Samcheok restaurant, no-order lunch: pork belly and abalone rice

There's a song I've been humming on and off for a few years now: Sakanaction — Shin Takarajima (New Treasure Island). I only understand the lyrics and meaning with the help of subtitles, but every time I hear it I catch myself humming along, riding the rhythm. A quietly charming song.

That's the kind of quiet charm this restaurant near Sol Beach in Samcheok has — Samcheok Bomulseom (삼척보물섬).

Where is Samcheok Bomulseom? Jeungsan Beach behind Sol Beach

Samcheok Bomulseom sits on Jeungsan Beach, with Samcheok Sol Beach visible behind it. Facing the sea, it has a slightly different mood from Samcheok Beach just to the right of Sol Beach — this one's a quiet, restful spot too.

Personally I'd recommend Jeungsan Beach over the busier Samcheok Beach. It's also easier to get to...

Lunch at Samcheok Bomulseom: 25,000 won per person, served without ordering

From what I hear, this place is the kind of restaurant-and-bar where a side of soju is practically required in the evening — but at lunch, it's just a restaurant... haha

For lunch, whatever good side dishes they have that day get served automatically. 25,000 won per person.

Kimchi pancake and mussel soup to start

First up as an appetizer, a kimchi pancake (kimchijeon). Always welcome.

Then a pot of refreshing mussel soup lands on the table. Also welcome. But one sip of the broth and you know — this is a soju kind of flavor haha. Really good though...

Skin-on boiled pork belly (bossam)

Well-boiled pork also comes out — bossam made from pork belly, thick cuts with the skin still on. Savory and chewy.

Wrap it up in a lettuce leaf and chew away happily... it's good. The pork's cooked just right. And the great thing about this place is you just sit there and it keeps coming, haha. No need to fuss over ordering this and that. That's quietly — no, blatantly — great.

Soy sauce crab: two crabs, and not too salty

Next up is ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab). Two crabs, a good size for one meal.

Honestly, I'm the type who eats soy sauce crab if it's there and skips it if it's not, but this day's crab was really good. If it's this kind of soy sauce crab, I could eat it once a week. (That's high praise from me.)

A bowl of rice comes out too, and if you scoop the crab innards into it and mix it up—

—the savory sesame oil, the sweetness of the crab, and the salty tang of the soy sauce all come together, and you just dive right in face-first. Not too salty, which was great.

As I was eating, I wondered if the portion was a bit small since it tasted so good — but that's because I hadn't accounted for what was still coming. If you're a big eater, you can ask for a little extra rice here to mix in the leftover crab; if you're a light eater, move on to the next course.

Abalone rice and fried fish to finish

Because right after, the abalone rice arrives. Unlike the soy sauce crab, there's nothing to do here — just eat it as is. Some of the abalone innards are mixed into the rice for extra savoriness, and the rest come as a sauce so you can enjoy it a few different ways.

This... is really good. That savory flavor is just so good. The kind of savoriness that any adult would fall head over heels for. The cocktail shrimp scattered throughout add a nice sweetness too.

The abalone itself is incredibly tender. Steamed really well. And they even slice it for you, which is such a nice touch — older folks with weaker teeth would probably manage this just fine.

Fish comes fried and topped with sauce too, and this is also delicious. A dish I really enjoyed eating.

Is the Samcheok Bomulseom lunch worth it?

True to its name, it really was like a treasure island (bomulseom). Actually, a week earlier I'd stopped by some restaurant on Samcheok Beach and was thoroughly disappointed — thinking, 'I'm paying this much for this?' — but this place left me thinking I'd eaten really well.

Since I don't drink, I probably won't be dropping by in the evening, but it's a place worth visiting for a comfortable, delicious lunch. I'd even say it's better to come here than to hit some random bar in the evening. A place where you can eat and drink well — Samcheok Bomulseom really is a treasure island.