Goyang Korean restaurant with refillable sides: Tteuranchae

A Korean set-meal restaurant near Wondang Station

My husband loves having vegetables alongside his meat, so we often visit the local-food market near Wondang Station, haha. But I heard there was a famous restaurant nearby?? It turned out to be that very place I’d seen every time I passed the market!! 😁 Apparently, it has a reputation as a restaurant that moms love—and places moms love never fail, right?? Haha. So I went with a neighborhood mom for the first time in ages. 😝

Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch

It really stands out even from a distance!! Its tile-roof-house-style exterior already gives it the feel of a great Korean set-meal restaurant, haha.

A spacious dining hall for gatherings and family meals

When we went inside Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch, a popular Wondang restaurant, there were already so many moms having gatherings even though it was early. The hall was spacious with plenty of tables, so it looked great for get-togethers too.

There was a table having a group gathering that day as well, haha. The tables were large, so I thought it would be nice for a family meal too, haha.

We ordered the Tteuranchae set meal and grilled mackerel. 👍

A self-service corner for aged greens and lettuce

Looking around the self-service corner, I found neatly prepared Korean set-meal side dishes available for refills. 👍 I especially loved that there were aged seasoned greens, which are hard to make at home, as well as fresh lettuce to help ourselves to.

A full table of stone-pot rice, cheonggukjang, and grilled mackerel

As we waited for our order, stone-pot rice arrived together with cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and grilled mackerel!! Haha. Everything was set out so neatly.

From dried radish-leaf greens, shredded garlic scapes, and pickled chili peppers to seasoned bellflower root, seasoned seaweed, spinach namul, and braised potatoes, every banchan (Korean side dish) was neatly prepared. None felt like it was there just to fill out the table. Everything was sooo tasty, but the best thing at Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch was definitely the fried eggplant. ❤️

Crisp-chewy fried eggplant, refilled again and again

The fried eggplant was seriously delicious—I kept wondering how they made it this crisp and chewy, haha.

We refilled it several times. 👍😄 Before eating the stone-pot rice, I scooped out the rice and poured in water for nurungji (scorched-rice soup). That way, we could have it piping hot and refreshing as dessert after the meal! 😁

Even while we ate, more and more guests started filling the tables around us, and I thought, wow, this really is a popular restaurant, haha.

Whole grilled mackerel and rich cheonggukjang too

The grilled mackerel came as a whole fish, with thick, meaty flesh. Wrapped in lettuce, it tasted fresh and nutty, and felt properly nourishing. 👍 I think it would be great for children too, haha.

These days, it is so hard to get a meal on the table at home, but coming to Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang, a great Korean set-meal restaurant in Hwajeong, made it feel like my missing appetite had come back. 😄

The cheonggukjang that came with it was packed with ingredients, and its rich flavor was perfect with a warm bowl of rice, haha.

The braised potatoes were soft, sweet, and savory, with that lovely sweet-salty balance. I honestly thought I could finish a whole bowl of rice with just these. 😝

After finishing everything, including the nurungji I had prepared with water earlier, I left patting my very full belly.

Seasoned cockles and soy-marinated crab next time

Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang direct branch is a great Wondang restaurant to bring older family members to, since its neatly prepared Korean set-meal side dishes are unlimited refills! The seasoned cockles and soy-marinated crab looked delicious too, so I plan to come back and try those next time. 😄👍

If you are looking for a clean, wholesome Korean set-meal restaurant, I recommend Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch in Wondang. 😄👍