Changwon Korean restaurant for rich gukbap: Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap

Wanting a rich bowl of gukbap, I had lunch at Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap near Bukmyeon Hot Springs in Changwon. The milky broth tasted rich, and I was also satisfied with the tasting portion of sundae.

Is it convenient to park and have lunch near Bukmyeon Hot Springs?

The restaurant is at 897 Cheonju-ro, Buk-myeon, Uichang-gu, Changwon. Parking can be difficult around here at weekend lunchtime, so I liked that it had a spacious dedicated lot. The interior was more spacious than I expected, and the partitions at each table made it comfortable to talk while eating. The owner was kind, too.

Even though I went at a late lunch hour, several tables were still eating. At the self-service bar, I could bring back as much kimchi, peppers, somyeon noodles, and more as I wanted.

What did I order, and how much was it?

I debated between sundae gukbap and dwaeji gukbap, then ordered one dwaeji gukbap, one lean-meat gukbap, and a tasting portion of sundae.

At the time of my visit, the dwaeji gukbap and lean-meat gukbap were ₩10,000 each. The original post lists the tasting menu as “tasting sundae suyuk” for ₩13,000. For me, it did not feel like a burdensome price to have sundae alongside the gukbap.

How were the broth and meat in the dwaeji gukbap and lean-meat gukbap?

After a short wait, the food arrived. The broth caught my eye first: it was milky like seolleongtang broth, and it tasted rich as well.

Rather than broth already seasoned with salt or dadaegi seasoning, I prefer tasting the broth on its own first and then adding just a little saeujeot (salted shrimp). The broth here suited my taste well.

Even without adding anything, the broth tasted rich. There was plenty of meat, and it was tasty even with only saeujeot added.

Both the dwaeji gukbap and lean-meat gukbap had plenty of meat, and I did not notice any unpleasant pork smell. Depending on your preference, you can add dadaegi or seasoned chives and mix in the rice.

How was the tasting sundae with the gukbap?

The tasting sundae came as warm meat sundae with steam rising from it. It was a good side for me because I wanted both gukbap and sundae.

The sundae was tasty even dipped only in salt. I put a few pieces into the gukbap to eat with the broth, and also ate it with doenjang or wrapped in ssam.

Which side dish stood out?

The side dishes were neatly served and tasted freshly made to me. I prefer this flavor to aged kimchi, so they suited me well. The kkakdugi was especially refreshing and tasty, so I brought back more from the self-service bar. Gangdoenjang was served as well.

I liked the rich broth and meat, but the kkakdugi stayed with me even after the meal. It was a place I would like to stop by for lunch again when I go to Bukmyeon for a bath.

During my visit, I received a drink for participating in a review event. Iced coffee was also available for dessert.