was delicious even on its own, with its chewy, sticky texture 😊 You get hanjeongsik plus lotus leaf rice, so be sure to check the event details when you visit 💛 If you're a fan of lotus leaf rice, I'd definitely recommend joining in 🙌

Starters at Damil: porridge, young ginseng and Caesar salad

The starters were salad, porridge, and young ginseng, served first 🥗 A nice light way to whet your appetite before the main hanjeongsik course kicks off 😊

Royal pine nut porridge

It'd been a while since I had royal pine nut porridge 🥣 That nutty flavor is always so appealing, and it goes down smoothly, settling your stomach nicely 😊 It's a great low-pressure way to start before the real course begins, and being warm, it naturally whets the appetite 💛 A perfect starter dish 🙌

Young ginseng

Young ginseng came out along with it 🌿 They say the things that are good for you taste a little bitter, right 😆 There was that characteristic bitterness of ginseng, but dipping it in the accompanying sauce made it much easier to eat 💛 Having a healthy dish like this in the middle of the course made the whole lineup feel more substantial 🙌

Caesar salad

Caesar salad came out too 🥗 Getting some vegetables in before diving into the main course cleaned up my palate nicely 😊 I try to be a bit mindful of blood sugar spikes, so I ate the salad first 💛 Fresh and light, it worked well as a starter 🙌

Mid-course: tofu steak, japchae and lotus-leaf sweet and sour pork

Tofu steak

Tofu steak came out next 😊 The thick slab of tofu had a real nutty flavor in every bite 💛 The texture was soft and easy to eat without feeling heavy, making it a perfect mid-course dish 🙌 A clean, light option amid all the other hanjeongsik dishes that made the whole lineup feel more balanced ✨

Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles)

Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) takes a lot of effort to make at home 😊 Eating such a nutty, delicious version after a while brought back memories of holiday food and made me realize Chuseok is coming up soon 💛 The noodles were soft and the seasoning wasn't overdone, so it paired well with the other hanjeongsik dishes 🙌

Lotus-leaf sweet and sour pork

The lotus-leaf sweet and sour pork was really delicious too 😋 The fried coating stayed crispy and the sauce was so good I kept reaching for more 💛 Sweet and sour pork can easily end up with a sauce that's too sweet or fried batter that gets soggy, but this stayed delicious to the last bite 🙌 I couldn't help but finish every piece — a dish I'd definitely want to have again at Damil ✨

The main spread: lotus leaf rice, five side dishes, tofu hot pot and LA galbi

Now for the real meal 😋 The main course brought lotus leaf rice, five side dishes, tofu hot pot, and grilled LA galbi all together 🍚 The earlier dishes alone were already generous, but with the main meal added, it turned into a proper full hanjeongsik spread 💛 Getting side dishes, hot pot, and galbi all together made the menu feel really substantial 🙌

Tofu hot pot

The tofu hot pot was loaded with shrimp, various vegetables, tofu, and beef 🍲 Once it started boiling, the smell alone was so refreshing and clean that I couldn't wait to dig in 😊

One sip of the broth was so clean and deep it felt like it cleared out my insides — I was genuinely surprised 💛 With so many different ingredients, it was fun picking through them, and eating it alongside the lotus leaf rice made it even more filling 🙌 Personally one of the dishes I was most satisfied with at Damil, the Korean restaurant near Wanjeong Station ✨

Lotus leaf rice

I had lotus leaf rice again after a long while 🍚 Multigrain rice or plain rice are good too, but lotus leaf rice has that distinctively sticky, chewy texture that makes it feel more special 😊 The more you chew, the nuttier it gets, and the rice itself has so much flavor that it was delicious even without any side dishes 💛 It really gave off that proper hanjeongsik-restaurant feeling — a must-try dish at Damil 🙌

The five side dishes

The side dishes were braised beef (jangjorim), pickled peppers, kimchi, and seasoned eggplant 🍽️ I was even more impressed to learn that Damil makes every single dish in-house 😊

Maybe because everything is made from scratch, the side dishes had a clean, homemade taste all around 💛 They paired especially well with the lotus leaf rice, so I was able to enjoy the whole spread deliciously to the very end 🙌 Seeing a full hanjeongsik spread made entirely of homemade dishes made me realize just how skilled the cooking here is ✨

LA galbi (marinated beef short ribs)

The LA galbi that came with the side dishes was sweet and tender, pairing really well with the lotus leaf rice 😋 It had that familiar flavor that makes you think of holiday food, which made it all the more welcome 💛 If you're wondering where to eat for Chuseok, enjoying a hanjeongsik spread at Damil could be a good option 🙌 With lotus leaf rice, hot pot, and LA galbi all served generously, it was a great fit for a Chuseok meal with family too ✨

The finish: shrimp tempura and sweet pumpkin tempura

Lastly, freshly fried, warm tempura arrived 😋 It came with both shrimp tempura and sweet pumpkin tempura, and of course, tempura tastes best eaten hot right away 💛 The shrimp had a plump, springy texture that made for great bites 🦐 The sweet pumpkin was sweet and soft, pairing nicely with the crispy batter 🎃 Ending the course with warm tempura made it feel like a truly complete hanjeongsik meal ✨

Is Damil Geomdan a good spot for a family meal or group gathering?

Damil, the Korean restaurant near Wanjeong Station, was a place where I ate generously and well from start to finish 😋 From the lotus leaf rice to the tofu hot pot, LA galbi, japchae, and lotus-leaf sweet and sour pork — every dish was delicious, and it felt like a proper hanjeongsik experience 💛

It seems well suited for a family meal, a place to bring your parents, or a gathering spot in Geomdan 🙌 If you're looking for a clean, generous hanjeongsik near Wanjeong Station, I'd recommend Damil ❤️