Paju Korean restaurant with stone-pot rice and garden views: Simhaksan

It's fun to chase the new hot spots popping up every weekend, but everyone has that one place they keep going back to. My mom isn't picky, but she's never once said she wanted to revisit a random restaurant — except this Paju Outlet spot, which she brings up every so often. So we went for a drive together again 🚓 Fresh wrap vegetables, tidy side dishes that taste like home cooking, and stone-pot rice — it's a place where I always leave in a good mood 👏

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap

Where Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is, parking, and how busy weekday lunch gets

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is well known as a go-to restaurant near the Paju Outlets, sitting close to the publishing complex and Lotte Premium Outlets. It's always packed in the evenings, so I went for a weekday lunch instead — even then there were plenty of nearby office workers and outlet shoppers, so we went a little past the lunch rush to eat at a relaxed pace :) There's a large outdoor parking lot right in front, so parking is never a worry, and since group reservations are possible, I saw quite a few people there for casual group meals too.

The hall with garden views through floor-to-ceiling windows, and easy seating for parents

Once you step inside Deulkkot Ssambap, the main hall is split into two areas, and I ate in the section with floor-to-ceiling windows — the trees landscaped outside made even the view through the glass feel healing 😉 There's seating for two up to group tables of four or more, so it's comfortable to sit quietly with anyone, and since the menu has broad appeal, it's a great place to bring your parents — which is exactly how my mom declared it her go-to spot haha.

Menu at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap: deuljeongsik, kkotjeongsik, refills and à la carte

Looking at the menu at this Paju Outlet restaurant, the main item is deuljeongsik, made up of stir-fried pork + stir-fried squid + doenjang stew + gangdoenjang + stone-pot rice. Kkotjeongsik, which adds grilled imyeonsu and mackerel, is also popular, so I'd recommend it if you want to eat more heartily 👍 Gangdoenjang and the stew are refillable, and potato pancake, grilled mackerel, and imyeonsu can all be ordered separately, so there's no menu stress even if you're coming with kids 👨❤️💋👨

What's on the self-serve wrap-vegetable bar and side dish table

I ordered the deuljeongsik, and the basic main side dishes plus fresh wrap vegetables are all available at the self bar. You can grab extra side dishes yourself without needing to call a staff member, and not a single side dish felt like filler — every one tasted like a main dish, which is why it's always a pleasant meal here 😁 There was a time I preferred bold, heavily seasoned dishes when eating out, but now that I cook at home myself, home-style food really is the best!!!

How the stir-fried pork, stir-fried squid and stone-pot rice tasted

The mains included stir-fried squid and stir-fried pork, and neither was too intense or too spicy — a mild, clean flavor that was great for wrapping and easy on the stomach. The squid seasoning is so good that every time I go, I order an extra bowl of rice just to mix it in with the sauce, seriously. And the stone-pot rice here is good too, so what more can I say. My mom said even her pressure rice cooker can't get this flavor, and complimented them on probably using good quality rice 🙌

The stir-fried squid and stir-fried pork are delicious on their own, and topping freshly cooked, steaming stone-pot rice with side dishes or wrapping it up makes for an easy-on-the-stomach, maximum-satisfaction meal. The doenjang stew comes out bubbling and hot, eaten right away, which felt as filling and comforting as eating at home 💗 There's a variety of dishes kids can eat too, and you can eat as generously as a full Korean course meal — that's why I always leave Deulkkot Ssambap in a good mood.

Finishing with nurungji, then ice cream, coffee and senbei

To finish, you scoop out the stone-pot rice and pour in hot water to make nurungji (scorched rice tea), and eating that leaves you patting your belly, satisfied. After the meal, ice cream, coffee, and senbei (rice crackers) are all ready for dessert, perfect for cleansing the palate, and since you can eat in such a quiet, comfortable atmosphere, it's no wonder my mom wants to come back to this Paju Outlet restaurant. If you're looking for a restaurant that's as hearty and tidy as home cooking, I really recommend Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap 👏