Leaf steak don and egg porridge in Bongdam, Hwaseong: Sindong Lab

There's a place in Bongdam that always comes up when someone says let's get dinner in the evening — with over 9,000 reviews, I honestly assumed it'd be all pretty photos and average taste... but after going, I get why everyone talks about it haha.

Where is Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch, and what should you know first?

Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch is at 96 Wau-ro, Bongdam-eup, Hyohaeng-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, 1st floor. Coming up Wau-ro from the Dunkin' at the intersection in front of Suwon University, it's right next to the eyewear shop.

• Hours: last order 9:00pm — check opening time before visiting!
• Parking: in front of the restaurant / if full, Bongdam Wau Public Parking Lot free for 1.5 hours
• Seating: group tables for 5-8 · single seats · floor seating · couple seats
• Payment: local currency vouchers (card/mobile/paper) · Zero Pay accepted
• Catch Table reservations / baby chairs · waiting area · wheelchair accessible

Outside the restaurant and how long the dinner wait runs

The exterior is decorated nicely with wood and stone flooring. Coming up Wau-ro from the intersection in front of Suwon University, it's right next to the eyewear shop!

The vibe is different from the entrance onward. Stone flooring surrounded by greenery made it feel like stepping into a little garden.

There's a row of waiting benches outside. This photo was taken after I finished eating, but in the evening this area fills right up.

They even keep drinks stocked for people waiting. That kind of detail must feel amazing when you're the one waiting haha.

You register for the wait on a tablet outside the restaurant. I took this photo on my way out so it's off, but around 7:30pm on a weekend visit there were about 3-4 parties waiting ahead. Since the wait kept building even while we were eating, I'd recommend booking ahead!

Inside Sindong Lab: atmosphere and seating options

Inside, it's a warm, cozy-feeling space. Vines covering the ceiling and walls made it feel almost like being outdoors even though we were inside 🤍

The dining hall was way bigger than I expected!

The counter area has green lighting, decorated with the same green, lush feel throughout.

One side is divided by wooden partitions! There were two 4-person tables and one 6-person table.

At the very back of the restaurant there's an area with an 8-person table. The vibe is completely different back there, right?

The kitchen is open. A shark plush plus a green fish tank — have you ever seen that combo at a Japanese restaurant?!

The wall shelves and display cases are packed with knick-knacks.

They went with that distinctly Japanese warm, cute style of interior.

The origin-of-ingredients sign is posted somewhere clearly visible too.

There's a sink inside the restaurant, which was convenient. Even that spot was packed with knick-knacks, so I ended up looking around while washing my hands haha.

The menu at Sindong Lab and how ordering works

They said that if you write a Naver review, you get wafers that go perfectly with the ice cream! It's noted that this is per person, not once per table.

You order using the tablet at each table. Assorted seasonings are set out on a tray.

Welcome tea and cream stew before the meal

Hibiscus tea and cream stew come out first. Usually pre-meal food is just a formality, but this stew was properly thick.

Starting warm from the first spoonful already had me looking forward to the rest 🤍

The sukiyaki set, finished with egg porridge

Ta-da — the full sukiyaki set. Beef, udon noodles, and vegetables come out in separate compartments of a hexagonal box, and the presentation alone sets it apart, right?

It's been a while since I've seen beef of this quality...

Once the broth boils, you dip the beef in briefly and pull it out — that's sukiyaki! Leave it too long and it toughens up, so I'd recommend taking it out as soon as the color changes~

Once the meat and vegetables are gone, the udon comes next! Soaked in broth, it slides right in.

At the end, you add rice and egg and stir it all together to finish it as porridge.

The broth soaks all the way into the rice, so one spoonful brings a burst of salty, savory flavor 🤤 Usually sukiyaki gets a bit bland once the meat's gone, but here the final egg porridge was actually the best part.

Sake-don: salmon rice bowl

The sake-don comes with salmon covering the whole bowl. Personally, I really love salmon!💛

The salmon is sliced really thick. You just pile the radish sprouts and seaweed on top and eat it all together haha.

The salmon had no fishy smell, was soft, and with a dip in soy sauce it turned salty and savory — I kept going back for more 😍

Nakyeop steak-don, the leaf steak rice bowl

The nakyeop steak-don comes with soup on the side. Steak is laid all across the rice with soboro (crumbled seasoned meat) and wasabi on top. The onions, braised in soy sauce, had a nice glossy shine.

You just scoop up the meat, soboro, and rice together in one bite.

Crispy outside, juicy inside — the meat juice comes out with every bite. I didn't expect steak this good at this price 👍

Four-flavor self-serve ice cream bar after dinner

After the meal, you scoop your own ice cream at the self-serve bar. There are four flavors: vanilla, green tea, strawberry, and chocolate.

I brought back three flavors, and green tea was the best 💛

That said, evenings tend to have a wait, so it's better to plan for extra time. With so many knick-knacks around, I thought it might feel a bit overwhelming, but I actually enjoyed the fun of looking around.

Is Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch worth a dinner visit?

If you're in Bongdam looking for a dinner date spot or a family meal with sukiyaki set and sake-don, I'd recommend this place.