Ansan Korean restaurant for soy-marinated crab: Yeongwolae Gondre

We visited Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch (영월애곤드레 안산점), one of my husband’s and my favorite places to eat in Gojan-dong~ We used to live at Hillstate before moving to where we live now, so it was right in front of our complex and we went often. I guess we haven’t been able to visit as much since moving.

Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch is a longtime Korean restaurant in Gojan-dong. The fact that it has stayed in the same spot for years must mean it has consistently offered good food and service 🫶

What are the lunchtime wait and seating like?

City Hall and government offices are nearby, so there is always a wait at lunchtime. We did an opening run and made it a quick visit~ Since there are so many people waiting, the waiting area is really well set up, and perhaps because the food comes out quickly, table turnover is good too.

There is also a hand-washing area at the entrance, so you can conveniently wash your hands. (There are wrap vegetables, after all^^ so wash those hands well.)

There was also a certificate for a military merit medal displayed at the entrance. Since it is a medal recognizing combat and service, it looked pretty cool 👍👍

There are window-side tables for four to six people, plus private rooms that are great for gatherings and separate spaces for large groups. The table layout was really well planned~

Since we arrived right at opening, we were shown to a window table^^ Nice, nice~~~🥰

Yeongwolae Gondre set meal menu

Yeongwolae Gondre’s meals come as a full table spread: seven side dishes, soup, wrap vegetables, and gondre rice (rice cooked with Korean thistle). Options include the bangjja fresh bulgogi set meal, Jeju golden crab set meal, Yeongwol spicy stir-fried pork set meal, grilled mackerel set meal, and seasoned small cockle set meal. Their soybean tofu hot pot is a seasonal menu that opens in autumn, and it seemed it was not ready yet^^ So many wholesome Korean dishes, right?!

What we ordered — Jeju golden crab set meal ₩22,000 / Yeongwol spicy stir-fried pork set meal ₩18,000

Our order arrived! I was honestly surprised by how quickly the food came out. Seven neat side dishes, wraps, miyeok-guk (seaweed soup), and gondre rice filled the table! Once you try it, you’ll understand why people call this a great Korean restaurant in Ansan.

Extra side dishes and rice are set out at the self bar, so you can always have more and more. Of Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch’s side dishes, I especially found the seasoned lotus root so nutty and delicious 🫶🫶

The side dishes from the set meals are also sold separately, and I sometimes buy some to take home^^ Delivery is available these days too, so you can conveniently have a healthy meal delivered~

Jeju golden crab and Yeongwol spicy stir-fried pork set meals

This is my favorite menu at Yeongwolae Gondre: the Jeju golden crab set meal. I heard the golden crab is soaked in a deep soy sauce aged with medicinal ingredients. It is not salty and is so clean and mild, which is why I love it 👍 The crab meat is plump, with no fishiness, and the clean soy-marinated crab keeps you reaching for more. It is an easy dish to enjoy without feeling weighed down.

If you don’t handle soy-marinated crab well, you can end up thirsty all day and constantly reaching for water. But Yeongwolae Gondre’s soy-marinated crab tastes refreshing even if you keep spooning up the soy sauce 😀🫶 Mix it with rice and load it up with crab meat ❤️

My husband’s favorite is the Yeongwol spicy stir-fried pork set meal! The pork is aged in a homemade gochujang (red chili paste) sauce and finished over direct heat for a smoky flavor. It is not greasy, which makes it even tastier! It has been a popular menu item since Yeongwolae Gondre first opened 👍

Mix the gondre rice with the house soy sauce—shake it, shake it—then put the spicy stir-fried pork on a wrap and tuck in properly. It feels like such a filling, healthy meal, so my mood gets sooo good. Delicious and healthy, with that happy, satisfyingly full feeling 😍 The self bar is packed with fresh wrap vegetables! At first they only give you lettuce, so make sure to pick up a variety of wrap vegetables from the self bar :) Sikhye (sweet rice drink) and sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch) are available for dessert too.

Recommended for family gatherings and group meals

It is great for family gatherings, work dinners, or group get-togethers—the menu and space are both just right! If you want a hearty, wholesome Korean meal that is also lovely for bringing your parents, I recommend Yeongwolae Gondre in Gojan-dong, Ansan 💚

Hours are 10:40–20:50, with last orders at 20:10.