Gumi loach soup restaurant with a phone-booked private room: Irojeong

My in-laws live in Gumi, and when I was wondering what kind of hearty, restorative meal we could all have together there, I ended up taking them to Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch. It's a fairly new spot so the place was still spotless, and I found out they have several private rooms, so I called ahead and booked one before we went.

• 📍 Location: 32 Park Chung-hee-ro, Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• ⏰ Hours: 11:00 - 21:00
• 🚘 Parking: large lot right in front of the restaurant, space for 60+ cars

What is Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch?

Chueotang (loach soup) — a menu our parents' generation loves! The main branch is in Hyeonpung, Daegu, and this Geumosan Direct Branch is a new addition. True to a newly opened place, the sign is big and the whole storefront looks clean.

Parking and waiting at Irojeong in Sangmo-dong, Gumi

Just like Naver Maps said, the parking lot really was spacious enough for 60-plus cars. Parking availability matters so much when you're going out to eat as a family, so it was great not having to worry about it here.

You can register for the wait through the Tabling app. Most Korean restaurants still have you write your name on a paper waitlist, so being able to do it through Tabling was really convenient.

Whoa, even from a distance you could tell it was packed and full.

As you can see, there's a partitioned group seating area on the left, which looked great for bringing along older family members.

Sujeonggwa, sikhye and a kids' playroom in Irojeong's waiting area

~And then~ once you're registered for the wait, there's a separate waiting area, and it was seriously so spacious it moved me a little. Waiting often wears people out, but here it was comfortable enough that the wait didn't feel tedious at all.

There was also restorative sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch) and sweet pumpkin sikhye (rice punch).

With tea and snacks on top of that, the wait wasn't boring at all.

There's even a kids' playroom. Not many restaurants have one these days, so it felt like a nice surprise.

I could totally see why so many families come here.

What the private room is like when you reserve by phone

Since we'd reserved ahead, we were shown to a private room, and with so many rooms available it really did feel private. It was perfect for bringing older family members. The interior was also stylish and modern, so it felt more like a Korean set-meal restaurant than a loach soup place. Taking elderly relatives somewhere like this makes it feel like you're really treating them, and it's easy to chat too — great for a big family gathering.

Irojeong menu and prices

✅ Main menu

• Hwangchul loach soup / ₩10,000
• Warm boiled pork loach set / ₩14,000
• Mackerel & warm boiled pork loach set / ₩18,000
• Hwangchul black goat soup / ₩18,000
• Wild ginseng black goat boiled pork set / ₩25,000

The basic side dishes come out like this, and there's ginger and chili you can add to the loach soup to taste.

Basic banchan (side dishes) come to the table, and extra side dishes are self-serve.

Even the rice comes as turmeric rice, so I already felt healthier just looking at it.

How the southern-style loach soup, black goat soup and boiled pork taste

I had the loach soup while my in-laws had the black goat soup. Both were cooked southern-style, thick and rich, so they were filling and comforting. The seasoning wasn't too salty or too bland — it hit the right balance and was delicious.

We also ordered boiled pork to share, and it came out quickly and still warm, which was satisfying. The water was replaced with hwangchul mushroom tea by default, which really gave the meal that restorative feel. It had a nutty, subtle aroma, so I kept drinking it without a second thought. You could tell they'd put real thought into the details, which made it even more satisfying.

What the in-laws thought, and would we book Irojeong again?

My in-laws really loved it, and on the way out they even ordered food to take home, which made me feel so proud ✌️ I'd absolutely go back — 100% would return, and I can already picture bringing my parents here again next time. If you're looking for a restorative-food spot or a family gathering place in Gumi, I'd recommend this one 🌹