Paju Dolgoji Village ssambap lunch, 8 wrap greens: Simhaksan Deulkkot

This time I'm sharing another one of my go-to spots. It's a Korean set-meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant on Simhaksan mountain — already famous enough that there's often a wait during lunch peak or on weekends, but it's tasty enough to be worth it 🤤

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap hours and parking in Dolgoji Village

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap (심학산 들꽃쌈밥) is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, with a break time from 15:30 to 17:00 and last order at 20:00. Parking is available and group visits are welcome, but Paju Pay can't be used here.

• Deulkkot Ssambap open daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time 15:30–17:00
• Last order 20:00
• ✔️ Parking available
• ✔️ Group visits accepted
• ✔️ Paju Pay not accepted

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is located in Dolgoji Village, an area packed with great restaurants. Even surrounded by so much strong competition, it's been a beloved local favorite for years.

The restaurant is quite spacious, with enough seating for family meals as well as group visits.

Go at weekday opening and there is no wait

Deulkkot Ssambap has a separate waiting area too. I visited on a weekday around opening time, so there was no wait for me, but on weekends the waiting area fills up — that's how popular this place is.

Deul-jeongsik vs kkot-jeongsik: what is the difference and the price?

Deulkkot Ssambap's menu has the deul-jeongsik set at ₩20,000 per person and the kkot-jeongsik set at ₩26,000 per person. Deul-jeongsik comes with pork stir-fry, squid stir-fry, doenjang stew, gangdoenjang, and stone-pot rice, while kkot-jeongsik adds yellowfin sole and mackerel to that same lineup (for 2 people). So the difference is simply that kkot-jeongsik adds fish 🐟 I ordered the deul-jeongsik for two.

Once you order, they bring out the basic side dishes and a simple porridge. You can also go back to the self-serve bar for more of these side dishes.

The 8-green self-serve wrap bar and how fresh it is kept

At Deulkkot Ssambap's self-serve bar, not just the side dishes but also the rice crackers and wrap greens are kept clean 😙

Doesn't it look clean just from the photo??

The crackers are also kept fresh, and a bite or two before or after the meal is such a nice touch 🤭

There are a whopping 8 kinds of wrap vegetables, cabbage and peppers included, all covered with plastic to keep out dust and bugs — and a staff member kept checking on them and misting them with water now and then to keep the humidity up.

Maybe that's why every single wrap green looked so fresh and crisp. If you love vegetables, wraps, and lettuce, I think this is the textbook definition of a ssambap restaurant that'll satisfy you 👏👏

Doenjang stew and gangdoenjang come with free refills

The doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) is set on the table along with the side dishes, and after just a short wait it's boiling away. One taste and — wouldn't you know it — it's a doenjang stew that makes you think of rice. Honestly, this stew alone could make you polish off a whole bowl of rice.

One of Deulkkot Ssambap's most popular dishes is the gangdoenjang (thick soybean paste dip). Instead of an intensely strong paste, it's a sweeter version made with onion, but it still keeps that great gangdoenjang flavor — the restaurant's most popular side dish. Since gangdoenjang and doenjang stew are both refillable, you can ask for more anytime, and while eating you can hear other diners constantly requesting refills of the gangdoenjang. That's how good it is!

Pork stir-fry, squid stir-fry and stone-pot rice

Here are the main dishes: pork stir-fry and squid stir-fry.

Pork stir-fry with a deep smoky char, and a red squid stir-fry with plump squid legs.

And then there's the well-cooked stone-pot rice.

Doesn't the rice look glossy just from the photo, that's how sticky and perfect it is? 🍚🍚🍚 We opened the lid on the steaming stone pot, scooped out the rice, then poured water in to make nurungji (scorched rice tea) later while we enjoyed the meal.

From the first bite, the smoky char of the pork fills your mouth, and the plump squid legs have a great chewy bite — pair the side dishes with the main dishes and a whole bowl of rice disappears in no time. If you want something a bit different, take a bite of gangdoenjang or doenjang stew too. But most of all, wrapping everything up in a "ssam" however you like is just so good!!! Being able to eat unlimited fresh wrap greens makes for such a satisfying, filling meal 😁👍

Nurungji to finish, plus ice cream on the way out

For dessert, a bowl of nurungji is the way to go — just top it with whatever side dishes you have left 👍👍

On the way out there's ice cream and vending machine coffee, so grabbing one of each in hand makes for extra happiness