Seonggeon-dong abalone seafood stew, Gyeongju: Wando Cham Jeonbokjip

There's a local favorite in Gyeongju that I got to know because a friend who lives there treated me a few times — Wando Cham Jeonbokjip's main branch in Seonggeon-dong. Ever since my first bite of the abalone seafood stew there, it stuck with me, and I ended up going back to this Seonggeon-dong spot in Gyeongju.

That first time, one bite of the abalone had me gushing, "Can abalone really be this chewy and this tender at the same time?"

The taste stuck with me, so I went back again this time. Eating the spicy abalone seafood stew and finishing with warm abalone porridge, I understood all over again why my Gyeongju friend kept coming back here.

Where is Wando Cham Jeonbokjip in Seonggeon-dong, and is there parking?

Wando Cham Jeonbokjip sits on a main road near Gyeongju Girls' High School, so it's not hard to find even for first-time visitors. I made a special trip out to Seonggeon-dong after a friend recommended this local favorite while I was sightseeing nearby, and I was glad I did.

For parking, I used the space in front of the restaurant during my visit. Nearby alley parking is also said to be available, so if you're driving, look for open spots both in front of the shop and in the surrounding alleys. Starting in 2026, they'll only be open for lunch, so it's worth checking the hours before you go.

Wando Cham Jeonbokjip's spacious interior and private room for family meals

When looking for a Seonggeon-dong restaurant in Gyeongju to visit with a kid, seating always matters. Wando Cham Jeonbokjip has seating that extends all the way to the back, making the space feel bigger than expected, and everything was neatly kept.

There's also a separate private room, which would be good for family meals or group gatherings.

A large tank on one side was full of abalone. My first time eating the stew here, the chewy yet tender texture really stuck with me, and seeing the tank in person only made me look forward to the abalone seafood stew even more.

This Seonggeon-dong favorite in Gyeongju also offers takeout. During my visit, I saw takeout orders that had been prepared in advance for pickup — ordering ahead and picking up seems like a solid option too.

Wando Cham Jeonbokjip menu and the abalone dishes ordered

Looking through the menu at Wando Cham Jeonbokjip, there was a wide range — from sharing dishes like raw abalone and grilled abalone to full meals like sashimi rice bowls and porridge. If you're visiting with a group, the course menu is worth a look, and for a light lunch, the meal menu works well too.

Abalone is a seafood people often turn to as a health tonic — the kind of ingredient that naturally comes to mind when you want an energizing meal. We ordered the abalone seafood stew that brought us back to this Gyeongju local favorite, along with abalone porridge.

From hearty abalone haemul-jjim to nutty abalone porridge

The side dishes that came out first were seasoned lightly overall, pairing well with the main dish.

While we were tasting the sides, the stew we'd been waiting for arrived.

On a large plate, octopus, abalone, shrimp, sea squirt (mideodeok), and pollack roe (goni) were all piled together.

The look of it was appetizing on its own, but the real fun was picking through the generous mix of seafood piece by piece.

The seasoning on the abalone seafood stew was mildly spicy with great savory depth. Every piece of seafood was well coated in the sauce, but it wasn't overpowering, so you could still taste the texture of the abalone and octopus.

The abalone in particular stood out — chewy on the bite with a tender inside. That's the taste that had me thinking about it since my first visit, and I was glad I ordered it again.

There were also plenty of big shrimp in the mix.

Each bite had a springy texture, and it paired well with the spicy sauce.

We ordered an extra bowl of rice and topped it first with octopus and shrimp. With warm rice and the rich sauce coming together, it was seriously addictive — the kind of dish that makes you eat way more rice than planned.

At the end, I mixed the leftover sauce into the rice, and there was no way I could pass on that. It reminded me all over again why my friend kept bringing me back to this Gyeongju local favorite.

What did the abalone porridge taste like?

After the stew, we switched things up with abalone porridge. One spoonful in, it was savory and clean with no fishy taste at all, and I found myself slowing down to savor it rather than rushing.

The consistency wasn't too thick or too thin, and the abalone had a chewy bite scattered through the soft porridge. It wasn't overly seasoned, which made me think it'd be a good choice for visits with elderly parents or kids.

A Gyeongju local favorite worth a return visit

I first found out about it through a friend's recommendation, but now it's the place I think of first whenever I'm craving abalone dishes. If you're looking for a seafood stew restaurant in Gyeongju or want to try a variety of abalone dishes with family, I'd recommend Wando Cham Jeonbokjip in Seonggeon-dong, Gyeongju.

Eating generously on the seafood stew and finishing with warm porridge left me feeling like I'd had a full, restorative meal. If you're on the hunt for a great abalone restaurant, stop by this local Gyeongju favorite, Wando Cham Jeonbokjip.