Korean restaurant in Goyang for dinner tripe hot pot: Doonjeong

I visited Doonjeong (도온정) in Hyangdong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang through a Super Members experience. It specializes in Korean beef gomtang and Korean beef tripe hot pot, and this time my husband and I had the tripe hot pot for dinner. The original post noted its Blue Ribbon Survey selections for 2025 and 2026.

Where is Doonjeong, and when is it open?

Doonjeong is on the first floor at 130 Kkotnaeeum 1-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The hours listed in the original post were 11:00–21:00 daily, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. Last orders were listed as 14:30 for lunch and 20:30 for dinner.

Is the atmosphere suited to family meals or small gatherings?

To me, it felt like a compact restaurant that could accommodate up to about 30 people. The tables had comfortable spacing, so it did not feel cramped or overly close to neighboring diners, and the space was neatly kept overall.

On the day I visited, there were coworkers dining in a group, families and friends, and a person eating alone. I felt it would be comfortable for a family meal, dinner with friends, or a small gathering. The owner serving the dining room was also kind, which made the meal feel relaxed.

What did we order for dinner for two?

The menu included Korean beef gomtang, Korean beef tripe hot pot, and dressed beef. We ordered the Korean beef tripe hot pot, a half portion of dressed beef, steamed rice, and udon noodles. With the dressed beef alongside the hot pot, it was a substantial meal for two.

What ingredients does the restaurant list?

The restaurant states that it uses single-variety Saechungmu rice grown in Jeollanam-do. It also states that the tripe hot pot uses only domestic Korean beef cows under 60 months old, and that its kimchi is made with 100% domestic ingredients.

How were the texture and broth of the Korean beef tripe hot pot?

The hot pot was generously filled with meat, tripe, suji (beef tendon), Cheongyang peppers, mushrooms, crown daisy, and more. The tripe pieces were also fairly large. That day, the owner kept topping up the broth as it reduced and told us we could eat it once it had cooked through.

The tripe was tender yet chewy, with a nutty flavor that came through as I chewed. It was not tough or overwhelmingly fatty, so it was easy to eat with the broth.

What stayed with me most was the broth. It was less rich than I expected, and to my taste, the flavors of the meat, tripe, and vegetables came through more than seasoning. It also had a gentle heat from the Cheongyang peppers, and I ladled out broth until I could nearly see the bottom of the pot.

Did the dressed beef and kimchi go well with the hot pot?

The half portion of dressed beef was less sour than I expected from its name. It was mild and light, so it may taste different if you expect a strong sweet-and-sour seasoning. I found that its restrained seasoning let me taste the beef and alternate it with the hot pot.

The baechu kimchi and kkakdugi also stood out. They were neither overly sour nor overpowering, and tasted moderately fermented. They went well one piece at a time between bites of hot pot, so I refilled both myself that day.

How filling is it with udon noodles?

After eating some of the hot pot, we added udon noodles. The noodles absorbed the broth and made a good finish. Between the tripe, meat, vegetables, dressed beef, udon noodles, and steamed rice, the two of us were quite full.

Because I liked the broth, I also wanted to finish with fried rice, but I was too full to eat it. That was the biggest regret of the meal.

How did we use the restroom and parking?

The restroom was inside the restaurant. I used it after the meal, and it was convenient not to have to go outside.

Parking was listed as available at Hyangdong 1st Public Parking Lot. It is about a 3-minute walk from the parking lot to the restaurant.

What would I like to eat on a return visit?

The chewy tripe and broth that remained easy to eat to the end were the highlights of this meal. Next time, I would like to visit for lunch and try the Korean beef gomtang or spicy beef tripe gomtang.