Paju Korean restaurant for bossam and bulgogi: Eomma-ui Ttuksim

On a day when my child’s academy finished late, I stopped by Eomma-ui Ttuksim (엄마의뚝심) in Yadang because I wanted home-style food. We ordered the Ttuksim Table for two for dinner.

Where is Eomma-ui Ttuksim, and is parking available?

The restaurant is at 158-14 Songhak 1-gil, units 101 and 102 of Gimyeong Building, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. The hours listed at the time of my visit were daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and parking was said to be available on the street directly in front of the restaurant.

What can you choose with the Ttuksim Table?

The menu included gochujang pork bulgogi, dongchimi noodles, bibim noodles, the Ttuksim Table, and the Bossam Table. We chose the basic Ttuksim Table.

For the Ttuksim Table, we could choose between bossam (boiled pork wraps) and kodari (semi-dried pollock). We ordered bossam, and chose doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) instead of cheonggukjang stew because it was something my child could eat.

What was the restaurant atmosphere like?

There seemed to be about four or five tables. The place was decorated to feel like a home, which made it comfortable, and I thought it would also be fine to come alone for a meal.

I could also see signs that several entertainers had visited the restaurant.

What came with the Ttuksim Table for two?

Our table came with doenjang stew, bulgogi, bossam, and several side dishes. The stew was generous in portion and full of ingredients, with a savory, comforting flavor.

I liked that we could have both bossam and bulgogi on one table. The vegetables felt fresh, and it was nice to have broccoli too, which I do not usually make sure to eat at home.

There were more than ten side dishes. Kimchi jeon, mung bean sprout salad, yeolmu kimchi, and others arrived one after another, all neatly arranged. I usually focus on the main dishes and leave some side dishes, but that day I finished everything.

How was it for eating with a child?

The bulgogi on the table was seasoned with soy sauce, so my child ate it well. It was mildly sweet and clean-tasting, and the meat was tender without any unpleasant smell, making it a good accompaniment to rice.

We ate the bossam wrapped in leafy greens. The meat was moist rather than tough, with a clean flavor and no greasiness or unpleasant smell. It also went well with kimchi.

My child especially enjoyed the doenjang stew. It contained plenty of tofu, so we were able to eat our fill together, and with the many side dishes, it made for a satisfying home-style dinner.