Ilsan Harbor Table · 13 stories
I write about meals I have had at restaurants in Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars
Jangsodam Eel and Beef Buffet Cheongna Main Branch is an all-you-can-eat eel, beef and pork buffet in Cheongna, Incheon. Visiting as a pair, the writer ordered the A Set, grilled eel and beef in turns, and also enjoyed the self-bar; the spacious hall and wide menu make Jangsodam a natural fit for team dinners. Verdict: the Jangsodam Cheongna A Set is recommended for anyone who loves both eel and beef.
Olsim is a Korean restaurant on Munhwa 3-gil in Jincheon-eup, Jincheon, Chungbuk, serving knife-cut ongsimi (potato dumpling soup with noodles) and olgaengi haejangguk (freshwater snail hangover soup). On a chilly day, a family of four driving home to Incheon after a trip shared 2 servings of knife-cut ongsimi and 2 bowls of olgaengi haejangguk at Olsim, and the writer's mom ranked Olsim's ongsimi the best she has ever had. For a warm, filling family meal in Jincheon, Olsim is a great fit.
Danyang Heukmaneul Nurungji Dakgangjeong is a black garlic dakgangjeong (Korean sweet crispy fried chicken) shop in Danyang Gugyeong Market, Danyang, Chungbuk. A group of four took Double black garlic dakgangjeong and black garlic makgeolli to go and ate them after sightseeing at Yeongwol's Hanbando Jihyeong (Korean Peninsula-shaped landform), tasting rich black garlic with gentle chili heat and crunchy nurungji (scorched rice). Danyang Heukmaneul Nurungji Dakgangjeong is a Danyang Gugyeong Market food that travels well as a takeout snack on a road trip.
Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap is a black garlic ssambap (rice with leaf wraps) restaurant near Gugyeong Market in Danyang-eup, Danyang, Chungbuk. On a 2-night, 3-day Danyang–Jecheon–Yeongwol trip, four people shared 2 servings of black garlic squid ssambap and 2 servings of black garlic pork ssambap, and the neat side dishes, black garlic rice and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) all satisfied. For a filling meal rather than snacks at Danyang Gugyeong Market, Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap is a good choice.
Pig Mie-eul (피그미엘) is a brunch café and restaurant in Gogi-ri, Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi, that serves wood-fired pizza and pasta. The blogger, her mom, her aunt and her uncle ordered one dish each to share: the jambon-beurre pizza, jang duxelles cream pasta, salsiccia pasta and green onion seafood oil pasta, and all four ranked the jang duxelles cream pasta first. With a large parking lot and an antique interior, Pig Mie-eul is worth recommending for family gatherings and wedding invitation meetups.
Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch is a sashimi restaurant on the Bojeong-dong (Jukjeon) cafe street in Yongin, Gyeonggi. On a family trip, four adults had a medium flounder and rockfish platter for dinner. An aunt who doesn't usually enjoy raw fish ate the most, and the spicy fish stew that comes with medium or larger platters had everyone finishing a bowl of rice. From side dishes to sashimi and stew, Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch made for a satisfying family meal out.
Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak (대동한식뷔페&도시락) is a Korean buffet in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi, known as a good spot for Korean food near Yongin Service Area. On the last day of a family trip, the writer and her mom ate jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), thick fried fish, spicy-tangy jjolmyeon (chewy cold noodles), janchi guksu (warm noodle soup), and reportedly homemade sikhye (sweet rice drink) and baram-tteok (filled rice cakes). Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak is the writer's top pick of the many Korean buffets she has tried, for taste, cleanliness and friendly service alike.
Songrimbok Jangeo Freshwater Eel Unlimited Refill Cheongna Direct Branch is an all-you-can-eat eel and meat BBQ restaurant in Cheongna, Incheon. On a second visit, the writer took Mom for a late lunch for two and grilled eel, pork belly, duck neck and pork neck from the self-serve counter, but the thick, large eel meant the goal of five eels stopped at three. Songrimbok was a satisfying, energy-restoring meal for a tired mom, good enough to be a repeat visit.
Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch is a handmade dumpling (mandu) restaurant in Siksa-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang. The writer walked in at 10:35 a.m., five minutes after opening, for a half-and-half mandu hot pot for 2, while her brother ordered 2 more servings of mandu hot pot to go for their parents in Cheongna. Verdict: on a chilly morning, the spicy, deep broth and thin-skinned, generously filled dumplings at Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu make a warming, relaxing breakfast.
Hatpiendo is an izakaya on the second floor in Yongridan-gil, near Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. After a first round near Ichon Station with a close older friend she hadn't seen in a while, the writer came to Hatpiendo for mackerel bar sushi, hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) with gamtae seaweed rice and abalone innards pasta, with a yuzu sour and a highball, and celebrated a birthday more than a month late. All three dishes at Hatpiendo were satisfying, and she has already picked it again for her next get-together.
Dotgabi Bulzzukkumi THE Cheongju Branch 2 is a smoky, fire-grilled baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant on Daerim-ro in Seowon-gu, Cheongju. On a family trip to Jeungpyeong, four adults and one child stopped at Dotgabi Bulzzukkumi for a late lunch and shared a jjukkumi set, pork cutlet, fried shrimp and perilla potato ongsimi (potato dumpling soup), and all five enjoyed it, including a niece who can't eat spicy food. Verdict: Dotgabi Bulzzukkumi THE Cheongju Branch 2 works even for spice-shy eaters who mix in only a little sauce, and it makes a satisfying family meal with kids.
Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch (제주은희네해장국 고양삼송점) is a haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant in Samsong-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, near Starfield Goyang. At the end of the Chuseok holiday, a couple sweated it out at a charcoal kiln sauna, then wrapped up their date here with a naejangtang (beef tripe soup) and dombe pork set plus one haejangguk, and both finished every drop along with their rice. When holiday food leaves your stomach feeling greasy and you want a spicy, clearing bowl, Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch is just the right pick.
