Bongdam Japanese dinner with Mom: yolk-dip sukiyaki, Sindong Lab

What kind of Japanese restaurant is Sindong Lab in Bongdam?

Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch is a Japanese restaurant in Bongdam selling a wide range of dishes, from gyukatsu to mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles) to sukiyaki. I went to Sindong Lab in Bongdam for dinner with my mom, wanting some really good Japanese food! I usually love gyukatsu, so I went in with high hopes, and the gyukatsu I had that day was seriously so good.

The restaurant feels warm and the menu is varied, so it was a great place to eat out with Mom.

Where do you park at Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch?

You can park easily right in front of the restaurant~! If there's no space out front, the Bongdam Wau public parking lot (41-20 Wau-ri) reportedly offers 1 hour 30 minutes of free parking.

• Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch: 96 Wau-ro, Bongdam-eup, Hyohaeng-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: 11:00–21:30 (daily)
• Group seating, Naver reservations, parking, local currency accepted

What was the dinner atmosphere and reservation like at Sindong Lab?

I booked ahead on Naver for dinner, and as soon as we arrived we were shown straight to our reserved seats, so we could start eating comfortably without any wait. The interior is wood-toned with plants dotted here and there, which gives it a warm feel.

Visiting in the evening, the lights were softly lit, which made the mood even better.

The weather happened to be nice, so they had the doors open, and with the cool breeze coming in it didn't feel stuffy at all. Personally, I prefer this kind of soft, warm atmosphere to something too bright and chaotic. It was lovely for a relaxed dinner with Mom after a long while.

There's also ice cream that kids would love, and figurines too.

I think kids would enjoy it, so I'd recommend it for a family meal out as well.

What's in the Sindong Lab sukiyaki set and how much is it?

The Sindong Lab sukiyaki set costs ₩15,500, and you simmer vegetables and broth in a mini brazier (small tabletop charcoal burner).

What we ordered that day: the sukiyaki set (₩15,500), the double gyukatsu with ricotta cheese salad (₩28,900), and an ice-chilled beer.

Before the food came out, we got soup and omija tea (five-flavor berry tea). The warm soup and omija tea were a nice way to get the appetite going.

The first dish out was the sukiyaki set. The meat and rice come in a two-tier lunch box, and the mini brazier arrives with vegetables and broth. The whole table was packed, and it looked so appetizing.

The sukiyaki comes with 130g of meat and rice, plus a variety of vegetables like bok choy and shiitake mushrooms, and even udon noodles. You're not just eating meat but vegetables and noodles too, so it's a solid spread.

You cook the meat and vegetables on the spot in the thick broth in the mini brazier. Eating while it bubbles away keeps everything warm, which I loved. Dipping the well-cooked meat and veggies deep into the egg-yolk sauce added a rich, nutty flavor that was delicious.

With the udon noodles in there too, it was a sukiyaki we could enjoy in different ways right to the end!

How tender was the Sindong Lab double gyukatsu?

The Sindong Lab double gyukatsu with ricotta cheese salad (₩28,900) was my favorite dish that day. I felt it was the best gyukatsu I've ever had. Just look at it!! I couldn't wait to dig in.

After grilling it on both sides, I took one bite and was stunned at how tender the meat was. It honestly felt like the best gyukatsu I've ever eaten haha

The meat isn't tough or dry at all. It's so tender that, with a little exaggeration, I think you could eat it without teeth lol

The seasoning wasn't salty either, just right. I put a little wasabi on top and ate it with rice, and the combination was really great.

Personally, the gyukatsu was the best thing I ate that day!

The ricotta cheese salad comes with it too, and it went nicely with the meat.

If you love gyukatsu, the double portion is a generous way to enjoy it.

A finish of grilled rice cake dipped in jocheong

The grilled rice cake (tteok) we had last was a treat too. The outside is crisp and the inside chewy, and dipping it in sweet jocheong (Korean grain syrup) was the perfect finish! It felt like we'd had a properly satisfying meal 😋

Sindong Lab: a good family dinner with parents in Bongdam

The food at Sindong Lab was delicious, and I liked the atmosphere of the place too.

The warm wood-tone interior plus soft lighting made it a lovely place to visit in the evening, and since I'd booked ahead, we were seated right away and could eat comfortably.

Above all, the gyukatsu was so tender that I still remember it. I liked that the sukiyaki let us enjoy meat, vegetables and udon noodles together, too.

I'd recommend Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch to anyone looking for Japanese food in Bongdam, as well as anyone eating out with parents or planning a family dinner! Even if I go again, I'm definitely ordering the gyukatsu. On a day when you're craving good Japanese food in Bongdam, try the sukiyaki and gyukatsu at Sindong Lab~