Gwacheon duck BBQ couple set as a weekend lunch course: Deo Chadol

Deo Chadol near Seonbawi Station in Gwacheon, on a weekend lunch

It was a weekend lunch, and I was craving duck near Seonbawi Station in Gwacheon, so I headed to Deo Chadol (더차돌) :)

I like duck in general, so this is a place I often visit when I come to Gwacheon, and I usually order the couple set, since you get to enjoy several dishes at once.

I came right at lunchtime this day too, and it was much busier than I expected. On weekends it's definitely better to come early or leave yourself some time. It's also been featured on the KBS program 'Baedal Wassuda' as a recommended restaurant by actor Ryu Seung-ryong, so my expectations were even higher.

Why Deo Chadol works as a Seoul Land meal

Deo Chadol is close to Seonbawi Station, so it's easy to reach, and it's a good spot for a meal if you're out for the day around Seoul Land or Gwacheon. If you're looking for a restaurant near Seoul Land, it fits well. Especially after a day at Seoul Land with the kids, the duck dishes make a satisfying meal.

What's in the Deo Chadol couple set?

The couple set comes with 200g duck brisket BBQ, 300g raw duck jumulleok (marinated duck), doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and self-fried rice for one, which is quite generous for two people. This is exactly what I ordered that day.

I think the biggest charm of the couple set is that you're not just eating one kind of duck: you enjoy it in order, like a course meal. That's why, even when I look for a restaurant near Seoul Land, I care about whether there's a well-composed menu like this.

Starting with tender duck brisket BBQ!!

The first course of the set is duck brisket BBQ. Thinly sliced duck is grilled on the grill plate, and it's tender with a really nice nutty flavor.

It doesn't start with a strongly seasoned dish; the mild, nutty duck brisket opens up your appetite, which made me look forward to the next dish even more.

Personally, it felt like the owner had thought long and hard to design the couple set so that you'd enjoy it the most.

Duck has long been known as a health-boosting food, after all.

It's fatty but not heavy, and the flavor of the meat itself is good, so it suits you when you want a filling meal.

Then spicy-sweet raw duck jumulleok

Once you've eaten a fair amount of the duck brisket, you move on to the second course, the raw duck jumulleok.

The raw duck jumulleok is a generous 300g, and the spicy-sweet seasoning goes well with the duck, so it would be perfect with rice or as a drinking snack.

It has a different charm from the mild, nutty duck brisket, so even though it's the same duck, it felt like a completely different dish.

So if you're looking for duck BBQ in Gwacheon, I'd recommend trying several dishes together like the couple set rather than ordering just one.

The seasoning isn't just sharply spicy; you also taste sweetness, so I kept reaching for more.

I came with the idea of eating properly starting from weekend lunch, and I could see why it's known as a duck BBQ spot in Gwacheon.

And of course, self-fried rice to finish!

The couple set finishes with self-fried rice. You stir-fry it with the leftover seasoning after the meat, and it's a real treat. Even when I'm fairly full, the fried rice somehow keeps going down. Starting with duck brisket, passing through the duck jumulleok and ending with fried rice, it felt like a real feast of duck dishes.

I came while looking for a restaurant near Seoul Land, but it felt less like just getting a meal done and more like enjoying tasty duck dishes as a course.

When is Deo Chadol a good choice?

Duck is filling and widely known as a health-boosting food, so I think it's a good choice for a family meal out or a weekend lunch. Especially if you're planning an outing to Gwacheon or Seoul Land, Deo Chadol is a good place to combine with it for a meal.

Next time I crave duck in Gwacheon, I'll probably order the couple set again, because you get nutty duck brisket, spicy-sweet duck jumulleok and fried rice all in one go.

If you're looking for duck BBQ in Gwacheon, you don't need to agonize over the menu; I'd recommend enjoying the duck dishes in order with the couple set.

It was a great place for when you want a filling, generous meal on the weekend.