Bucheon Korean restaurant with meat and borigulbi: Gim Myeongju

Wanting a proper Korean meal near Kkachiul Station

Lately, whenever I eat out, I seem to end up having lots of bold, heavily seasoned food, but that day I wanted a proper Korean meal for a change. So I visited Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch. It is around Kkachiul Station, so it was not difficult to find, and there were quite a few families dining there too. Since it serves Korean food, I thought it would suit anyone bringing their parents out or looking for a family dining spot.

Parking and hours

I liked that there was plenty of parking, and the kitchen closes at 8 PM! The restaurant is open from 10:30 AM to 9 PM.

A comfortable atmosphere for a meal

When I went inside, the whole restaurant was neatly kept. You might picture a Korean restaurant as a bit old-fashioned and rustic, but this one had a more comfortable atmosphere than I expected for a meal.

A full table with plenty of side dishes to choose from

More than anything, I loved being able to eat with so many side dishes all set out at once. These days, many places serve just a few side dishes alongside one main dish, but the fun of a Korean set meal is picking at a little bit of this and that, isn’t it?

How was the meat and borigulbi combination?

That day, I ordered meat and borigulbi (barley-dried yellow corvina). The meat was tender and easy to eat without any off smell, and having it with the accompanying side dishes made the meal feel quite substantial. The borigulbi in particular was pleasantly salty with its distinctive savory depth, so it went really well with rice. Alternating it with the meat also made for a great combination. I thought it was a spread Korean-food lovers could enjoy deliciously without feeling overwhelmed.

A more generous spread than I expected

Once the table was set, it was more generous than I had expected. At first I wondered, “Can I finish all this?” But as I tried each dish, every side dish tasted different, so I kept reaching for more. Rather than being overly salty or intense, the food overall was good to eat with rice. I had planned to taste just a little of everything at first, but in the end I was properly eating, topping each spoonful of rice with a different side dish.

When the side-dish selection matters in a Korean meal

When I eat Korean food, the main dish matters, of course, but I also pay close attention to the side-dish selection. Even if the main is good, just a few disappointing side dishes can leave the whole meal feeling a little lacking. Here, though, I liked that I could have a balanced variety. Foods meant to be eaten warm arrived warm, and there was a diverse selection of sides to enjoy alongside them. Since I could try so many dishes at once, there was plenty to enjoy in one table spread without ordering all sorts of extra items. And with all the food laid out at once, it looked wonderfully abundant too. Parents especially tend to love this kind of full-table meal, don’t they? As I ate, I thought it would be nice to come back with my family next time.

If you are looking for a Korean set-meal restaurant to visit with parents in Bucheon

There are so many strongly seasoned options when eating out these days that they can taste good at the time but feel a bit heavy afterward. That day, perhaps because I ate a good variety of Korean dishes, it felt like I had really taken care of a proper meal. If you are looking for a Korean set meal in Bucheon or a restaurant to visit with your parents, I think it would be worth trying once. Anyone who enjoys tasting a little of many different side dishes would probably be even more satisfied. I went in simply thinking I would have one Korean meal, but the spread was more generous than expected, with so much to choose from, and I left feeling full and satisfied.

If you are looking for a family dining spot or Korean restaurant near Kkachiul Station, Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Bucheon Main Branch is worth keeping in mind. I had wanted a real, proper rice meal for the first time in a while, and I definitely got a full table of one :)