Goyang hanjeongsik for three sharing one dried croaker: Kim Myeongju

I visited Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang, a well-known restaurant in Wondang, Goyang. I was looking for somewhere to eat with my parents and got drawn in by the idea of a neat, proper hanjeongsik (Korean set meal). It's also near the pool I go to, so I was curious to check it out.

Where is Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang, and what are its hours and parking?

Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch is located at 1445-28 Goyang-daero, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, open daily from 10:30 to 21:00 with last order at 20:20. The parking lot is spacious.

The parking lot in front of the restaurant is large, and there's staff on hand to guide you during peak hours, which made things easy.

This Chuseok, they'll be closed on the 24th and 25th. I went at 11am on a weekday so it was quiet at first, but lunch crowds came pouring in while we were eating. Lots of older folks seemed to come with their friends. Overall the space is generous, and there's a second floor too.

It's an environment where you can eat without worrying about the table next to you.

Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang menu and how to order

The basic menu item is the tteuranchae bapsang set at ₩13,000. À la carte options are boribulbi ₩18,000, ganjang gejang (soy-marinated crab) ₩18,000, charcoal-grilled pork ₩18,000, kkomak muchim (blood cockle salad) ₩15,000, and grilled mackerel ₩15,000.

For two or more people, there are set menus too: boribulbi set ₩30,000, ganjang gejang set ₩30,000, charcoal grill set ₩30,000, kkomak muchim set ₩27,000, and grilled mackerel set ₩27,000.

Here's how ordering works: order one tteuranchae bapsang per person, plus at least one à la carte dish per table of four, and you'll eat well at a reasonable price.

Three people, three set meals and one boribulbi

We ordered three tteuranchae bapsang sets plus one boribulbi as the shared main. I wondered whether one main dish would be enough for three people, but after actually eating, it really was plenty.

By the end we were completely full. I think if two people order two sets plus one main, it'd be even more generous. One main dish seems fine for three, and for four people I'd probably get two mains.

This is how the table looks when it's set. Boribulbi is the main dish in the center, and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) comes along with it. The side dishes are arranged neatly, and every single one of them was genuinely delicious. If you run out, you can refill from the self-service corner.

The fried eggplant on the right was especially good, and it was great that you could go back for more once you finished it. Every side dish was fresh, well-seasoned, and left nothing to be desired. Each one felt made with care — not mass-produced at all.

The tteuranchae bapsang alone was already satisfying. But there's still the main dish.

How does the boribulbi taste?

The boribulbi main. I liked the plating too — it's shaped almost like a heart. The flesh was chewy, in a good way. I'd been debating whether to order the charcoal pork instead, but going with boribulbi was satisfying. Next time I'll try the charcoal pork.

The perilla leaf side dish (they told us it's perilla leaf, not chwinamul) was delicious, along with braised potatoes, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), pickled peppers, fried eggplant, and more. All the side dishes were tasty and kept sharpening our appetite.

Then the freshly cooked, warm stone-pot rice arrives! It comes out like this — you scoop out the rice first, add water, and close the lid. Eating the piping-hot rice with the boribulbi and side dishes was pure bliss.

It felt like there was nothing here that could be polarizing. A hanjeongsik that anyone could enjoy without complaint. Every dish was neat, clean, and delicious.

The green tea served with the boribulbi

Ordering boribulbi gets you a bottle of green tea too. A nice touch. Pouring the green tea over rice and eating it with the croaker gave a whole different, refreshing flavor. Switching between nurungji (scorched rice) and green tea-with-bulbi was fun.

Refilling side dishes at the self-service corner

There's a self-service corner like this. Every side dish except japchae (which they bring to you directly) is available here, so you can help yourself easily. It's genuinely delicious and clean. There's fried eggplant here too. There's a reason this place is known for hanjeongsik in Wondang — the side dishes are all clearly well-managed.

My parents especially were pleased. Next time I'd like to try other menu items.

There's also a coffee machine and a table-order kiosk in one corner of the restaurant. You can grab a coffee after your meal. It seems like there's a waiting line when it gets busy.

Who should eat at Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang?

• Looking for somewhere near Wondang, Hwajeong, or Samsong in Goyang to regularly eat with parents or older family
• Wanting a neat, proper hanjeongsik meal
• Wanting to eat leisurely without worrying about parking

A meal recommendation at Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang, a Wondang favorite!