Nowon Korean restaurant: Andong gukbap and noodle bossam set, Hantiok

Today I want to write about Hantiok (한티옥), where I had dinner while shopping at Lotte Department Store in Nowon. It's inside the department store, so it's really easy to get to, and it's a good pick when you're craving a clean, tidy Korean meal.

Where is Hantiok at Lotte Department Store Nowon, and what's it like inside?

Hantiok is on the 9th floor of Lotte Department Store Nowon, so it's handy before or after shopping. There's a menu board at the entrance, so you can check dishes and prices before you go in, which was convenient. It felt calm and put-together rather than having that chaotic department store food court feeling, and I liked that a lot.

Inside, the restaurant was bigger and more pleasant than I expected. The tables are spaced well apart, so you're not too close to the next table and can eat comfortably. It looked fine for a family meal or a get-together too. With such a clean atmosphere, I could see why so many people look for it as a go-to restaurant at Lotte Department Store Nowon.

What's on the Hantiok menu?

The Hantiok menu has a good range of Korean dishes, starting with bossam and Andong guksi (Andong-style noodles), plus Andong gukbap (rice soup), jeyuk ssambap (spicy pork lettuce-wrap rice), yanggi gukbap, gondeure bibimbap (thistle-herb rice) and chogye guksu (cold chicken noodles). With so much variety, I thought a family could easily order to each person's taste.

Side dishes with the bossam set for two

We ordered the bossam set for two, one of Hantiok's signature dishes. While waiting, the side dishes came out first: seasoned bean sprouts, gungchae jangajji (pickled stem lettuce), kimchi, pickled perilla leaves and a salad, all neatly done. Nothing was over-seasoned and each one tasted tidy, so I was already looking forward to the meal.

Can you choose gukbap or noodles with the bossam set?

The bossam set comes with a meal dish as well as the bossam, and you can pick either gukbap or noodles. We ordered one Andong gukbap and one Andong noodles so we could try both. When the mains arrived I was surprised at how generous they were.

How does Hantiok's bossam taste?

I tried the bossam first. It comes on its own plate, which made it easy to eat, and it went really well with the radish kimchi. The meat had no gamey smell at all and was tender, with a rich, nutty flavor. It's so soft that I think even older folks could eat it without any trouble.

Andong gukbap: spicy, rich broth

The Andong gukbap was packed with ingredients. The broth was spicy and rich, and it really settled my stomach. I think even a single bowl of this on its own would be satisfying. As you'd expect from a Korean restaurant at Nowon Station, the soup dishes were excellent too.

Andong noodles: clear broth and soy sauce

The Andong noodles were impressive too. The clear, rich broth went well with the mild noodles, and adding the soy sauce that comes with it boosted the savory depth. It has a different charm from the gukbap, so I was glad we ordered both.

One dumpling and two pieces of tofu per person

The bossam set also gives each person one dumpling and two pieces of tofu. The dumpling was full and juicy, and the tofu was soft and mild, so it went nicely with the bossam. Bossam, tofu, dumplings, gukbap, noodles... the food just kept coming, so I felt it was very good value for the price.

Is Hantiok at Lotte Department Store Nowon worth going back to?

If you're looking for good Korean food in Nowon, I recommend Hantiok, a Korean restaurant at Nowon Station. The wide menu and generous portions made for a satisfying meal, and being inside the department store made it easy to visit.

It's a place I'd happily return to when I'm craving a tidy bossam set, and a good spot for a family meal or a bite after shopping at Lotte Department Store Nowon. If I come to Lotte Department Store again, I'll probably stop by again, haha. The flavor, the value and the generous portions all satisfied me! 😊