Ilsan Anigol Korean restaurant with museum-like decor: Haenon Miyeok

I wanted a bowl of hot rice dunked in rich miyeokguk (seaweed soup), so I headed to Haenon Miyeok, a Korean restaurant in Ilsan. It was on a completely different level from the seaweed soup I make at home — the parking, the store atmosphere, and the generous side dishes were all perfect.

Haenon Miyeok Ilsan Direct Branch: hours, location and parking

Haenon Miyeok Ilsan Direct Branch is on the basement floor at 30 Anigol-gil, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Hours are Mon-Fri 11:00-21:00 (break time 15:00-17:00), Sat-Sun 11:00-21:00.

The restaurant is in a clean, standalone building with a really well set-up dedicated parking lot out front, so parking was super convenient.

Why the museum-like interior suits a meal with parents

Haenon Miyeok Ilsan Direct Branch feels different from a typical Korean restaurant. The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, I was surprised by the unique atmosphere! It had this mysterious, upscale air, almost like walking into a museum.

On top of that, the emotional, cinema-like interior was really impressive.

There were plenty of seats spaced generously apart, so it was comfortable to eat here.

They also had baby chairs available, so it looked like a great spot to visit with kids too!

Each seat had a tablet, so I could pick and order the menu myself without having to call a staff member over — really convenient.

What's on the Haenon Miyeok menu: which seaweed soups?

Looking over the menu, there were all sorts of miyeokguk that felt like body-nourishing health food. Along with the boneless flounder seaweed soup set and scallop seaweed soup set, there was mussel, dried pollock, beef, Tongyeong oyster, and sea urchin roe seaweed soup, plus a Haenon beef bulgogi set and a Haenon pork bulgogi set. They even had side dishes to pair with your meal, so it was easy to pick something to your taste.

After some deliberation, we ordered the beef seaweed soup set, the classic rich-broth option, and the boneless flounder seaweed soup set, which piqued our curiosity.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar at Haenon Miyeok

Not long after we ordered, a staff member neatly set out the basic side dishes. Grilled flounder, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), sautéed zucchini, seasoned cockles, salad, and kimchi — the variety was really impressive!

The seasoned grilled flounder in particular was crispy outside while the flesh inside was so tender it practically melted in my mouth.

The seasoned cockles weren't too salty and had a clean flavor, so I kept reaching for them even before the seaweed soup arrived.

There's also a very clean self-serve bar in one corner of the restaurant, so you can freely grab more of any side dish you're running low on without feeling awkward about it.

Beyond the basic side dishes served at the table, there were a few more options at the self-serve bar, so make sure to check it out if you visit!

How does the beef seaweed soup set taste?

A little while later, our ordered seaweed soup arrived, bubbling away in a large stone pot.

Beef seaweed soup

The beef seaweed soup was generously loaded with beef, no expense spared.

Taking a spoonful of the broth, I could tell it had been simmered for a long time — the umami of the seaweed and beef had fully melted into the broth, giving it a really deep, rich flavor.

I thought there couldn't be a better dish for filling you up properly.

At Haenon Miyeok, it's not just the seaweed soup — the rice itself is a work of art. It had the perfect stickiness and a glossy sheen; it was delicious even eaten plain! Plus, since rice refills are unlimited, you can eat as much as you want.

Is the boneless flounder seaweed soup fishy?

The boneless flounder seaweed soup wasn't fishy at all. Honestly, I don't often eat seaweed soup with seafood in it, so I ordered it half-doubtful it might taste fishy, but one bite in and I felt like I'd met the best seaweed soup of my life.

The broth was so refreshing and deep, I kept gasping in admiration! The flounder came already boned, so there was no hassle picking out bones — I could just scoop it up with a spoon. The flesh was so tender it melted the moment it hit my mouth. It was so, so delicious that I couldn't put my spoon down.

Final verdict on Haenon Miyeok in Ilsan Anigol

If you want to enjoy a real, satisfying Korean meal that's easy on the stomach, I recommend Haenon Miyeok, a great restaurant in Ilsan! You can enjoy delicious seaweed soup along with all the rice you need for a filling, well-rounded meal.