Family dinner with kids and parents: Daedae Myeonok in Uijeongbu

On a weekend of solo parenting, I took my parents and kids to Daedae Myeonok, a great spot in Minrak-dong, Uijeongbu for a family outing. Hot, hearty hot pot with dessert to finish — the perfect mandu jeongol (dumpling hot pot) for this kind of weather.

Location and parking — near Costco

Daedae Myeonok is a well-known spot in Gosan-dong, Uijeongbu for naengmyeon (cold noodles). It's located near Costco, so it's easy to stop by before or after shopping, and the parking space is generous so we didn't have to worry about that.

True to its reputation as a spot with waits, there was a waiting area at the entrance. Luckily we came a bit off peak time, so we got seated right away without waiting.

Atmosphere and seating

The interior was clean and pleasant, with tables ranging from 2-seat to 4-seat, so it looked good for gatherings and family meals as well as solo dining.

In one corner of the restaurant they sell sesame oil and beans, and the nutty aroma of sesame oil wafting through put me in a good mood — a real Korean restaurant feel at Daedae Myeonok.

The menu — from naengmyeon to winter mandu jeongol

Since this Minrak-dong spot is famous for naengmyeon, they have a wide variety of cold noodle dishes, plus winter items like aromsatae mandu jeongol (beef shank dumpling hot pot), suyuk (boiled meat), grilled marinated meat, and hand-made dumplings.

📌 Aromsatae mandu jeongol, 3 servings

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

The basic side dishes were spicy geotjeori (fresh kimchi) that pairs perfectly with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), pickled radish, and a special sauce for dipping the beef shank,

and we could freely help ourselves to more side dishes and broth at the self-serve bar. There were also extra side dishes beyond the basics, so we grabbed more!

Note: if you participate in the Naver receipt review event, you get kodari hoe-muchim (spicy seasoned pollock salad) for free! We didn't order naengmyeon so we skipped it, but I heard my mom was quite disappointed watching the table next to us eat theirs... Definitely doing it next time😉

How hearty is the 3-serving aromsatae mandu jeongol?

Maybe because it was for 3 people, the pot was seriously generous. Packed with tender beef shank and fresh vegetables, it was exactly the kind of dish that works for a family meal with parents and kids.

After a quick briefing on how to eat mandu jeongol properly, we dug in once it was bubbling away.

Hand-made dumplings — meat and kimchi

First, we fished out the plump hand-made dumplings to try.

There's a mild, clean-tasting meat dumpling and a spicy kimchi dumpling together in the pot. My pick was definitely the kimchi one! Dunked in the deep, savory broth, it was seriously delicious.

The dumplings themselves are so big that just one is filling 🥟

Beef shank and the special sauce

The beef shank pieces were surprisingly large too, and tender enough that my kid could eat it easily.

Dipping the beef shank and vegetables in Daedae Myeonok's signature special sauce made the texture even better and doubled the satisfaction!

The fish cake skewers that came with the hot pot were exactly the kids' style, and they disappeared in a flash.

Finishing with kalguksu and ice cream

The one course you absolutely can't skip — kalguksu (knife-cut noodles)!

Cooked in the deep, refreshing broth, the noodles had an even chewier bite. Paired with the spicy geotjeori, it was a truly perfect combination.

After eating our fill, a sweet ice cream cone rounded things off perfectly at this Minrak-dong, Uijeongbu spot.

How was it as a family outing?

Daedae Myeonok satisfied both my parents' palates and the kids' tastes. The hearty aromsatae mandu jeongol plus kalguksu made for a fully satisfying course. I'd highly recommend it as a Korean restaurant the whole family can enjoy near Gosan-dong and Minrak-dong, Uijeongbu! 😃