Yeoju Korean restaurant, soy crab: Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap

While looking for a popular restaurant near Yeoju Outlet, I visited Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap (나들목 여주쌀밥), which lots of people recommended. Yeoju is famous for its rice, after all. This place is known for its Korean set meals. I also saw that former President Roh Moo-hyun had visited before, along with so many other famous people, and that it has appeared on plenty of TV programs. Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is a great place to stop before or after shopping at Yeoju Outlet—I'll share everything from the wait and what we ordered to my honest thoughts on the food!

How long was the weekend-afternoon wait?

At Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap, you register for the wait at the kiosk inside the restaurant as soon as you arrive. When we visited at around 2 p.m. on a weekend afternoon, there were about 10 parties ahead of us? We waited in the car, then went in when it was our turn.

It looked like there were quite a few parties waiting, but the turnover was fast, so we got in after about 20 minutes. After registering, you can also sit and wait on the chairs out front.

A Korean restaurant near Yeoju Outlet

Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is a Korean restaurant that makes for a good meal near Yeoju Outlet.

There were tables set up right from the entrance. Inside, I could also see TV-feature information and photos from the former president's visit.

The exterior had the feel of a long-established local favorite, and perhaps because it was the weekend, there were quite a few customers out front too. The interior was more spacious than I expected, with lots of families and tables dining with older relatives.

Ordering the soy-marinated crab set and Nadeulmok set

We ordered two different meals: one soy-marinated crab set and one Nadeulmok set. We ordered this way because we wanted to try both the soy-marinated crab and the grilled fish.

Side dishes and fried eggplant

The complimentary side dishes included japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), acorn jelly, and salad! Fried eggplant came out as an extra dish, and it was tastier than I expected.

It was lightly crisp on the outside and soft inside. I liked that you can order it separately as an add-on too. If you like eggplant, it seems like a nice one to add.

Grilled mackerel with stone-pot rice

Then the main side dishes were laid out! The set meal comes with spicy stir-fried pork and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), haha. The Nadeulmok set includes grilled mackerel, so it is a can't-go-wrong choice! The outside was nicely browned, while the flesh was mild and easy to eat with rice.

Have a piece of mackerel with warm stone-pot rice, then spoon up some doenjang-jjigae, and even though it is not especially bold, you just keep reaching for more.

Yeoju rice and soy-marinated crab

And then there was the soy-marinated crab! Its salty soy-based sauce went so well with the rice. Pick out the crab meat and put it over rice—soy-marinated crab really is a rice thief, haha. If you love marinated crab, it is a menu item worth ordering with Yeoju rice.

If you are visiting as two people, I recommend ordering one of each and sharing them like we did!!

Even when we visited around 2 p.m. on a weekend afternoon, there were about 10 parties waiting at Nadeulmok, a popular Korean restaurant in Yeoju! There was a wait, but the turnover was quicker than expected, and I was happy with both the soy-marinated crab and the grilled mackerel set ♡ If you are looking for somewhere to eat near Yeoju Outlet or for a proper restaurant during a Yeoju trip, Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap seems worth stopping by at least once.