Suwon Hommaesil rockfish minari pancake and pork hot pot: Ok Doenjang

Introducing Ok Doenjang Suwon Hommaesil Branch in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

Where is Ok Doenjang Suwon Hommaesil Branch, and is there parking?

It sits on the first floor of the Lotte Cinema building in the Hommaesil complex, near Hwaseo Station. Parking is available in the building.

Open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 11pm, and Sunday from 11am to 10pm, with a break time on weekdays only from 3 to 4:30pm, this Hommaesil lunch spot Ok Doenjang serves Korean dishes like doenjang (soybean paste) hot pot and boiled pork hot pot. Last time I came I had the doenjang hot pot and it really hit the spot, so this time I came back remembering that flavor and wanting to try something new on the menu.

Three side dishes at Ok Doenjang: stir-fried kimchi wins

Three side dishes came out: stir-fried kimchi, mustard leaf kimchi, and seasoned bean sprouts!

All three side dishes had that rich, homemade taste. My husband, who normally doesn't eat kimchi, ends up having several plates of the stir-fried kimchi whenever we come to Ok Doenjang.. (sorry, owner!) haha. They're the kind of side dishes you could finish a whole bowl of rice with on their own.

Boiled pork hot pot (small), 25,000 won: enough for two

Boiled pork hot pot (small), ₩25,000

It's almost like a painting? The ingredients arranged so appetizingly in the hot pot catch your eye right away.

There's this minari (water celery) that apparently goes into every dish at Hommaesil favorite Ok Doenjang! Plus mushrooms, chili peppers, and a few other vegetables, along with the stars of the show — boiled pork and beef tendon (sujeo). Even the smallest size looked pretty generous.

I wanted to dig in right away, but it needs to cook first, right? Haha. Flip the hourglass timer, wait for one cycle, and it's already bubbling away. Seeing that, you can't help but pick up your chopsticks!

The pork was really clean-tasting and soft. No toughness or gamey smell at all — it fully soaked up the moisture from simmering in the broth. You can't pass up meat straight out of the water!

There was plenty of chewy beef tendon too, and the plump glass noodles hiding underneath were also tasty.

With so many ingredients coming together, the broth got even richer and deeper. Slurp a spoonful of the hot broth and all your fatigue melts away just like the tender meat. The seasoning wasn't too strong, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Pairing it with a sauce to your taste brings out even more savory flavor.

Rockfish minari pancake, 15,000 won: Korea's answer to pizza

Rockfish minari jeon, ₩15,000

It looks huge and hearty. Minari, rockfish, and chili peppers come together to make what's basically a Korean-style pizza.

The crunch of the minari and the plump texture of the rockfish worked really well together. Crispy on the outside, this jeon (savory pancake) was impossible not to fall for. It had both health and flavor packed in — a great dish. Definitely a side I'd order again next time.

This full spread! My husband and I cleaned it all up without leaving a trace. The best!

Inside Ok Doenjang: dining room and menu lineup

A hearty lunch — recommended Hommaesil restaurant

Just like its clean flavors, Hommaesil favorite Ok Doenjang has a clean, well-kept interior. Thanks to the warm wood-toned atmosphere, it seems like a great place to bring family, friends, or a partner — anyone, really.

• Doenjang hot pot: perilla seaweed / beef pork belly / marsh snail / squid / shiitake mushroom / beef tendon / clams
• Boiled pork hot pot: assorted beef short rib / beef shank / beef tendon
• Minari jeon: squid / barley shrimp / marsh snail
• Smoked duck minari steam / whole steamed squid / beef and squid stir-fry / beef pork belly tofu kimchi / squid pork jeyuk stir-fry / perilla oil fried egg

With a mother's heart and care, Hommaesil favorite Ok Doenjang gives people a filling day. I think I'll be coming back often on days when I'm craving mom's home cooking. Have a delicious bowl of rice and start the week off with more energy.