Suwon barley rice restaurant with summer aged cucumber sides: Boriook

I recently went back to Boriook Main Branch near Mangpo Station for another satisfying visit, this time to try the summer side dishes. My first visit already won me over with how generous the spread was, and coming back confirmed it again: a Suwon hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant with a neat, well-arranged spread, and a Mangpo Station buffet favorite where you help yourself to as many side dishes as you like.

This time, while looking at the menu board, I discovered another amazing deal — a ₩5,000 set for anyone from preschool age to elementary school — which made the meal even more enjoyable. For anyone looking for a hearty Mangpo lunch spot or a budget-friendly all-you-can-eat barley rice place in Suwon, here's my detailed summer-season review.

Boriook Main Branch: location, hours and parking

• Name: Boriook
• Address: 99 Yeongtong-ro 200beon-gil, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 10:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–16:30
• Last order: 20:30
• Parking: 6 spaces in front of the restaurant

How much do kids pay at Boriook? 5,000 won through 6th grade

What surprised me most on this visit was the kids' pricing policy. From preschool age through 6th grade (ages 6–12), a full set costs just ₩5,000.

These days elementary schoolers eat just as much as adults, so a place that only charges ₩5,000 all the way up to 6th grade feels like it's practically giving food away. Two adults (₩13,000 x 2, standard set) plus one elementary schooler (₩5,000) comes to ₩31,000 total. A family of three can eat a hearty meal for just over ₩30,000 — I decided I'd better keep coming back diligently before my kid hits middle school haha.

By the way, there's also an event where you get free nubiani beef for writing a receipt review, so it's worth grabbing that too. The interior is clean and pretty as well.

What's in the 16,000 won barley rice soy-sauce pork set?

I ordered Boriook Main Branch's barley rice soy-sauce pork set (₩16,000). Last time I had both mackerel and soy-sauce pork, and since the soy-sauce pork left a stronger impression, I chose it again this time.

Soy-sauce pork: The pork, grilled on a hot plate with clear char marks, comes topped with plenty of chopped scallions and sesame seeds — a great combination. The edges are crispy and the inside tender, with a clean smoky flavor that isn't overly sweet. Mixing it into the barley rice with a drizzle of sesame oil is absolutely delicious.

Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew): Also included as standard, this hearty, savory stew comes loaded with generous chunks of plain tofu and zucchini.

Boriook's 8 year-round side dishes

One of Boriook Main Branch's big strengths is how the side dish lineup flexibly changes with seasonal ingredients. Let me start with the core 8 that stay consistently delicious.

Geotjeori (fresh cabbage kimchi): spicy, crunchy, and refreshing

Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles): chewy noodles with vegetables seasoned just right

Braised lotus root: crunchy texture with a glossy soy-sauce coating over the yellow cross-section

Acorn jelly (dotorimuk): springy and smooth, pairing perfectly with seasoning

Seasoned bean sprouts & sautéed oyster mushrooms: clean, tidy basic vegetable sides

Seasonal fritters: this time's sweet potato fritters were especially tasty — dipped in a sweet-and-tangy soy sauce with a hint of yuzu, they never got old and were a real treat.

Sungnyung (scorched rice tea): a savory, soothing drink to settle your stomach after eating

Which summer seasonal sides are new at Boriook?

Boriook Main Branch's summer lineup is packed with fresh vegetables that liven up your appetite in the heat. This season's dishes include nogak-muchim (seasoned aged cucumber), chard salad, dried eggplant, sautéed dried radish greens, braised tofu, yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi), seasoned seaweed stem, and fresh wrap greens.

Nogak-muchim: sliced thick as a true summer specialty, with an excellent crunchy bite

Chard salad, dried eggplant & sautéed dried radish greens: savory, soft, rice-thief greens

Braised tofu: the sauce looks slightly red but isn't spicy — clean and nutty, perfect with rice

Yeolmu kimchi & seasoned seaweed stem: refreshing, great for mixing into barley rice

Wrap greens: softly steamed cabbage wraps along with fresh lettuce leaves

Dishes that appeared before, like sautéed garlic scapes, have naturally been swapped out for seasonal vegetable sides in line with the change in season, which made it fun to taste the flavors of the moment.

Self-serve corner, dessert and free rice refills

True to its reputation as an all-you-can-eat barley rice specialist in Suwon, Boriook Main Branch lets you refill both white rice and barley rice from the rice cooker as much as you like.

At this well-equipped Mangpo Station buffet favorite, there's also drip coffee, milk coffee, chilled plum tea, and peach tea available after your meal.

You can also enjoy crispy ppeongtwigi (puffed rice snacks) and traditional gangjeong for dessert.

Is Boriook Main Branch worth a return visit?

Boriook Main Branch stands out for the quality and neatness of each individual dish, giving it a satisfaction level that rivals a proper Suwon hanjeongsik restaurant. It's an excellent Mangpo lunch spot for office workers or local residents to eat a hearty meal, and thanks to the incredible ₩5,000 kids' pricing, I'd also recommend it as one of the top Suwon restaurants for a family outing.

Since the seasonal side dishes change with every season, I plan to keep coming back regularly to try the new greens in autumn and winter, too.