Gangneung Korean restaurant with scallop butter add-on: Saimdang Bueok

I went to Saimdang Bueok, a tidy Korean restaurant near Ojukheon in Gangneung. I was looking for a solid meal before touring Ojukheon and ended up finding Saimdang Bueok.

How to find Saimdang Bueok — right of the Matdeurin sign

Saimdang Bueok is on Jukheon-gil85beon-gil in Gangneung, in the space to the right of the building with the big "Matdeurin" sign. Because that big sign says Matdeurin, I kept thinking I had the wrong place — the restaurant's own sign is different, so I walked past it a few times.

It turns out a new Korean food brand called "Saimdang Bueok" has opened in the same building as Matdeurin, in the space to the right. In the photo you can see Matdeurin in the center and a separate Saimdang Bueok sign on the right. If you're visiting for the first time like I was, don't walk past just because you see the big "Matdeurin" sign! The space to the right of the Matdeurin building is Saimdang Bueok!

Parking at Saimdang Bueok

There's plenty of parking right in front of the restaurant, so parking isn't a worry. There's also a nearby public parking lot, so it's easy to visit even in a group tour bus.

Close to Ojukheon: easy to fit into a Gangneung sightseeing route

Above all, it's close to Ojukheon, so it's easy to combine with a sightseeing schedule. Ojukheon in Gangneung is well worth walking around, so definitely stop by before or after your meal. I'll add the Ojukheon admission info below — take a look.

Inside there's also a city museum, a hanbok rental shop, and a children's museum, so it's good to visit with kids too.

Inside Saimdang Bueok and the group seating room

Walking inside, the space was bigger and cleaner than I expected.

The tables were spaced comfortably apart, giving it a relaxed feel, and there was also a separate room further in that's good for group gatherings or family meals. Overall it felt orderly, so it seemed easy to dine there comfortably with several people.

What's in the Saimdang set meal, and what the writer ordered

What we ordered was Saimdang Bueok's Saimdang set. On the day I visited, traffic was heavy and I arrived about 20 minutes late for my reservation — but when I went inside, the side dishes had already been neatly set out waiting.

What I ordered was the Saimdang set.

One of us chose miyeok-guk (seaweed soup), the other chose Chodang sundubu (soft tofu). As soon as we sat down, they brought the soup out piping hot. The tidy spread of side dishes caught my eye the moment we sat.

Side dishes at Saimdang Bueok, from seasoned greens to braised tofu

What I liked most about the Saimdang set was the side dish lineup. The namul (seasoned vegetables), kimchi, and braised tofu were all seasoned just right, not too strong, and all delicious.

From the basics — braised tofu, jellyfish salad, spicy pepper namul, gungchae (aster greens) —

to cuttlefish, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), seasoned ark shell, and even grilled scallops — everything looked as good as it tasted, all neatly presented.

This would also be a good pick for anyone looking for a place near Ojukheon in Gangneung to take their parents.

Are the 10 butter scallops for 3,000 won worth adding?

My favorite thing at Saimdang Bueok, which I ended up ordering extra of, was the domestic scallop butter grill — 10 pieces for ₩3,000. I tried the one that came with the set first, liked it so much I ordered more, and the price turned out to be ₩3,000 for 10 pieces~~ what a deal! haha So good~~^^ It has that savory garlic-butter-grill kind of flavor, the scallops are soft, and it's cheap enough that I'd recommend ordering extra to try.

Final verdict on Saimdang Bueok in Gangneung

Overall, Saimdang Bueok felt less like a flashy hanjeongsik and more like a clean, tidy, healthy meal, well put together. Every side dish was good, and the Chodang sundubu was nice too, but what stuck with me the most was the rich, soft miyeok-guk and the grilled scallops.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat before or after touring Ojukheon, this Gangneung restaurant near Ojukheon was convenient in location and easy on parking, which made it easy to fit into a route. Good with parents, good with kids too — if you're looking for a Korean set meal, give Saimdang Bueok a try.