Self-serve side dish bar near Maneosa, Milyang: Ilpum Irojeong

Milyang loach soup restaurant Irojeong: lunch with the kids before Maneosa

We were looking for lunch with the kids before heading to Maneosa Temple when we found Ilpum Irojeong, a well-known loach soup restaurant in Milyang. The clean, set-meal-style food lineup appealed to us, so we picked it — though since it was lunchtime, we waited a bit before getting seated.

Ilpum Irojeong at a glance: what we ate in Milyang

• Visited for lunch before heading to Maneosa Temple
• There was a wait during lunchtime
• Parking right in front of the restaurant was convenient
• Ordered the grilled mackerel and stewed pork sanghwang loach soup set for two
• The kid ordered a pork cutlet

Why we picked Ilpum Irojeong for lunch with the kids

We were on our way to see Maneosa Temple with the kids on the weekend, and we got hungry even before setting off. While looking up where to eat lunch in Milyang, the clean set-meal menu caught my eye, so I decided on Ilpum Irojeong. What I liked most was that there was a menu option the kids could eat too.

Is there a wait at lunchtime?

When we arrived it was lunchtime, so we couldn't sit down right away and had to wait a bit. Still, thinking about the food made the wait feel worth it. If you're looking for lunch at this Milyang restaurant, it's a good idea to build in some extra time around mealtimes.

Is parking at Ilpum Irojeong easy?

Parking was easy in my experience. Being able to park right in front of the restaurant meant no hassle moving around with the kids, and it was nice to just park and walk straight in.

What is the dining room like inside?

Stepping inside, the overall atmosphere was clean and tidy. Even eating with the kids, we could relax, and the calm, set-meal-restaurant feel was very pleasant.

There are private rooms too, which looked like a good option for a meal with parents — and indeed there were quite a few families like that around us.

Best of all, instead of dishes coming out one by one, everything is served together in one generous spread, which looked great too. I could see why so many people come here looking for a set-meal restaurant in Milyang.

What we ordered at Ilpum Irojeong

We ordered the grilled mackerel and stewed pork sanghwang loach soup set for two, and our son ordered a pork cutlet.

Rather than just having loach soup on its own, the set comes with mackerel and stewed pork together, so we got to try several things at once. It was also nice that the kid and adults could pick different menus without any hassle.

How was the mackerel and stewed pork sanghwang loach soup set?

Ordered as a set meal, it came together with a good variety of dishes for one full meal, so it looked generous too.

In particular, being able to have mackerel, stewed pork, and sanghwang loach soup all at once felt more satisfying than just having a single dish.

Even though we came with a kid, it was nice being able to split the order — adults with the set meal, the kid with a pork cutlet.

There's also a self-serve bar, so refilling side dishes was easy. We asked for more japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) and they brought a fresh batch!

Was the pork cutlet good for a child?

When eating with a kid who isn't a fan of loach soup, choosing a menu can be a bit tricky, but since they have pork cutlet here, our son ordered that separately.

That way, the kid got to eat what he wanted, and we got to enjoy the set meal, so everyone could eat comfortably in their own way.

The rice was turmeric rice too, so it felt like we were taking care of our health as well — the adults liked it, and our kids ate it well too!

For dessert, there's pumpkin sikhye (sweet rice drink), sujeonggwa (cinnamon-persimmon punch), and dessert cookies too, so be sure to grab those!

Was Ilpum Irojeong worth the stop?

What I liked most about this visit was that even with kids, we could each order something different, and that parking was easy. It was also a natural stop on the way to Maneosa Temple for lunch. That said, since there was a wait at lunchtime, it's worth visiting with a bit of extra time to spare.

Where to eat lunch with kids in Milyang

In the end, if you're looking for a loach soup restaurant or set-meal spot in Milyang where you can eat comfortably with kids, this is one worth keeping in mind. If we head back toward Maneosa again, I think we'd consider this place for lunch once more. This was our review of Ilpum Irojeong — a solid meal before moving on to the rest of the day.