Guwol-dong abalone restaurant for a friends' catch-up: Jeonbokchon

I planned to finally see a friend after a long time, went looking for a good restaurant in Guwol-dong, and settled on Jeonbokchon (전복촌).

I'd heard the name for ages but had never actually been, so I went half excited, half curious. I wanted something a little special instead of our usual go-to dishes, and it turned out to be a really good pick, which is why I'm writing this review.

Jeonbokchon location, hours and parking in Guwol-dong

Jeonbokchon is at 35 Yesul-ro 204beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea, on the first floor of Haein Building. I was told it's open from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM on weekdays.

That said, break times and last order can vary a little by day of the week, so I'd recommend calling once before you go.

You can park near the building, so it was easy to come by car.

Even among Guwol-dong restaurants, this one has a lot of private rooms, so it was great for a quiet chat. The building is easy to spot, so even though it was my first visit I got there without getting lost, and the tidy entrance made me look forward to the meal even more.

A well-rounded menu at Jeonbokchon

I sat down and went straight to the menu. There was a wide range of course meals: the Jangsu set, the abalone set, the Bon set and the dinner special set.

You can also order à la carte, so you can choose depending on how many people you are and the occasion. Since it was just the two of us and we wanted something easy, we ordered the abalone set.

I heard the abalone is delivered directly from Wando, so I ordered trusting it would be fresh. There were also things like a lobster set and large flatfish sashimi on the menu, which made me want to try other dishes next time.

I also heard there's a lighter lunch special on weekdays only, which seems handy if you just want to drop in for a casual meal.

A hearty abalone set

Not long after we ordered, the table started filling up. Whole abalone, braised abalone and abalone sashimi came out in order, and it was a feast for the eyes.

Every time a new dish landed on the table, my friend and I took photos and chatted, so there was never a dull moment.

The abalone sashimi was chewy yet tender, with a nutty flavor that grew the more I chewed. The braised abalone was deeply seasoned, just right with rice.

The whole abalone had a hint of smoky char, and even on its own it was salty and clearly packed with umami. Chatting with my friend, I looked down and the plates were emptying one by one.

The broth dish in the middle was refreshing, so my chopsticks kept going without ever feeling heavy, and I cleaned out even the nurungji soup at the end. I was really full.

The portions were big, plenty even for two people.

I liked the side dishes and the floor-seating room too

Maybe because it's a set meal, there were lots of side dishes. Seasoned vegetables, savory pancakes and japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) all came out, so they worked nicely as palate cleansers between the abalone dishes.

The room has floor seating, so we took our shoes off and sat comfortably, perfect for catching up with a friend I hadn't seen in ages. I'd heard people often come for formal family introductions and family gatherings, and seeing the place, I could understand why.

The staff were kind and looked after us whenever we needed anything, so we were comfortable the whole meal. The noise level was low too, a great environment for talking with a friend.

It had been a while since I'd had abalone as a proper course like this, so the visit to Jeonbokchon felt filling and satisfying. Talking a lot with my friend and leaving with a full belly, it felt like a really well-spent day.

Next time I'd like to come with my family and try the other sets.

For special days or when I want to spend time with people who matter to me, I think I'll be back at Jeonbokchon.