Korean restaurant in Changwon with rich pork soup: Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap

What was a family meal in Buk-myeon, Changwon like?

My children enjoy dwaeji-gukbap (pork-and-rice soup), so we often look for gukbap restaurants when eating during family outings. This time, after swimming nearby, we stopped by Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap (명인돼지국밥) in Buk-myeon, Changwon.

The address is 897 Cheonju-ro, Buk-myeon, Uichang-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam, South Korea. The parking lot was spacious, which made it convenient to visit by car with my family.

Can you get extra side dishes and somyeon at the self-service bar?

The self-service bar had the basic side dishes served with dwaeji-gukbap. My children often ask whether there are extra somyeon (thin wheat noodles) when they eat gukbap, so I liked that we could take more here.

You can order a single portion, and I saw several people dining alone. With a bowl of gukbap and its side dishes, I thought it would also be fine for a solo meal.

How did the broth and side dishes taste?

The kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) was well fermented and crunchy, pairing nicely with the gukbap broth. Even my elementary-school-aged child ate it well, saying it was not too spicy. The lettuce was in good condition too.

Saeujeot (salted fermented shrimp) came separately so we could season the soup to taste. The geotjeori-style fresh kimchi had a slightly spicy chili-powder flavor, but its crisp texture was nice.

We were hungry after swimming, and it had suddenly started raining, so the warm broth was especially welcome. The dwaeji-gukbap broth tasted rich and savory.

The chives came dressed in seasoning. They had a savory depth, so my husband added plenty to his soup and said he liked how rich the broth was.

How did we eat the gangdoenjang served with the meal?

There was gangdoenjang (thick seasoned soybean paste) on the table, and I wondered how to eat it. A staff member told us it was good wrapped with the meat in lettuce, so I tried it that way. Near the end, when I had almost finished my gukbap, it felt a little rich, but the lettuce wrap with gangdoenjang eased that feeling.

How were the portions of the regular and large bowls?

My family ordered one regular bowl and two large bowls. There was plenty of meat, making the meal filling, and I liked its moist yet chewy texture.

The steamed rice that came with it was memorable for its moist, springy grains. I liked having the meat with gangdoenjang, but my favorite combination was topping the rice with a little meat and geotjeori.

For the first time in a while, I finished an entire bowl of gukbap.

Are drinks available after the meal?

For dessert, iced coffee with thin ice floating on top was provided. It had a subtle hazelnut aroma and just the right sweetness, making it refreshing after the meal.

There was also cocoa that my children liked, so our whole family ended the meal happily.