Ansan Gojan-dong Korean set meals for two: Yeongwolae Gondre

My husband and I visited Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch, an Ansan restaurant in Gojan-dong known for its Korean set meals, after a while away~ We used to come here a lot because we loved being able to grab our own banchan (side dishes) from the self-serve bar~ My husband said he was craving the pork bulgogi and banchan again, so off we went~ Want to come along for a tasty Korean set meal?

Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch: location, hours and parking in Gojan-dong

Location: 33 Danggok-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 2nd floor of Gojan Praum City / Hours: Daily 10:40–20:50 / Parking: 2 hours free at the building's underground parking (Gojan Praum City parking)

Waiting area, menu board and Yeongwolae lunchboxes

Yeongwolae Gondre is a well-known Ansan restaurant, so there's often a wait, and they've even set up a waiting sofa outside~

They also put the menu board outside so you can browse while you wait~ I got there before my husband, so even though there was no line, I ended up waiting anyway — and gave the menu a thorough read~

I told them I'd go in once my other half arrived, and waited in the indoor waiting area~ It was decorated so nicely I actually wanted to sit there~ I also watched some cute fish, so I wasn't bored~

They also sell a few side dishes and Yeongwolae lunchboxes~ The lunchboxes looked so good I think they'd be great to bring along when visiting someone in the hospital~

There's a sink near the entrance inside the restaurant so you can wash your hands, which was convenient~ True to its reputation as an Ansan favorite, lunchbox deliveries and pickups were coming and going constantly~

Window seats, group room and the mood inside Yeongwolae Gondre

The inside of Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch is spacious, and the full-length windows give it an open, airy feel~ There's also a group room for larger parties, so it'd work well for family gatherings or company dinners~

We were seated at a window table~ The partitions were low, but it still felt fairly private, and being by the window gave a nice, breezy feeling~

What's on the self-serve banchan bar at Yeongwolae Gondre

After ordering, I was curious what was on the self-serve bar this time, so I went to check it out first~ On one side there was namul (seasoned vegetables), geotjeori (fresh kimchi), lotus root salad, yangjangpi, salad, pickles, ssamjang, gondre rice, and white rice~

On the other side were plum tea, sikhye (sweet rice drink), and ssam greens~ I loved how varied and fresh the ssam greens were~

What comes with the spicy stir-fried pork and Jeju soy crab set meals

By the time I finished my lap around the self-serve bar, our food was out~ We ordered the Yeongwol Pork Bulgogi Set Meal and the Jeju Soy Crab Set Meal~ Along with what was on the self-serve bar, we got seaweed soup, kelp, and doraji (bellflower root) namul as extras~

Kelp, seasoned doraji (bellflower root) and pickles

Before diving into the main dishes, I tried the kelp first~ Full of ocean flavor — it felt like it was doing me good~

The whole doraji namul had a nice crunchy bite~ Spicy and tangy, perfect for waking up the appetite~

At first I thought it was perilla-oil-braised aged kimchi, but it turned out to be celery, which threw me off — but the subtle celery aroma was actually really nice~ The crunchy texture was fun too~

There was no label for this one so I'm not sure what namul it was, but it had a soft bite and a nicely salty flavor — great piled on rice too~

Yangjangpi, lotus root salad and seaweed soup

The yangjangpi wasn't quite the traditional version, but the tangy mustard flavor paired well with the crunchy vegetables~ My husband especially loved it~

The crunchy lotus root salad suited my taste even more~ I loved the texture so much I ended up going back for a second plate haha~

The seaweed soup had soft seaweed and a broth that wasn't too salty, so it was easy to eat~ Light enough to pick up the bowl and slurp it straight without feeling heavy~

The geotjeori (fresh kimchi) was the best part

This geotjeori was truly the star~ So nutty and savory that my chopsticks kept going back for more~ Rice and geotjeori alone would've been perfect!!!

How did the Jeju soy-marinated crab taste?

Finally, I got to the Jeju soy crab I'd been saving for last~ One bite and there wasn't a hint of fishiness — just soft crab meat spilling out with a savory, salty richness~ Absolute rice thief~

As I kept eating, I noticed it was a little spicy — turns out there was quite a bit of chili in there~ If you like spicy food, mixing rice into the sauce would be great too~

Spicy stir-fried pork wrapped in ssam greens

Ah, the beloved pork bulgogi~ Ever had pork bulgogi declare its love to you? I have haha~

A spoonful of rice with pork bulgogi — is that not paradise? The pork bulgogi had no gamey smell, was spicy with a nice kick, and the meat was tender too~

I noticed my husband wasn't eating the pork bulgogi and asked why — turns out he was rationing it~ Honestly, anyone watching would think he never gets to eat meat~ As if I don't feed him enough meat ㅜㅜ I quickly wrapped some in a ssam and served it to him~

I wrapped some for myself too and ate happily~ It was nice having more than just lettuce for ssam~ The peppery red mustard leaf paired especially well with the pork bulgogi~ If you're looking for a great Korean set meal spot for a gathering or a date, I recommend Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch!!!