Changwon pork soup restaurant for weekend family lunch: Myeongin

Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap (명인돼지국밥) in Bukmyeon, Changwon, was our weekend lunch outing with the family. A bowl generously packed with lean meat, a rich but clean broth simmered for hours, a spacious, pleasant dining room and friendly service made it a very satisfying place to eat out with a child~^^

Where is Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap in Bukmyeon, Changwon, and where do you park?

Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap is a pork soup (dwaeji gukbap, pork and rice soup) restaurant near Bukmyeon Hot Spring in Changwon, with a large private parking lot right in front. It is open 09:10–20:50, and it's a local favorite that has stayed in the same spot for 10 years.

There's a big private lot right in front, so parking is easy! I heard it gets busy from the morning, so we came around 11:30 on a weekend morning, and quite a lot of cars were already parked.

There's a sink at the entrance, handy for washing your hands before eating. Right next to it is cold coffee for after the meal. You can see thoughtful touches for customers all around the place.

Inside Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap: is it OK for a family meal with kids?

The inside of Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap is very large, and every table seat is divided by a high backrest. The lighting is bright and the whole place is clean, so it suits a family meal with a child.

The moment we walked in, I was startled by how huge the place is! Every table is divided by a high backrest, so you can focus on your meal without bothering the next table. The lighting is bright and the whole place feels clean, a nice atmosphere to bring a child.

A window seat happened to be free, so we sat there. The table is really roomy~ so even with a full spread on it nothing feels cluttered. Love it~^^

The self-serve bar is kept neat. The gangdoenjang (thick soybean paste stew) and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) are so good that refills are a must!^^

A giant cauldron of pork broth bubbling away. So this is where the deep, rich broth comes from~~ Such presence, impossible to imitate at home! With a cauldron like this, it feels like anything you cooked in it would taste good. haha

Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap menu and prices

At Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap, gukbap (soup with rice) such as pork, lean pork, sundae (Korean blood sausage) and mixed gukbap is a flat ₩10,000, and the suyuk baekban (boiled pork set meal) is ₩13,000. Besides gukbap there are side dishes like sampler sundae, suyuk and dumplings.

It specializes in pork soup, so the menu is simple. Besides gukbap there are things like sampler sundae, suyuk (boiled pork slices) and dumplings, nice to have alongside your gukbap.

Here's what we ordered that day.

• Suyuk baekban ₩13,000
• Pork gukbap ₩10,000
• Lean pork gukbap ₩10,000

Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap side dishes: how are the kimchi, kkakdugi and dried radish?

The basic side dishes at Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap, including kimchi, kkakdugi and seasoned dried radish strips (mumallaengi), come neatly plated. The kimchi and kkakdugi were properly aged, and the dried radish eaten with the suyuk was especially addictive.

The basic side dishes come neatly plated, clean with nothing extra. The basics of a pork soup place are kkakdugi and kimchi! Wow, even before the gukbap arrived, I felt I could finish a bowl of rice with just the kimchi and kkakdugi, the properly aged flavor was excellent.

Look at that glossy shine~ And why are the few sliced almonds on top so cute? haha

Kimchi aside, the dried radish eaten with the suyuk is crunchy and full of savory flavor, so addictive.

Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap suyuk baekban: lean, mild boiled pork

The suyuk baekban (₩13,000) at Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap comes with both suyuk and gukbap, a generous amount for the price. The suyuk has overwhelmingly little fat, so it was mild without any greasiness.

The suyuk baekban comes with suyuk and gukbap together, perfect for a filling meal. Considering the price, the portion is really generous~~

The biggest strength of suyuk is that grease-free mildness~ Myeongin's suyuk has an overwhelmingly lower fat ratio even compared with other suyuk, so mild on top of mild, I think I could eat a whole plate alone without a hint of greasiness! It's clean, yet every bite releases flavorful juices. Wow, I think it's the best suyuk I've had lately.

Lean pork gukbap with shrimp salt and seasoned chives

The lean pork gukbap (₩10,000) at Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap is packed with only lean meat yet is tender, not dry. I first enjoyed the milky broth cleanly with salted shrimp (saeujeot), then added seasoned chives at the end.

This is the lean pork gukbap I ordered. Not many places have a separate lean-only gukbap, so I thought, is this a menu made for me? and ordered right away.^^ It's packed with only lean meat, but it's mild and tender with no dryness, which was totally my taste.

Everyone eats pork gukbap differently, and personally I'm team salted shrimp rather than dadaegi (seasoned chili paste)! haha At first I like to eat it cleanly without disturbing the milky broth. Near the end, in go the chives! The chives at Myeongin are already seasoned, so the flavor balances itself without dadaegi. I love chives, so I like to pile them in~*^^*

Pork gukbap with somyeon noodles

My husband ordered the regular pork gukbap (₩10,000) at Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap and mixed in somyeon (thin wheat noodles) and rice. It was so filling it could carry him through to dinner.

My husband ordered the regular pork gukbap. These days eating it with somyeon noodles instead of rice is sooo good,,^^ With noodles and rice both mixed in, the fullness is so extreme he could get through to dinner without dessert.

Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap Changwon Bukmyeon: overall review

It had been a really long time since I'd had pork gukbap, and my conclusion is that nothing beats it as a good-value, highly satisfying meal out.^^ By around 12 the place was totally full, yet the owner and staff were so kind even while busy. With the clean interior and above all a clean, generous bowl of pork gukbap with no gamey smell, Myeongin Dwaeji Gukbap in Bukmyeon, Changwon, was very satisfying.