Jungangdong, Ansan pot rice: eel and Wando abalone at Dongyang Sotbap

What is Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch like?

Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch (동양솥밥 안산본점) is a premium pot rice restaurant in Jungangdong, Ansan. Lots of people are looking for a clean but filling meal in Jungangdong these days, right? At lunch it's where office workers go, and on weekends it's a family meal or date spot, so choosing a menu can be tricky. This time I visited Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch, a premium pot rice restaurant known as a Jungangdong favorite.

You get the charm of warm pot rice along with a range of rice bowl dishes, and with more than 16 different pot rice dishes on offer, it's easy to pick whatever suits your taste.

What is the atmosphere at Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch?

As the brand's main branch, it's a clean, pleasant space of about 30 pyeong. The first thing I noticed on stepping in was how tidy the whole place felt.

It felt comfortable for eating alone, and just as good for coming with family or having a date meal with a partner.

I especially thought it would work well for a company lunch with coworkers, and also as a satisfying place to enjoy healthy Korean food with your parents.

Menu and prices ordered at Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch

I ordered the four items below. I wanted to try a variety, so I stuck mostly to the signature dishes.

• Wando abalone pot rice ₩16,900
• Eel special ₩22,900
• Menbosha (shrimp toast) ₩5,900
• Grapefruit ade ₩3,900

Grapefruit ade (₩3,900)

The grapefruit ade I ordered with the meal came out first. Its fresh, zesty taste went well with the flavor of the pot rice. It cleanses the palate nicely, so it's a good sip before a hearty meal.

How is the eel special (₩22,900), limited to 10 a day?

The eel special at Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch is limited to 10 servings a day and costs ₩22,900. It has that rich eel flavor and plenty of heft, so I thought it would also make a good stamina-boosting meal.

Eaten together with the pot rice, the balance was great, and it was a very satisfying meal on its own. I think parents would especially love it.

The eel was plump, haha, and the seasoning wasn't heavy, so I even felt no worry or guilt giving some to Bom-i (the writer's child).

What does the Wando abalone pot rice (₩16,900) taste like?

The Wando abalone pot rice at Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch costs ₩16,900 and was the dish I was most looking forward to this visit. Nicely aged abalone and chewy shiitake mushrooms come together, with the nutty, deep flavor that Korean pot rice is known for.

The rice and ingredients worked well together, so it wasn't harsh and was easy to finish to the last bite. The big draw of pot rice is that you can finish with nurungji (scorched rice soup). Ending with the warm nurungji left me feeling comfortably full.

Is the side dish menbosha (₩5,900) any good?

The menbosha (shrimp toast) I ordered as a side at Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch (₩5,900) was satisfying too. Springy shrimp is fried until crisp, with a crunchy outside and moist inside that I liked. It's a good side to share alongside the pot rice.

It's easy on the wallet too, so I'd recommend it when you want to try several dishes together.

Who would enjoy Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch?

Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch felt less like a place to simply get a meal done and more like a space to enjoy warm, carefully made pot rice. With so many dishes, there are plenty of options even when you come with people who have different tastes, and I think it suits all of the following:

• Anyone looking for a good lunch spot in Jungangdong, Ansan
• Anyone wanting a healthy meal out with parents
• Anyone looking for an easy place to eat with a child
• Anyone wanting a clean restaurant that works for solo dining
• Anyone looking for a date spot

When you're craving a filling, tidy Korean meal in Ansan, I recommend enjoying a warm pot rice spread at Dongyang Sotbap Ansan Main Branch.