Paju Korean restaurant three-person meal: Eomma-ui Ttuksim

While on a day trip to Paju with friends, I stopped by Eomma-ui Ttuksim (엄마의뚝심) for lunch. It is a Korean restaurant near Unjeong Lake Park, where the three of us shared the Ttuksim meal set.

Is it close to Unjeong Lake Park, and how was parking?

Eomma-ui Ttuksim is on the first floor of Kimyoung Building on Songhak 1-gil, near Unjeong Lake Park. There is dedicated parking directly in front, so we were able to park comfortably.

The original post lists its hours as 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with last orders at 8:15 p.m. It also says the regular closing day is every other Thursday.

What is the interior like?

Sunlight came in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the many plants made it feel a little like a café. The restaurant was tidy, with soft music playing. Several autographs were displayed on the walls.

I also liked that plants continued along the path to the restroom, keeping the space green.

What meal sets are available, and what should solo diners know?

The menu included the Ttuksim meal set, bossam meal set, jjukumi (webfoot octopus) meal set, pork bulgogi meal set, Ttuksim jjukumi meal set, and gochujang pork bulgogi meal set. Many dishes can only be ordered from two servings, so solo visitors should check the ordering conditions.

What came with the three-person Ttuksim meal set?

First came side dishes including dotorimuk (acorn jelly), assorted seasoned vegetables, yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi), and ssam vegetables. They were neat and mild, like home-style side dishes, so I kept reaching for them without feeling overwhelmed.

Cheonggukjang caught my eye too, but we ordered doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). It was savory but not strong, with plenty of tofu, making it nice to spoon up between bites.

Then the pork bulgogi, bossam (boiled pork wraps), and kodari jorim (braised semi-dried pollock) arrived. With all the side dishes on the table, it was a generous spread, and all three of us took photos of the food.

How did the braised kodari, pork bulgogi, and bossam taste?

The kodari jorim was spicy and salty, pairing well with rice. The kodari had a good texture, but the deeply cooked radish alongside it was especially delicious. I put it over rice and ate them together.

The pork bulgogi had a gentle smoky flavor and a sweet-salty taste. It was good on its own, but I liked it even more wrapped in lettuce with a little ssamjang.

The bossam was tender and soft. I ate it with the bossam radish and kimchi served alongside it. The bossam and bulgogi made me think of a glass of soju, but because we had driven a long way that day, I was sorry not to have any.

Was lunch with friends satisfying?

All three of us ate until we were full. The food was neatly served and the staff were kind, which made the meal pleasant. With convenient parking and a bright interior, I would like to return if I have a chance to treat friends to a meal in Paju.