Self-serve broth refills at Hyoeunok, a Gyeongju Bomun restaurant

Looking for a restaurant with a wildly unique presentation? How about Hyoeunok? Their signature dish, the Ppyeoberest, is overwhelming just from the visual alone.

Where is Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch, and is it near the Bomun sights?

Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch sits on Bukgun 3-gil in Gyeongju's Bomun tourist complex. It's close to the Bomun Lake walking path, Gyeongju World, the Kensington Hotel, Luge World, and the Kidult Museum, so working it into your itinerary could make for a trip that's a treat for both the eyes and the stomach.

Inside Hyoeunok: a polished hanok-style Korean restaurant

After parking in Hyoeunok's spacious lot, stepping inside fills you with a genuine sense of Gyeongju's hanok (traditional Korean house) atmosphere. It felt like an especially special space for tourists, with even the view out the window fitting right in.

The restaurant has both a hall and private rooms. Groups can be accommodated in the rooms, and tables in the hall can also be joined together so groups can dine comfortably.

Book Hyoeunok on Naver to skip the wait

The day I visited there were plenty of groups, and empty tables filled up fast. Walk-in waiting is possible, but Naver's time reservations take priority, so if you want to try the Ppyeoberest at Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch, I'd definitely recommend booking ahead.

If I hadn't reserved, I probably would have ended up waiting too.

Naver review event: Cheomseongdae tteokgalbi

Cheomseongdae tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties shaped like the observatory). Where did such an adorable idea even come from?! Just leave a receipt review and you get to enjoy this sweet, tasty tteokgalbi — definitely worth joining in :)

The microwave, side dishes, broth, and soy dipping sauce for the meat are all set up neatly ready to go.

What is Hyoeunok's signature Ppyeoberest?

Ppyeoberest is a nickname based on how the beef rib hot pot is piled up like a mountain. The actual menu name is the Gyeongju minari beef rib hot pot 5-item set. The portion is genuinely huge.

Since I was on a Gyeongju trip, I wanted to start my itinerary with a dish unique to the area, and finding a menu that matched exactly what I was after made me so curious haha.

I was shocked from the moment it arrived. Beef ribs piled up like an actual mountain — I was so surprised I checked the menu again, and sure enough it's meant for 2 to 4 people.

Wow, that's a huge portion. The minari (water dropwort) and mung bean sprouts piled on top made it look even more generous. Whether you look at it from the side or from above, it's a towering Ppyeoberest.

Not-spicy option: ordering Ppyeoberest for a child

Ppyeoberest comes with shabu-shabu, kalguksu, and gondre porridge to enjoy alongside it. The spice level can be adjusted — I considered going spicy, but since I want to bring my kid next time, I ordered it not spicy.

Seeing it laid out for the first time, the portion really does look massive. But I figured I'd keep thinking about it if I left leftovers, so I did my best to finish it all up deliciously.

I got to enjoy the shabu-shabu, kalguksu, and the porridge finale, all with zero extra charge.

Three rib racks of tender beef in the hot pot

Digging carefully into the Ppyeoberest revealed three whole large rib racks hiding inside. Genuinely generous. The wave of admiration for the sheer portion just wouldn't fade. As the pot heats up, both the broth and vegetable stock rise together to warm the already-cooked meat.

All we had to do was wait for the meat to warm up and then dig in together. Isn't this exactly why we go to restaurants?!

The chunks of meat are genuinely huge. I ended up pulling the meat off the bone entirely and boiling it together. There was enough bone left over to fill a whole pile.

Eating a big chunk of meat together with the minari and mung bean sprouts in one bite was extremely satisfying. If the meat had been tough it would've been hard to eat, but it was actually very tender.

Round two: shabu-shabu, kalguksu and gondre porridge

We cooked the beef for shabu-shabu. My stomach was already full before round two even started haha. Now I understood why it's meant for 2 to 4 people.

Add the kalguksu and let it boil away. If the broth runs low, you can refill it at the self-serve corner, so enjoy it to the fullest.

You can also add extra noodles or order gondre porridge as a side, so keep that in mind if you're still hungry.

Once the chewy noodles were dropped in to boil, about 6 minutes later they were cooked exactly to my preferred texture.

Instead of the usual fried rice, this is made with gondre rice, so it's even nuttier and more delicious. There's also a huge selection of makgeolli available — if it hadn't been a post-meal running competition, I might have had a glass.

Hyoeunok in short: reservations, parking and spice level

Booking through Naver saves you the on-site waiting time, so I'd strongly recommend reserving ahead. The parking lot is spacious too, so parking wasn't a worry at all. Since the spice level of the signature dish is adjustable, both kids and adults can enjoy it — definitely a restaurant worth stopping by on a Gyeongju trip.

Who Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch suits best

• Anyone looking for a restaurant with a distinctive, unusual menu
• Anyone wanting a memorable dish on a Gyeongju trip
• Anyone looking for a good restaurant near Bomun Lake

Hope you all enjoy a delicious meal and a fun trip!