Bucheon Korean set meal, per-person rule & refill bar: Gim Myeongju

When I crave a hearty, home-style meal, I always end up looking for a Korean restaurant with lots of side dishes and warm rice. The charm of Korean food is that even without anything flashy, a carefully laid-out table can be completely satisfying.

This time I visited Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch (김명주뜰안채밥상 부천본점) in Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi. If you like Korean-style meals or want to fill up on a spread of side dishes, it's worth a look.

Where is Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch?

It's at 59 Gilju-ro 560beon-gil, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi. A good spot when you want a Korean set meal in Bucheon.

When eating out, I prefer Korean food where I get rice and a balanced mix of side dishes over anything heavily seasoned or convenience-style, so I was looking forward to this visit. At a Korean restaurant it's not just the main dish that matters, but the side dishes and the overall makeup of the table. I went wondering what I'd get to eat with my meal.

How do you order the basic set meal?

At Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch, the basic set meal has to be ordered for every person who visits. It's not a system where only some of your group orders the set, so it's good to know this before you go.

You also order extra dishes on top of the basic set. We added grilled mackerel to our set meal, since a grilled fish on top of rice and side dishes seemed like it would make the meal even more filling.

The best thing about a Korean set meal is eating rice with lots of different side dishes. Rather than eating just one dish, you take a little of each, which is fun, and you can change up the combinations to suit your taste.

If you like home-style meals, a set meal like this feels welcome. Being able to eat something familiar and comforting while dining out is one of the reasons I keep going to Korean restaurants.

How was the extra grilled mackerel?

The grilled mackerel we added at Gim Myeongju was golden on the outside and moist inside, and went well with rice. Mackerel is one of the classic grilled fish that pair with rice, and eating the rich fish with rice makes a bowl satisfying even without other side dishes. Adding grilled fish to a set meal with many side dishes makes the whole meal feel richer.

Grilled mackerel is easy to eat with rice, so it suits anyone who likes Korean set meals. You can eat plain rice, add a piece of fish, then alternate with the other side dishes, which makes the meal more varied.

Mackerel has an appealing rich, nutty flavor, which makes it a great match for rice. Just looking at the golden grilled fish makes me want rice! Flake off some meat and put it on warm rice, and you get both the fish's richness and its clean, mild taste.

The surface was an appetizing brown, and you could tell the skin was nicely grilled just by touching it with chopsticks. Bite in and the outside is slightly chewy yet crisp, while the inside is moist and tender, flaking apart along the grain in your mouth. The outside is golden and flavorful, and the flesh holds its moisture, so it's not dry. That's the key point.

The more you chew, the more the mackerel's deep richness and clean savory taste spread through your mouth. Especially when you put a piece of the thick flesh on warm rice, the moist fish and fluffy grains go together really well. A salty bite of mackerel with a spoonful of rice is delicious even without any other side dishes.

What can you refill at the self-bar?

At Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch, you can refill several side dishes at the self-bar, including cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) and rice. When choosing a Korean restaurant, I care not only about the type of food but also how filling the meal can be. Eating rice with side dishes gives the satisfaction of having properly had a meal.

With refills of cheonggukjang, japchae, rice and other side dishes, I can see why the Korean set meal is such a beloved way to eat. Another plus is that you can add as much of the rice-friendly side dishes as you like from the self-bar and build the meal to your taste.

If you want a Korean set meal in Bucheon, or prefer meals of rice with side dishes, Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch is worth putting on your list.

It's also a useful reference for anyone who wants a generous meal with self-bar side dishes and rice refills.

Who is Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch for?

It's a Korean restaurant for people who want a home-style meal: refillable rice and side dishes, plus grilled fish on top. Korean food is appealing because it's familiar and filling every time. You can eat it with a variety of side dishes, and add a dish that goes well with rice to make the meal your own.

If you're looking for a Korean restaurant in Bucheon, or want a meal with refillable rice and side dishes and grilled fish, keep Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch in mind. Check the menu and prices before you go, and you can plan an even more satisfying meal.