Bongdam private partition seats for a couple's croaker set: Hwadamga

I'm someone who, no matter how busy work gets, always sets off on a weekend food adventure. Nothing beats a neat, hearty meal for shaking off a week's worth of fatigue and stress.

This weekend, my husband and I were craving something hearty and Korean, so we headed to a restaurant called Hwadamga in Bongdam, Hwaseong. We'd heard great things about how clean and delicious it was before visiting, and I'll say it upfront — we came back thoroughly satisfied on every front: space, atmosphere, and taste. If you're looking for a place for a family gathering or somewhere to take your parents, please read this post closely!

Where is Hwadamga in Bongdam, and how is the parking?

Hwadamga is located at 1F, 58 Nangnaegi-gil, Bongdam-eup, Hyohaeng-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. One of its biggest strengths is a really spacious parking lot.

Here's what Hwadamga looks like from outside.

We parked with total ease in the restaurant's own huge lot.

Hwadamga's partitioned tables and enclosed private rooms

Every table in Hwadamga's main hall is divided by partitions or layout, so you can eat without worrying about the table next to you. It was too crowded for me to get interior photos, unfortunately.

The first thing that caught my eye walking in was the sheer scale of the place. The impressive size continued from the exterior right into the spacious interior. So many restaurants these days cram tables together so you can't help overhearing the next table's conversation, but Hwadamga was wide and comfortable, with none of that stuffiness. Best of all, every table in the hall was sectioned off privately, so we could focus on our own quiet, cozy meal without any outside disturbance. For a couple like us who prefer quiet conversation over a noisy atmosphere, it was the perfect space.

Further inside, there were also several enclosed rooms with doors. Peeking in, I noticed the rooms came in different sizes with upscale interiors — perfect not just for a relaxed family meal but also for things like a meeting between in-laws, a 70th birthday celebration, or a work dinner. If you ever need a quiet, formal setting, booking one of these rooms in advance would make everyone in your group happy. Looking around the spacious, spotless space, I kept thinking, 'I have to bring my parents here next Parents' Day or birthday.'

How many side dishes are on Hwadamga's self-serve bar?

Off to one side of the restaurant was an extremely clean, hygienically managed 'self-serve bar.' Usually when restaurants say 'self-serve bar,' you're picturing a modest spread of lettuce leaves, garlic, ssamjang (dipping paste), and kimchi, right?

But Hwadamga's self-serve bar had a genuinely rich lineup of all kinds of side dishes — it looked like a small buffet in itself. Being able to help yourself to as much as you like, of a variety of banchan (side dishes) with quality that rivals a full hanjeongsik (traditional set meal) restaurant, without feeling awkward about it, was a huge draw of this place.

How did the bori-gulbi set meal for two taste?

Once seated, we ordered Hwadamga's popular bori-gulbi jeongsik (dried yellow croaker set meal) for two. Soon, our long-awaited bori-gulbi set filled the wide table.

The dried yellow croaker was grilled to an appetizing golden color, large and plump — plenty for two adults. Even a light touch with the chopsticks pulled the thick flesh apart smoothly, and one bite filled my mouth with a satisfying chewy texture and deep savory flavor.

Any musty fishy smell was completely gone, leaving only a pleasant nuttiness and salty savoriness — a true 'rice thief' in every sense. Paired with the fresh, neatly prepared side dishes we'd piled up from the self-bar, I experienced the magic of eating way more rice than usual. Each side dish was seasoned mildly rather than aggressively, which I think would suit older folks' palates really well too.

Why Hwadamga works for a meal out with parents

Even walking out afterward, that satisfying, happy fullness lingered. From the spacious, comfortable interior, to the private seating that made for a cozy meal, to the appealing self-serve bar with all its side dishes, to the deeply savory main dish — there wasn't a single thing to complain about at this excellent restaurant.

If you're looking for a good gathering spot near Bongdam in Hwaseong, or want to treat someone special to a thoughtful meal, I highly recommend Hwadamga. I'm already planning to book a room and bring my parents here for the next family occasion.