Gyodong, Daegu bossam for three with perilla leaf wraps: Uldong Bossam

Uldong Bossam (울동보쌈) is a bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant in Gyodong, Jung-gu, Daegu, close to Dongseong-ro. I was spending time around Dongseong-ro and wanted a warm, carefully made meal. Something gentle and filling suits dinner better than anything harsh and spicy. This place won me over with moist, tender bossam at a good price, a bossam set with neat, clean side dishes and stew, and a luxurious, Eastern-style atmosphere.

Uldong Bossam hours and location near Daegu City Hall

Uldong Bossam is open daily 11:00–23:00, with a break from 15:00 to 16:30 and last order at 21:30. The address is 1st floor, 279 Gyeongsanggamyeong-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu.

It's a restaurant with an attractive exterior right next to Daegu City Hall. It's easy to reach from Dongseong-ro, Dongin-dong or Gyodong. The sign gives off a strong "bossam hotspot" feel and catches the eye. For anyone travelling by train, I'd also recommend it as a Daegu Station restaurant.

Sparkling floor-to-ceiling windows, warm-toned lighting, an outdoor bench and lush green plants. The exterior has a relaxed feel that invites you in.

What is the interior and seating like at Uldong Bossam?

The interior is wood-toned with touches that recall a hanok (traditional Korean house). I love warm wood colors, and the comfortable, stylish room really appealed to me. It suits just about anyone: lunch with coworkers or friends, sometimes a solo meal, and in the evening company dinners, family outings and group gatherings, with seating arrangements for different party sizes.

As a Korean restaurant, it's full of upscale, Korean touches, so even just looking around was fun. Near the entrance there's also strong plum tea, like a welcome tea. Plum tea is good for digestion, so a cup after the meal sounds nice, right?

Deeper inside, a classic folding-screen wall decoration looks elegant, and it's a quiet, tidy setting for a meal with your parents or a small gathering.

Uldong Bossam menu: what to order for three

There were three of us and we wanted plenty of meat, so we ordered the Uldong Bossam medium (for 3–4 people). The set meals, such as the bossam set at ₩10,900 and the one at ₩12,900, include stew and rice and are good value. Busy office workers can finish a tidy meal on a single tray, which is a big draw.

The suyuk jeongol (boiled pork hot pot) is a popular dinner item, with rich broth and tender meat that works as a meal or as drinking food. The drinks also stood out. Besides soju, beer and makgeolli, there's a range of whiskies, so you can make an occasion of it with a drink to your taste.

There are coat hooks on every wall and even disposable aprons, so everything is thoughtfully prepared.

How were Uldong Bossam's side dishes and doenjang stew?

The seasonal side dishes weren't heavily salted, with a clean flavor you can enjoy healthily. I'm told all the side dishes served to guests are made in-house from carefully selected fresh ingredients. No wonder each one was delicious, and instead of an artificial taste they lifted the bossam even further.

You grind the sesame seeds in the mortar with a pestle, pour in soy sauce and dip the bossam in it. It tastes different from eating it with salted shrimp.

The doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) had a rich, deep broth packed with meat. Big chunks of tofu sat in it too, so it was satisfying to chew.

How does the Uldong Bossam medium taste?

Even by eye, the glossy bossam looks fresh and good quality. Finely cut radish kimchi, minari (water dropwort), onion and chili come on the same plate, so the colors and the whole look were lovely.

The bossam is made of pork belly and pork jowl. The balance of lean meat and fat was just right, with no gamey smell, and the fat wasn't greasy or mushy but had a nutty richness. It was well cooked.

How to wrap bossam with napa cabbage and perilla leaves

I ate it with fresh wrapping greens and minari, then put cool, savory radish kimchi on sweet napa cabbage for one bite. It was one of those moments where my brow furrowed in pure delight. The vegetables were crunchy and the meat was tender.

A wrap with pickled onion on a perilla leaf is fragrant and so good. Just what you'd expect from a Gyodong favorite. I picked well coming here.

Who is Uldong Bossam in Gyodong, Daegu best for?

Around Uldong Bossam are city hall, government offices and companies, so I think it's especially popular with office workers who want a filling, good-value, tidy Korean meal at company dinners, group gatherings or lunch. In Dongseong-ro it also makes a great date spot, with non-generic Eastern interiors and an upscale mood at a reasonable price. How about a special drinking night with moist, tender bossam, a meal of seasonal side dishes and a variety of drinks?