Gumi loach soup restaurant with an 8-team weekday lunch wait: Irojeong

Today I took my mom and my aunt out for a nourishing meal at Irojeong, famous as a loach soup spot in Gumi. Picking a menu when dining with elders is always a bit of a puzzle, but I figured loach soup and goat soup would make for a hearty, satisfying meal! Here's my detailed review of Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch, haha.

Where is Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch, and when is it open?

Location: 32 Park Chung-hee-ro, Gumi-si

• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:30–17:00
• Last order: 20:10
• Naver Reservation available
• CatchTable available
• Parking in front of the restaurant

Is parking easy at Irojeong?

There's a large parking lot right in front of the restaurant, so it was easy to get there by car. When there were no spots left, a staff member came out and guided us through double-parking — if another car needed to leave, staff would move ours and hand back the keys, so there was nothing to worry about!

How long is the weekday lunch wait?

I visited around 12:30pm on a weekday, and there were about 8 teams waiting! (Guess it really is a popular loach soup spot in Gumi, haha.)

The waiting lounge: free drinks and gangjeong

Inside, there's a spacious waiting area with seats, so you can wait comfortably while your table gets ready!

There were several drinks on offer, like sujeonggwa (cinnamon-persimmon punch), sweet pumpkin sikhye (rice punch), and sipjeon daebo tea, so I could sip something while waiting my turn. You can even take your drink to go after the meal!

On top of the drinks, there were also various kinds of gangjeong (Korean rice snacks) to munch on, which was a nice touch — the wait didn't feel boring at all.

Seating, private rooms and dining with kids

Inside, the dining hall is really spacious and clean overall. Looking at the photo, the left side has partitioned seating, and the right side has a private room-style space.

Seating comes in various sizes starting from tables for four. The partitioned seats look out onto greenery, so it doesn't feel stuffy — there's a natural sense of openness that makes for a relaxed atmosphere during the meal!

The rooms offer a quieter, more relaxed setting for a family meal, and seem great for chatting comfortably when dining with parents or older relatives.

Baby chairs are also available, so it's easy to visit with young kids.

There's also a separate play area for kids. The floor is covered with soft mats and there are various games set up. With a space for kids to play before or after the meal, they won't get bored, haha.

What we ordered at Irojeong and what it cost

Ordering was easy through the tablet at each table, with photos of every dish to check.

• Sanghwang loach soup ₩11,000
• Sanghwang black goat soup ₩18,000
• Boneless sirloin pork cutlet ₩10,000
• Whole-octopus seafood pancake ₩20,000

This is what we ordered.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

The basic side dishes came out neatly arranged. Kimchi, diced radish kimchi, and pickled vegetables were served, and the kimchi and diced radish kimchi in particular were so good!

If the basic sides run low or you want more of something, there's a self-serve bar in the middle of the hall. You can help yourself to as much as you need without any hesitation.

Sanghwang mushroom black goat soup, 18,000 won

The sanghwang black goat soup had a slightly spicy kick right from the broth. I tried it plain at first, then added about two spoonfuls of the minced garlic on the table, and the broth got even better! I'd recommend tasting the plain broth first, then adding garlic to your taste, haha.

Sanghwang mushroom loach soup, 11,000 won

Irojeong's sanghwang loach soup has a rich, savory broth that's really delicious. It's not overpowering at all, yet has deep flavor, so I kept eating without feeling weighed down, haha. Pairing the savory soup with turmeric rice made for such a satisfying meal! (Turns out there's a good reason it's known as a top loach soup spot in Gumi!!)

Whole sirloin pork cutlet, 10,000 won

The outside was fried up crispy, and the crunchy texture was really nice. You could enjoy the meat's light, clean flavor too! Along with menus that adults love like loach soup or black goat soup, there's also pork cutlet, which makes it a great order when visiting with kids, haha.

Seafood pancake with a whole octopus, 20,000 won

True to its name, the whole-octopus seafood pancake comes topped with one entire octopus. Along with the octopus, it's generously loaded with plump shrimp too, so you really get to taste the full flavor of the seafood. It pairs well with main dishes like loach soup or black goat soup, so be sure to try it if you visit Irojeong, haha.

Is Irojeong worth the wait?

True to its reputation as a top loach soup restaurant in Gumi, the menu ranges from rich, savory loach soup to black goat soup and whole-octopus seafood pancake, so you can eat a hearty, satisfying meal. With a large parking lot, a clean dining space, and even a playroom for kids, I'd recommend it as a spot for a family meal out!