Gyeongju Hwangridan-gil converted-house restaurant for two: Dongyang

I was near Hwangridan-gil for almost a week for a schedule, and while searching around I found Dongyang Baekban, a Hwangridan-gil restaurant. It serves neat, clean Korean food you can enjoy without pressure, and the atmosphere was so nice I visited with a friend.

• Dongyang Baekban Gyeongju Hwangridan-gil Main Branch
• 1056-5 Poseok-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
• Daily 11:00 - 21:00 (B.T 15:00 - 17:00)
• Paid parking at Hwangnam Life & Culture Center public lot

What Dongyang Baekban's converted house looks like in Hwangridan-gil

There was an event happening right next door that day, which made it stand out even more, plus there's a lovely stone statue — the converted-house restaurant had such charm and was great for photos.

Honestly I fell for the Dongyang Baekban sign(?) on the stairs first — not polished, but warm and unpretentious, the kind of house-only atmosphere I personally love.

Pork kimchi dureuchigi (stir-fry), tomato cheese dakbokkeumtang, silvery mushroom black rice-crust chicken hot pot — these usually feel like they're priced for a proper health-boosting meal, but here two people can enjoy them lightly too, which makes Dongyang Baekban Hwangridan-gil Main Branch even better.

Arriving at the opening rush: seating and window views at Dongyang Baekban

The indoor dining space is split into two sections like this. I came for the opening rush, and after me came customers with babies as well as couples, friends and all sorts — a real Hwangridan-gil favorite.

There are 2-person and 4-person tables, and probably because it's a converted house, the spaces are divided fairly privately, decorated with old-fashioned props that felt warm and cozy.

"Rice is medicine" — that kind of vibe. And through the window you can see Hwangridan-gil outside, which is fun for a bit of casual people-watching.

Dongyang Baekban Hwangridan-gil menu and prices

[Dongyang Baekban Hwangridan-gil Main Branch menu] Silvery mushroom rice-crust chicken hot pot ₩38,000 / Sumi dakbokkeumtang ₩28,000 / ₩38,000 / Special dakbokkeumtang ₩30,000 / ₩40,000 / Vegetable jjimdak ₩28,000 / ₩38,000 / Pork kimchi dureuchigi ₩27,000 / ₩37,000 / Hanwoo tripe hot pot ₩35,000 / ₩45,000

There are also set menus and hanwoo beef mulhoe (cold raw beef soup), yukjeon (pan-fried beef), beef tartare gimbap, cheese tteokgalbi, grilled mackerel and more. The rice bowls also caught my eye: caviar egg rice ₩7,000 / pollack roe rice ₩5,500 / spicy pepper rice ₩5,000 / gamtae rice ₩5,500 / beef tartare rice ₩6,000 / egg roe rice ₩5,500 / egg rice ₩3,500 / gondre rice ₩6,000.

What two people ordered at Dongyang Baekban

Sumi dakbokkeumtang (medium) ₩28,000 / beef tartare rice ₩6,000 / pollack roe rice ₩5,500

Four side dishes, the beef tartare rice bowl and the pollack roe rice bowl

After ordering, four side dishes came out along with the beef tartare rice and pollack roe rice — so cute and pretty. Since there are so many rice bowl options, you can pick according to your taste, and with such a big menu, Dongyang Baekban works well for a meal or as a side dish with drinks.

The crunchy bean sprouts were nutty, great in both texture and flavor, and the diced radish kimchi was delicious too, haha. Even just rice with the radish kimchi was tasty on its own.

Bursting pollack roe, plus a beef tartare bibimbap this cheap — it comes out in a separate bowl for you to mix yourself. My friend and I split it in half and enjoyed every bit of this Hwangridan-gil favorite.

Is the medium sumi dakbokkeumtang mild enough for spice-sensitive eaters?

We ordered the sumi dakbokkeumtang in medium size — you can choose medium or large depending on your party size and appetite, and the visual was 👍. Being able to enjoy dakbokkeumtang comfortably as two people was such a nice touch.

Since everything comes already cooked, you just turn on the burner and once the glass noodles are done you can dig right in. The ingredients were varied and generous — enoki mushrooms, glass noodles, potatoes and more — and even though we're both spice-sensitive, we could eat it fine. A tomato-sauce dakbokkeumtang, who knew — the sauce is savory and rich without being harsh, which is what makes it so appealing.

The chicken is boneless, so you can dig right in without picking out bones, and it's convenient with no gamey chicken smell at all — delicious. We stumbled onto Dongyang Baekban Hwangridan-gil Main Branch by chance and left thoroughly satisfied — a genuinely good restaurant that's even been on TV.

Dongyang Baekban Hwangridan-gil Main Branch is a great place to drop into while walking around Hwangridan-gil without any pressure — everyone from kids to adults can find something to eat without worry, and the staff are friendly in a comfortable atmosphere. How about a satisfying meal here?