Daehwa Station Korean restaurant for kimchi jjigae wraps: Pyeonbaekrim

A month ago a friend of mine changed jobs and started working near Daehwa Station, so the three of us decided to grab dinner together. While looking for good restaurants near Daehwa Station, we wanted something protein-packed but light on the stomach — grilled meat felt too heavy, so we went to 'Pyeonbaekrim' for steamed beef (pyeonbaek-jjim) instead.

Where is Pyeonbaekrim, and what are its hours?

Location: 1573 Jungang-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 2nd floor KINTEX Plaza Hours: 11:00-22:00 Break time: 15:00-17:00 Closed: Every Sunday Parking: Free

It's on the 2nd floor of the building right in front of Daehwa Station Exit 2, so you see it the moment you come up from the subway. There's a big 'Pyeonbaekrim' sign on the building's exterior, so even first-time visitors can find it easily.

Inside Pyeonbaekrim: the dining room and window seats

The interior of Pyeonbaekrim is clean and pleasant overall, with a warm wood-toned interior that stood out. From window seats with wide-open views overlooking the city to spacious, comfortable table seating, everything is well laid out — it looked perfectly suited for family meals or group gatherings too.

We took a seat by the cool window side. On the wall, detailed menu photos were posted — everything from beef pyeonbaek-jjim to wrap-style kimchi jjigae, spicy stir-fried duck, and hearty set menus. Each table also had a tablet for ordering, so it was easy to order.

What's on the self-serve bar at Pyeonbaekrim?

The self-serve corner set up on one side of Pyeonbaekrim was also kept very tidy. Along with wet wipes, scissors, sauces, and small plates, the self-serve bar had plenty of fresh, varied side dishes — lettuce, perilla leaves, pickled radish, cheongyang chili peppers, kimchi, dried radish strips, macaroni salad — so you could help yourself according to your taste.

What three people ordered, and what it cost

Looking at the special menu signage on the wall, the 'wrap-style kimchi jjigae (₩11,000 per serving)' made with domestic pork, napa cabbage, garlic, and radish caught our eye. The origins of the ingredients were clearly listed, which made it feel even more trustworthy.

The three of us ordered as follows to try a variety of dishes:

• Pyeonbaek-jjim set (with beef brisket jjamppong rice): ₩15,000
• Pyeonbaek-jjim set (with bean sprout bibimbap + soft tofu stew): ₩15,000
• Wrap-style kimchi jjigae: ₩11,000

A silicone-covered induction stove was set on the table, and neat side dishes along with the special soy sauce made for the pyeonbaek-jjim were served.

For the set menu, crunchy bean sprouts fill the bottom of the cypress (pyeonbaek) steaming basket, topped neatly with vivid red beef. (For reference, if you want to enjoy mostly meat in a generous portion, the single 'beef pyeonbaek-jjim' is recommended; if you want to enjoy both stew and rice together in a full meal, the 'set menu' is the way to go!)

Here's the bean sprout bibimbap with soft tofu stew, and the beef brisket jjamppong rice. The rice for the jjamppong comes in a separate bowl, and refills are unlimited, so if it's not enough you can just help yourself at the self-serve bar.

How does the pyeonbaek-jjim set menu taste?

After the staff set a timer for us and left, the alarm went off and we lifted the lid to find moist, well-cooked beef and crisp bean sprouts waiting inside — quite a sight. The meat had a soft grain, and we could enjoy it in various combinations with soy sauce, wasabi, and seasoning sauce. Wrapping the meat in a perilla leaf with a bit of sauce brought out the natural flavor of the ingredients.

Korean people need some rice with their meat, right? The bean sprout rice mixed in savory seasoned soy sauce paired perfectly with the clean-tasting pyeonbaek-jjim beef. The soft tofu stew with zucchini and tender soft tofu had a mild, refined flavor, while the beef brisket jjamppong rice added a spicy, hearty broth that cleanly tied everything together.

What is the wrap-style kimchi jjigae?

The wrap-style kimchi jjigae was a dish whose name alone piqued our curiosity. The deep, rich broth had plenty of pork simmered in it, and it was fun to scoop out the meat and wrap it in fresh lettuce leaves. The kimchi broth itself was delicious, but the fun of wrapping the meat too made this a delightful and tasty specialty.

Is Pyeonbaekrim worth a trip to Daehwa Station?

This was a satisfying, hearty meal for the three of us at a restaurant in Daehwa-dong, sharing beef pyeonbaek-jjim and wrap-style kimchi jjigae. The combination of the fat-free, clean pyeonbaek-jjim and the spicy-yet-savory kimchi jjigae worked really well together. If you're looking for clean, light Korean food that's not overly seasoned, or a spot near Daehwa Station for a gathering or team dinner, I highly recommend Pyeonbaekrim!