Gurae-dong Korean restaurant in Gimpo: feast set for two at Okdoenjang

My friend came over to visit after a long while, so we went out for lunch together. This time we visited Okdoenjang Gimpo Gurae Branch in Gurae-dong, Gimpo.

Whenever I meet up with this friend, I usually look for Korean food with a warm, filling soup and rice rather than meat or Western food. That's how we ended up at Okdoenjang again this time.

Where is Okdoenjang Gimpo Gurae Branch, and is there parking?

• Address: 180 Gimpohangang 9-ro 75beon-gil, 1F #117, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Monday–Sunday 11:00 – 24:00
• Parking: You can park in the building's basement lot

Why we picked Okdoenjang for Korean food in Gurae-dong

Okdoenjang Gimpo Gurae Branch is located in Doowon Tower in Gurae-dong — the Megabox building.

There's parking in the building's basement, so it was convenient to visit by car. We went on a weekday and luckily got seated right away with no wait. I imagine waiting times could differ during busier lunch or dinner hours.

Okdoenjang is described as a place with meal options like doenjang (soybean paste) stew for lunch, and dishes like boiled pork stew or jeon pairs well with drinks in the evening. So it seemed like a solid choice for anyone near Gurae Station looking for lunch too.

Inside Okdoenjang: a warm, wood-toned dining room

I really liked the atmosphere at Okdoenjang, not just the food.

The overall warm wood tones gave it a cozy, homey feel.

Instead of the sleek, modern restaurants you see so often these days, it had a retro feel that reminded me of old-school Korean eateries. The wood materials and warm colors matched really well with stew and doenjang jjigae type dishes.

The tables were spaced out comfortably too, which made it good for eating with a friend or for a relaxed meal with family.

What comes in the Okdoenjang feast set for two?

That day we ordered the Okdoenjang feast set for two, plus added glass noodles and two bowls of rice.

The feast set for two includes assorted boiled pork stew, squid and minari pancake, and stir-fried spicy beef tendon. After ordering, the dipping sauce for the boiled pork stew and the side dishes came out.

It's a set with several dishes at once, so it was great for two of us to try a bit of everything.

First bites: the hot assorted boiled pork stew

The first thing that caught my eye, of course, was the stew simmering hot.

The stew had boiled pork, beef tendon, and minari together, so eating it with the broth was filling — I was glad we ordered rice with it.

The broth was tasty too, so I kept spooning it up instead of just eating the solid ingredients.

Adding glass noodles to the stew was worth it

We added glass noodles to the stew. If you like glass noodles with your stew, adding them is worth it.

Eating the noodles soaked in broth alongside the meat and vegetables gave a different feel. With the rice we ordered too, the two of us had a pretty filling meal.

Spicy stir-fried beef tendon, with adjustable heat

Besides the stew, the spicy stir-fried beef tendon was also delicious.

The spice level for the beef tendon dish was adjustable, and since we're both weak with spice, we asked for it mild. The tendon had a chewy texture unique to it, giving a different experience from the stew. Eating it in between the hot soup dishes felt like it refreshed our palate.

A dish like this would go well with rice, but I think it'd also pair nicely with drinks in the evening. So if you're looking for makgeolli (rice wine) spots in Gimpo, ordering a jeon or a stir-fried dish alongside might be a good move.

The crispy squid and minari pancake was the highlight

And the dish I enjoyed most that day was the minari pancake.

I personally like minari, and having it as a pancake made it even better. The outside was crispy while the inside was packed with minari, so it was a great combo to pick up a piece between bites of the stew. Out of everything we ate that day, the minari pancake stuck with me the most.

If you like makgeolli in particular, the minari pancake would pair really well. If you're looking for makgeolli spots in Gimpo and want to eat jeon alongside, this combination is worth ordering.

Okdoenjang as a lunch spot near Gurae Station

We visited for dinner, but Okdoenjang seemed like a solid choice for lunch too. With dishes like doenjang stew or boiled pork stew that come with rice, it seems like a good pick when you're craving hot Korean soup for lunch. Especially for anyone working or with plans near Gurae Station, it felt like a solid option to check out for lunch.

Easy basement parking at this Gimpo Gurae-dong restaurant

We visited by car, and the building's parking made it convenient. Parking is always a slight concern when choosing a restaurant, but having in-building parking took some of the stress out of driving there. We visited on a weekday and got seated with no wait — though waiting could vary depending on when you visit, so keep that in mind.

Worth a visit when you crave warm Korean food in Gurae-dong

This time we visited Okdoenjang Gimpo Gurae Branch with a friend. We had the Okdoenjang feast set for two with added glass noodles and rice — the hot stew was delicious, and the beef tendon dish was tasty too. But personally, what I liked most was the crispy minari pancake.

Eating the stew and minari pancake together made for a great combination, and I thought it'd be nice to try it with makgeolli next time. If you're craving hearty Korean food in Gurae-dong or looking for a relaxed spot to eat with a friend, Okdoenjang is worth checking out as a Korean restaurant in Gurae-dong.

If you're looking for lunch, it works well as a lunch spot near Gurae Station, and in the evening it's a good place to have a drink with jeon or stew dishes, so it should also suit anyone looking for makgeolli spots in Gimpo. We visited on a weekday and enjoyed a relaxed meal with a friend at Okdoenjang Gimpo Gurae Branch with no wait.