Reservation-only hanjeongsik for two in Geumsan: Madang Itneun Jip

My partner and I have always liked hanjeongsik (Korean course meal) — we'd rather have a little bit of many neatly arranged dishes than just one big plate. So when we were in Geumsan, we looked up the best hanjeongsik in town, and this time we picked Madang Itneun Jip, a place that's been featured on TV several times.

We made a reservation ahead of time, and it turns out this place requires one. If you're planning to visit, definitely book ahead.

Parking and the look of Madang Itneun Jip in Geumsan

Madang Itneun Jip is at 26 Ddeutdammal-gil, Geumsan-eup, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, and it's open 10:00–20:00. There's parking for about 4 cars right in front, and reservations are required.

• 📍 26 Ddeutdammal-gil, Geumsan-eup, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours 10:00–20:00 (※ hours may change, so calling ahead is recommended)
• 🚗 Parking available in front / about 4 spots
• 📌 Reservation required

There's a small parking area in front of the restaurant that looked like it could fit around 4 cars. We had reserved ahead and arrived a bit early, so we parked with no trouble. The lot isn't huge, so depending on when you arrive you might need to park nearby — just something to keep in mind.

At first glance the exterior looked exactly like a countryside house.

But once we opened the door and stepped in, there really was a madang (courtyard), just like the name says. Trees, tables set out — it had a distinct atmosphere unlike a typical restaurant. It's not a flashy place, but I actually loved that relaxed, natural feel.

A Geumsan hanjeongsik seen on TV, with a separate annex room

Madang Itneun Jip has apparently been featured on several TV shows, including Baekban Gihaeng and Dongne Hanbakwi. Maybe that's why we were curious about it even before visiting.

The interior isn't huge, but there's a separate annex building too. It looked like the kind of space used for more important meals — meetings between families before a wedding, or family gatherings.

On one side, the origin labeling for ingredients was posted carefully. It was nice being able to check that before even eating.

Most of all, the owner is incredibly kind. Every time a dish came out, she didn't just set it down — she explained each one, and you could really feel the philosophy and care behind the food.

Madang Itneun Jip menu and prices

We had already reserved the ginseng hanjeongsik (₩50,000). At the time of our visit, the menu at Madang Itneun Jip looked like this.

• Gwibinsang (guest table) ₩35,000
• Ginseng hanjeongsik ₩50,000
• Special table setting A, ₩500,000 for 4
• Special table setting Special, ₩1,000,000 for 4

Since it was just the two of us, we went with the ginseng hanjeongsik. Prices can change depending on when you visit and the restaurant's circumstances, so it's worth confirming when you make your reservation.

First to arrive: Jerusalem artichoke and burdock tea

As soon as we sat down, they brought us a warm tea made of Jerusalem artichoke and burdock root. It was a hot day, but the warm tea went down easily. Nutty and mild, not too heavy — a nice thing to drink before a meal. Even this small detail showed the care put into the food.

Oh! They said you could bring your own tumbler and they'd refill it — and sure enough, other guests around us were doing exactly that. I was pretty amazed.

Lotus leaf rice sets a healthy tone

As the table setting properly began, the first thing that caught my eye was the lotus leaf rice. As she unwrapped the lotus leaf, the owner explained the dish herself, and wow — it really felt like health itself.

But healthy didn't mean bland. The rice was chewy and genuinely delicious, with a subtle lotus leaf fragrance coming through. My partner and I both love this kind of clean, healthy food, so we were sold from the very start.

What comes with the 50,000 won ginseng hanjeongsik?

The ginseng hanjeongsik at Madang Itneun Jip included braised mackerel, dried yellow croaker, pork chapsteak, crab marinated in soy sauce, abalone marinated in soy sauce, shrimp marinated in soy sauce, cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), and neungi mushroom soup — really a huge variety. Starting with the lotus leaf rice, dishes kept arriving one after another.

On top of all that, fried ginseng, salad and more kept coming until the table was completely full.

This is exactly what I love about the Geumsan hanjeongsik experience — not eating just one dish, but getting to taste a little of many things.

Neungi mushroom soup, the dish the owner said to try first

The owner told us to try the neungi mushroom soup first, above everything else. So I had a spoonful while it was still hot — the broth was clear, clean, and warming.

It wasn't a strong or sharp flavor, which I loved even more. The warm broth left me feeling comforted, almost like it was doing my body good. It really felt like eating a proper, healthy meal in Geumsan.

Ginseng tteokgalbi is a specialty of its own

One of the dishes I really loved was the ginseng tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty). The flavor of tteokgalbi combined with ginseng made it feel exactly like eating hanjeongsik in Geumsan. It wasn't overly bitter or strongly scented from the ginseng — just genuinely delicious.

The plain rice was made from organic rice and had a glossy shine to it, the grains looking gorgeous. Since I was eating the lotus leaf rice, I didn't eat much of it and let my partner have most of it.

Soy-marinated crab is best mixed into rice

And the dish I really loved — the crab marinated in soy sauce! What I liked most was that it wasn't too salty.

I love crab like this, but it's often too salty to eat much of. This one had savory depth without being salty, so I kept going back for more. And of course, once you've had the crab, there's one thing you can't skip.

Mixing rice into the crab shell! It's a classic move, haha. The owner explained her own tips for making the crab marinade, and I wrote them down so I wouldn't forget — I'd honestly like to try making it myself sometime.

Grilled eel, done properly

As we kept eating, the grilled eel arrived too. The eel was fairly thick with a firm bite, which made it satisfying to eat.

The seasoning wasn't too strong either — just right for my taste. If you like eel, this is definitely worth trying. By this point, having tasted a bit of everything, we were already quite full.

The braised mackerel was exactly our taste too — the meat was thick and there was plenty to eat.

The dried yellow croaker was crispy on the outside with no fishy taste at all. It was so nutty and delicious it was a shame to finish it.

This one was also a real treat — I'd only ever had chapsteak with beef before, but the pork version was excellent too.

And of course, the finale was mixing cheonggukjang into perfectly cooked white rice — sheer bliss.

Looking for a family gathering restaurant in Geumsan?

Madang Itneun Jip, the Geumsan restaurant my partner and I visited together — for anyone who loves hanjeongsik like we do, I really think this place is worth a visit.

It's not just about having lots of side dishes — the way the owner explained each dish and how best to enjoy it showed real care. The relaxed countryside-house exterior and the courtyard atmosphere were lovely too, and overall the food felt healthy and non-greasy, which I appreciated.

It seems like a great fit especially for meals with parents, family gatherings, or important occasions like meetings between families. That said, remember to always reserve ahead. Parking isn't very spacious either, so arriving a bit early to park is a good idea. If you're looking for a clean, healthy hanjeongsik in Geumsan, how about the ginseng hanjeongsik table at Madang Itneun Jip?

My partner and I left that day, once again, having tasted every dish one by one and eaten our fill. 😊

Reservation required