Dongtan Korean restaurant for a Sunday kimchi jjim takeout: Yangpuni

Last week my husband, our baby and I visited a place recommended as a Dongtan Central Park go-to spot.

It's Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal (양푼이김치찌개&삼겹살), a place with genuinely good Korean home cooking. We went during a quieter weekend time slot so it wouldn't be too crowded.

Parking, hours and drink prices at Yangpuni

Yangpuni has parking space for about 4 cars right in front of the restaurant. There was exactly one spot left, so luckily we could park for free.

One thing that stands out about this place is how cheap the drinks are. Other places usually charge ₩5,000 for soju, but here it's ₩1,900. Plus if you leave a Naver review, they give you an egg roll or tofu kimchi — makes you wonder if they're actually making any money on this, haha.

The restaurant is open daily from 11am to midnight, with a break time from 3 to 4pm and last order at 11pm. Since Chuseok fell during this particular week, they said they'd only be closed on Friday the 25th.

Where to sit with a baby, and ordering by tablet

Once inside, there were also seats on a half-level up, but since we had our baby with us, we sat in the very back. It was a 4-person table so we had plenty of room, haha.

We came around 1pm on a Sunday, so we could eat at a relaxed pace, which was great! Each table had a tablet PC for placing orders.

What's on the menu

True to its reputation as a Dongtan Central Park favorite, there were also sets and value menus. In summer, the naengmyeon (cold noodles) with bulgogi special looked pretty good too. We ordered the pork belly kimchi jjim set — with the specific options it came to ₩28,000 for two. We chose the egg roll as our side. Bulgogi or other add-ons cost extra.

This place does Korean food well, and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew), kimchi jjim (kimchi braise), duruchigi (spicy stir-fry), and samgyeopsal (pork belly) can all be ordered as single dishes too. On top of that, stir-fried pork and soy sauce bulgogi are ₩8,000 each, so if you come with a group you could order a variety to share. There were also noodle add-ins meant to be tossed into the stew. Ordering the egg roll separately is ₩7,000, so choosing the set that bundles it in is definitely the better deal, haha.

Like I mentioned, soju really was ₩1,900. I couldn't help but be surprised at how cheap it was. Beer is ₩5,000, which made me think it'd be nice to come back separately with friends sometime. Since we drove, we ordered a can of zero-sugar cola instead. Soft drinks were ₩2,000, haha.

Multigrain rice, side dishes and a thick egg roll

After ordering, the basic side dishes and seaweed came out first, followed by rice. It wasn't plain white rice but multigrain rice, which I liked even more. Looking at the fluffy rice, I thought I could probably fill up on just that and the egg roll, haha.

Sure enough, at Yangpuni — the go-to spot near Dongtan Central Park — the egg roll arrived and it was genuinely thick and hefty. I appreciated the touch of ketchup drizzled on both sides.

The egg roll was fluffy, salty-savory, and just plain enough to go perfectly with rice. I was worried the set version might come out small, but it turned out to be even bigger than I expected, which was a nice surprise. It was quite a lot, but thankfully my partner managed to finish it all.

The pork belly kimchi jjim: too much for two

Next up was the main dish, the pork belly kimchi jjim. On top there wasn't just meat but also several pieces of tofu. Eating it together with the well-fermented kimchi made it even more delicious. The broth was thick rather than watery, giving it a character quite different from a regular stew. The seaweed they gave us was meant to be added on top like a topping.

The pork inside was genuinely thick-cut and there was quite a lot of it. I happened to have eaten a big breakfast that day, so I couldn't eat much of the kimchi jjim myself, but even so, it felt like a generous amount for a two-person portion, haha.

Whether eaten tofu-kimchi style or just with the well-fermented kimchi alone, it was so good. It was the kind of dish that makes you eat way more rice than you meant to.

Since it comes already cooked through, you don't need to boil it too vigorously. In the end there was so much left that it felt like a waste to leave it, so we asked to have it packed to go, and it made for a wonderful dinner the next evening too. For under ₩30,000, it felt like enough to stuff two people full. A great value weekend lunch.

Inside Yangpuni: atmosphere and family comforts

Once we were nice and full, we took a look around the interior of Yangpuni, the Dongtan Central Park go-to spot. There were many 4-person tables with generous spacing between them, which made for a comfortable meal. Lots of families come to eat here. It's also a great Korean restaurant for couples or groups.

Also, without having to step outside, there are separate men's and women's restrooms inside, which made things convenient. My partner and I plan to come back next time we're in Dongtan. If you're looking for a solid Korean restaurant nearby, I'd recommend this one. As extra info, they also have baby chairs, making it a great spot for family outings. Dongtan Yeoul Park is nearby too, so it's a good option to eat and then take a walk afterward.

• Location: 36-13 Dongtanbansong 3-gil, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, 1st floor
• Parking: 4 spots available in front of the restaurant