Danyang barley rice spot, minced-garlic suyuk: Heukmaneul Boribap

Today I'm writing about Heukmaneul Boribap branch no. 2 (흑마늘보리밥 2호점), which I visited on a trip to Danyang, my hometown. Danyang is such a famous tourist spot that I come often, and every time I see its pretty scenery again, which I didn't appreciate as a kid, I'm newly amazed.

What kind of place is Heukmaneul Boribap branch no. 2?

Heukmaneul Boribap branch no. 2 is a barley rice (boribap) restaurant specializing in garlic dishes near Gugyeong Market in Danyang, and I heard it's run by young people who research garlic cooking. Danyang is also very famous for its garlic, so when I was passing by Gugyeong Market that day, that story made me curious and I went in. If you're looking for barley rice near Gugyeong Market, this might help.

• Address: 7-1 Byeolgok 9-gil, Danyang-eup, Danyang-gun, Chungbuk
• Hours: 10:00-20:00
• Last order: 17:00
• Parking: public lot, in front of the restaurant
• Groups welcome, reservations, high chairs, separate men's and women's restrooms

Where do you park at Heukmaneul Boribap?

For Heukmaneul Boribap you can use the nearby Gugyeong Market public parking lot, and it's a quick walk, so it wasn't much of a hassle. The lot is split into upper and lower sections, and it's free.

The upper lot was full on the weekend, so we parked in the lower one, but it's not far at all, haha.

How crowded is it when market day falls on a weekend?

When Gugyeong Market's market day (the 1st and 6th) lands on a weekend, the inside of Heukmaneul Boribap was packed with no room to move. The day we visited happened to be both a weekend and a market day. It seems tourists and people out browsing the market all rush in to have a meal too.

If you want to eat at a relaxed pace, I'd recommend avoiding the days when market day and the weekend overlap, or arriving early.

Exterior and atmosphere of Heukmaneul Boribap

A huge "Black Garlic Barley Rice Restaurant" sign hangs on the building's outer wall, so it stood out even from far away.

Red chairs sit in front of the entrance, and a banner with photos of the signature dishes is set up, so you can picture what you're about to eat.

Inside, rattan lights softly illuminate the space, with wooden tables and leather chairs neatly arranged. On the wall hang round frames with the words sincerity, heart, nature and health,

and the interior gave off the feeling of care going into everything, from prepping ingredients to cooking.

What does the suyuk boribap set look like?

We ordered 2 suyuk boribap sets (boiled pork with barley rice) at Heukmaneul Boribap.

The star of the set is the suyuk, sliced pyeonyuk-style (thin, pressed-pork style), and true to garlic country it came topped with plenty of minced garlic. The number of side dishes served with it was really impressive.

Wrap vegetables and side dishes

There were generous wrap vegetables like lettuce and perilla leaves, and the side dishes alone filled the table.

• Seasoned radish strips (mu-chae muchim)
• Braised quail eggs
• Seasoned bean sprouts
• Radish namul (stir-fried radish)
• Seasoned seaweed stems
• Shredded carrots
• Fresh radish salad (mu-saengchae)

Doenjang stew in an earthenware pot

Once we sat down, doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) packed with tofu and zucchini came out bubbling in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot), and it filled us up right down to the core.

How did the garlic-topped suyuk taste?

Maybe because of all the minced garlic on top, the suyuk at Heukmaneul Boribap was tender and had no gamey smell at all.

Rather than a sharp bite, a gentle garlic aroma came through, so it was easy to eat, and with sesame seeds sprinkled evenly, the nutty scent lingered too.

I wrapped rice, suyuk, minced garlic and seasoned radish strips in lettuce, and no single ingredient stood out too much; they blended together nicely.

The doenjang stew wasn't salty and had a rich, savory broth, so I kept going back for more, and the side dishes were mild rather than punchy, which made it easy to enjoy the natural flavor of the ingredients. True to Danyang's garlic fame, it was a table where you could feel they use ingredients without holding back.

Mixed barley rice and lettuce wraps

I piled namul onto the barley rice and mixed it with gochujang (chili paste), and it was heavenly. Stuffing my mouth with a lettuce wrap packed with barley rice was full of flavor, haha.

Would I recommend Heukmaneul Boribap for barley rice near Gugyeong Market?

If you're looking for barley rice near Gugyeong Market in Danyang, Heukmaneul Boribap is worth a visit. The generous side dishes and carefully set table made it a satisfying meal. Just note that there can be a wait on market days or weekends, so give yourself some time 😊