Gunpo Korean restaurant for dinner with soy pork bulgogi: Deodolpan

Today's story is about Deodolpan, a Sanbon restaurant I visited to treat a friend who'd just flown back to Korea, after work, to some good Korean food. My friend came all the way from Itaewon to Gunpo, so I went looking for a neat, filling Korean restaurant — and this place really hit the spot for me, born-and-raised in Gunpo as I am.

Deodolpan Sanbon Branch: location and hours

Deodolpan Sanbon Branch carries over the hand-cooked flavor of the original Seongsu-dong hotspot. It's on the 2nd floor of the building, and the white, clean signboard is easy to spot from a distance.

• Location: 2nd floor, Sanbon-dong 1135-1, Gunpo, Gyeonggi
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00 (break time 15:00–16:00 / last order 21:00)
• Restroom: Separate men's/women's restrooms in the building

Vibe inside and the window seats

The first thing I noticed walking in was how spacious and clean it felt. There are window seats too, perfect for a nice meal with a view outside.

The self-serve banchan bar

Off to one side there was a neatly arranged self-serve bar.

Fresh perilla leaves, pickled radish, stir-fried fish cake, bean sprouts, and yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) were all well stocked, so I could grab more throughout the meal without any hassle.

Ordering the Oje Stir-fry Set for two, mild spice

This place brings over a recipe proven at a direct-flame grill restaurant in Seongsu-dong, so I had high hopes for every dish. We ordered the main menu item, the Oje Stir-fry Set for two, choosing mild spice. Checking the origin label, the pork was from the US, while the squid was a mix of domestic and deep-sea catch.

Ordering a set meal here comes with doenjang jjigae, jjolmyeon noodles, and a generously filled bowl of rice as standard.

Actually, I didn't realize rice was already included, so I'd ordered an extra bowl of rice separately. A staff member came over and kindly said, "A big bowl of rice comes standard, so I'll cancel the extra order you placed!"

Doenjang jjigae in a stone pot

A savory doenjang jjigae arrived in a stone pot. Since the pot itself stays hot, I'd recommend using the wooden ladle provided to scoop some out nicely into a soup bowl before eating.

Taking a spoonful of the doenjang jjigae broth, a deep, rich flavor filled my mouth. It wasn't too salty, just savory, and went great with rice.

How's the stone-griddle Oje Bokkeum?

Next came today's main dish, the Oje Bokkeum (stir-fry), sizzling deliciously on a hot stone griddle. The visual was overwhelming — smoky-charred pork on top of plump squid, piled high with fresh scallion strands and jjolmyeon noodles.

I placed chewy squid head pieces and mild pork on a fresh perilla leaf, added crunchy bean sprouts, pickled radish, and scallion strands from the self-serve bar, and wrapped it up into one big bite.

The sweet-and-spicy sauce, the crunch of the fresh vegetables, and that direct-flame smoky flavor all came together deliciously. Since we chose mild spice, it wasn't harsh at all — just a pleasant kick of heat.

Adding soy pork bulgogi for ₩9,900

Both my friend and I have hearty appetites, and as we ate, we got curious about another menu item. So we ordered the soy pork bulgogi (₩9,900) on top, plus one more bowl of rice.

The soy pork bulgogi had a textbook sweet-and-salty sauce with tender, easy-to-chew meat, offering a totally different kind of appeal. Piling a piece of meat onto a perilla leaf, it was pure rice-thief territory.

Dinner with a friend: the final verdict

After a long time apart, my friend and I finished a hearty, filling, and thoroughly satisfying dinner together. The interior was clean and the staff were friendly, so the whole meal felt relaxed and comfortable.

After the meal, we headed to a nearby café and wrapped up the day with a refreshing sweet patbingsu (shaved ice with red beans). From good Korean food to dessert, it was a truly perfect day. Born and raised in Sanbon and living here to this day, I can personally vouch for this place. If you're craving spicy, well-made direct-flame dishes, or just want a hearty meal, definitely pay a visit to Deodolpan Sanbon Branch.