Gyeongju Korean restaurant for a private dinner: Dongyang Baekban

A private Korean-food date spot on Hwangridan-gil

When I visited around 7 p.m. on a weekday, I could go right in. The staff looked pretty busy, but it didn’t feel crowded because of the separate rooms.

The entrance looks like this, so it feels pretty vintage before you step inside, but!

Once inside, there are rooms divided into two-person or four-person tables, with two tables in each. Instant +100 points for me!! Totally my style ♡♡

There was this wonderfully atmospheric little introduction out front, and it seemed to suit the restaurant’s vibe so well.

The menu and what we ordered

After staring at the menu and debating for ages, we ordered the recommended Sumi dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken), added udon noodles, then got ttaengcho-bap (spicy pepper rice) and a bowl of steamed rice.

While waiting, I did find it a bit disappointing that the room was narrow, so we had no choice but to sit right in the air conditioner’s path—it was a little chilly.

There was a sheet on the table explaining the review event and how to enjoy the food even more. Restaurants that put these sheets on every table seem to have such a distinct vibe of their own, and somehow the wait for food feels shorter.

Ask the staff about the review event

There’s a review event too, so visitors may want to keep that in mind. The in-store notice says each person gets a strawberry ice gyeongdan (sweet rice dumpling) or can enter a draw, while Naver Map has a coupon that confusingly says egg rice or sikhye?? Haha. I think it’s best to ask the staff after you arrive and then order!!

Trying the Sumi dakbokkeumtang and ttaengcho-bap

I skipped the review because I’m lazy haha. Finally, the meal I’d been waiting and hoping for came out, and honestly... the presentation was insane! ㅠㅠ Even the dishes were so pretty for photos haha.

As soon as it arrived, I mixed the ttaengcho-bap with seaweed flakes hahaha. Those little green pepper pieces dotted throughout made my appetite kick in even more, so I was sooo excited ㅠㅠ I immediately mixed rice into the sauce, neatly loaded up a spoonful, and took a bite with huge expectations...

It was sooo delicious haha. So happy we came hahaha.

I think anyone who loves Korean food would really like this place! It wasn’t overly intense—just the exact kind of dakbokkeumtang you expect, but with the savory depth turned up a notch?

My boyfriend and I both eat a lot, yet we were completely full. The portions were more than enough, and the seasoning on the side dishes was just right and delicious, so he was really satisfied too! It’s a great date spot, but I think a family of four could make lovely memories here too. I’d come back next time.

The seasoned bean sprouts in particular were legendary;; We got three refills. What must the staff have thought hahaha.

On the way out, there was a paper figure shaped like Jaringobi? It fit the Gyeongju atmosphere so perfectly that I left feeling very satisfied.