Ansan Korean restaurant for weekday lunch: Yeongwolae Gondre

This was a truly fantastic restaurant in Ansan that made me think, “I’m so glad I brought my parents!” Absolutely agreed~

An Ansan gondre rice set meal with my parents

At noon on a weekday, I went to Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch for a Korean set meal at a popular Ansan spot. We had something to do in Jungang-dong with my parents, so that is how we ended up visiting. The verdict? My parents absolutely loved it~ A huge success!!

The restaurant itself was huge. It is in a building lined with shops, and it felt like this place occupied one large whole section of the second floor.

Apparently, it is a certified Ansan favorite^^ While waiting, I noticed the hygiene-grade certification mark. I usually pass things like that by without much thought, but seeing it displayed somehow put me at ease.

A comfortable waiting room, even at weekday lunch

Even though the restaurant was this large, there were four parties ahead of us, which surprised me a little. I thought, “There is a line even at this time?” But once I ate there, I understood.

Waiting behind four parties can usually get tiring, but this place had a nicely set-up separate waiting room, so it did not feel as though we were standing around. We settled in and sat down, and our turn came quickly.

Inside, the soft lighting gave it a more polished atmosphere than I expected from a Korean set-meal restaurant. A wait at weekday lunch, but it was not inconvenient. The waiting room was like a gallery^^ I waited elegantly~

Spicy pork stir-fry and grilled mackerel set meals

Finally, we were called and shown to our table! Looking over the menu, I saw that gondre rice was the main thing here.

There were quite a few types of set meals when I flipped through the menu, but we chose the Yeongwol spicy pork stir-fry set meal (₩18,000) and grilled mackerel set meal (₩18,000). We were short on time and ordered in a rush, but then I was hit with regret: we should have paid just ₩2,000 more per person for the Yeongwol Mureungdowon set meal! (The Mureungdowon set includes country-style gangdoenjang, a thick fermented soybean paste stew.)

Just like a popular restaurant should, our food arrived two minutes after we ordered!

The gondre rice is truly the main event here. The aroma of the greens rose right up, and the sesame oil and greens were evenly worked through the rice, so it was delicious even on its own.

Seaweed soup came with it too, and the broth was deep and comforting, so I kept reaching for another spoonful.

One overhead shot!

There were so many side dishes, and every single one was good. The spicy pork stir-fry had a kick, while the lotus root and seasoned bellflower root were crisp, so I kept going back for more.

The spicy-sweet sauce on the pork stir-fry was the kind of flavor that calls for two bowls of rice. The grilled mackerel was mild rather than salty, so I thought it would suit my parents’ tastes perfectly.

This seasoned greens side dish was so delicious. I got a refill^^

This was delicious too~ It was sweet and tangy, maybe something like jangajji (pickled vegetables), and it was exactly my kind of flavor!

A self-bar with unlimited gondre rice refills

Knowing about the self-bar means you can eat with even more peace of mind.

At the self-bar, you can get unlimited refills of side dishes, gondre rice, and sikhye (sweet rice drink). If you feel like you need more rice, just bring back another serving, so there is no need to worry about portion size. You could feel the care that went into it just by looking at the side dishes.

Even the little glimpse of the cooking process near the kitchen looked neat and orderly, which made me think this was a place I could trust.

A space suited to family occasions and group gatherings

It is great for bringing your parents or for a group gathering, too.

After checking the country-of-origin board and food-safety business certificate, I felt sure this was somewhere worth ordering from with confidence. Looking around, I noticed lots of guests in their 50s and 60s. With its calm atmosphere and plentiful group seating, it seemed just right for bringing parents to a birthday or family occasion. It would also be a good spot for a group reservation.

The spacious restaurant was neatly kept throughout, so it was comfortable to eat wherever you sat. I experienced firsthand why it is a popular Ansan restaurant with a wait even at weekday lunch. If you are looking for a Korean set meal in Ansan, Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch might be worth a visit.