Gyeongsan Korean restaurant for three generations: Bapeul Jitda

With my eldest son soon leaving to study in the United States, his grandmother who always has her grandchildren on her mind, and me, there are only so many days left when the three generations can sit down for a cozy meal together. Taking my precious mother and the grandson about to travel far away out for a neat, beautiful meal made that day feel so full and exciting to me.

A fusion Korean set meal shared by three generations

Finding a restaurant that will satisfy all three generations is always something to think about: Grandma has to be careful with her teeth and digestion, while my son needs a hearty meal.

For my son, who especially loves Korean food served in a neat, pretty setting, and Grandma, who looks for soft foods, we chose Bapeul Jitda Gyeongsan Main Branch (밥을짓다 경산본점).

It is close to Siji in Suseong-gu, Daegu, making it just right for an easy little drive with your parents.

What about parking and break time?

It sits right beside Daegu Haany University on the main Samseonghyeon-ro road, so it was easy to find.

The dedicated parking lot was spacious too, so even my son, a beginner driver, could park comfortably without feeling nervous.

Unlike typical Korean set-meal restaurants, it has no break time. Since we were arriving at an awkward late-lunch hour, we could stop by comfortably without worrying about it. From outside it looks like a pretty, atmospheric café, and once inside, bright natural light pours in through the huge windows.

Its modern yet graceful Korean style makes it a fine choice for a formal meal for your parents or a gathering in Gyeongsan.

Why we ordered both the Winter and Autumn Sets

There was also a well-rounded Gyeongsan lunch special, good for enjoying a light meal at an easy price on weekday afternoons.

Since it had been a while since all three generations had gathered, we wanted to try a broad selection of signature dishes. So we ordered two Signature Winter Sets and one Signature Autumn Set from the regular courses.

Fresh seasonal salad

The seasonal salad that arrived first woke up the palate with fresh greens, Grana Padano cheese, boiled egg, salty bacon, and crunchy toasted brown-rice puffs.

Its nutty Caesar dressing gently stirred up the appetite and did a wonderful job as an appetizer.

Crispy fish-fragrant eggplant

The fried eggplant took inspiration from Chinese yuxiang eggplant, crisp outside and moist within.

A generous topping of house sauce braised spicy and tangy with minced pork, garlic, and chili captured my young son's taste buds at once.

Low-temperature cooked Korean pork, served cold

The cold pork, made by cooking Korean pork shoulder at low temperature for a long time, had its excess fat rendered away and was both clean-tasting and tender to chew.

Paired with a homemade garlic sauce with a gentle sweetness and fragrant chive geotjeori (freshly seasoned salad), it had a clean flavor without any meaty smell.

It was such a neatly prepared Korean set-meal dish that even my mother, who avoids tough foods, could enjoy it comfortably.

Signature abalone dishes and a neatly set table

Japanese mushi-awabi-style steamed abalone and abalone-sauce barley rice

The steamed abalone was what my mother enjoyed most in this meal.

Large live abalone was steamed with kelp and radish, giving it a tender texture that suited older diners perfectly.

The barley rice served with geu-ujang (abalone innards sauce) was especially memorable: the rich, creamy umami of the innards and the pleasantly popping, nutty barley were the key.

Its deep, luxurious flavor was almost like an upscale buttery risotto.

Char-grilled deodeok and seaweed with seaweed noodles

The deodeok (bellflower root) from Hoengseong, Gangwon-do, lightly grilled after being brushed with sweet-spicy gochujang sauce, refreshed the palate with a subtle bitterness that was not overpowering.

Wrapping chewy kkosiraegi (seaweed noodles), full of ocean aroma, in crisp gopchang gim seaweed and dipping it in the house sauce was a special bite that diners of every age could enjoy.

Warm beef brisket and mushroom hot pot

The beef brisket and mushroom hot pot, bubbling away at the table, had a deep but gentle broth in which the sweetness of beef and vegetables had seeped out, warming us from within.

Autumn Set live-abalone porridge

The abalone porridge in the Autumn Set was a deep green because it contained plenty of geu-u, or abalone innards.

It was simmered until it went down smoothly, with chewy pieces of abalone to bite into. It was such a soothing restorative meal that my mother, who has to be careful with digestion, finished her whole bowl.

Winter Set hijiki hot-stone bibimbap

The hot-stone bibimbap came generously topped with crisp hijiki seaweed, fresh baby greens, and yellow shredded egg, looking clean and inviting from the start.

Mixed with a blended perilla and olive oil, it was subtly nutty, while the house paprika gochujang was fresh without being harsh. We happily scraped up every last bit of scorched rice.

Our honest verdict on this three-generation family meal

This was a neat, clean Korean set meal without an artificial seasoning taste, easy on the stomach for everyone from older diners to younger generations.

Watching Grandma enjoy her meal while looking at the grandson about to leave for the United States, I felt we had made such a good choice in coming here.

I would recommend it to anyone looking near Yeungnam University or Daegu Haany University for a refined Gyeongsan family meal, date, or gathering for a special day.