Korean restaurant in Dongdaemun, Seoul with bossam rice pot sets

I heard there was a famous place in Sinseol-dong where Korean side dishes come out in a table-leg-breaking spread, so I went recently. Dongdaemun-gu has so many good Korean restaurants. There are especially lots around Sinseol-dong. It felt like the kind of table you see when traveling in Jeolla-do, packed full of side dishes.

Let’s start with a photo of the whole spread. How many side dishes are there?! It’s hard even to count them. The table is truly full. I ordered the ₩15,000 bossam set, but there is also a ₩10,000 menu. For Seoul, it feels really affordable considering the number of side dishes. It seems there can be a wait if you arrive late for weekday lunch.

Hansang Charyim Bapsang in Sinseol-dong: location and hours

It is at 28 Hanbit-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 238 m from Exit 3 of Sinseol-dong Station. It is regularly closed on Mondays and open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:45 to 21:30. There is also a ₩1,000 discount coupon for following on Naver.

The waiting-list notice outside was striking. It seems to get lots of international visitors, as well as nearby office workers on weekdays. I visited at 11:30 on Saturday and got in right away without waiting.

It looks like this place has been featured on lots of TV shows. A bossam set with a whopping 27 dishes, wow. I was excited as I walked in. Since becoming a homemaker, I have realized that making side dishes is no ordinary task. Someone has to make me a 27-dish meal—I can barely put together two or three side dishes at home, haha.

Hansang Charyim Bapsang menu and prices

• Bansang set ₩10,000
• Hansang bossam set ₩15,000
• Herbal galbi set ₩17,000
• Bossam rice pot set ₩17,000
• Galbi rice pot set ₩19,000
• Bossam ₩20,000 / galbi ₩20,000
• Kimchi pancake ₩15,000 / chive pancake ₩15,000
• Bossam hansang ₩30,000

Side dishes served with the bossam rice pot set

I ordered the bossam rice pot set. The table was filled with all kinds of banchan (Korean side dishes): salad, vegetables, seasoned greens, pickles, and more. It also comes with doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). If there are side dishes you do not eat, tell them beforehand and they will leave them out. That is because this is an honest restaurant that does not reuse its side dishes.

The salted squid, perilla leaves, and myeong-i namul (pickled wild garlic leaves) were all absolute rice thieves. They were the kind of combination that makes you wonder whether to order another bowl of rice. They gave us so much salted squid too, wow. Homemakers all know this is an expensive side dish.

I loved the mung bean sprouts and seasoned soybean sprouts. They were wonderfully crisp and delicious. With so many side dishes, simply trying each one makes a bowl of rice disappear in no time.

The seasoned bracken fern was especially delicious. I liked that they did not give mountains of every side dish, but just the right amount for a bite or two. When I leave lots of side dishes at a restaurant, I feel a little bad, as if I am harming the environment. I love the thoughtful touch of serving just enough to try.

Seasoned chives, cabbage, broccoli, shredded squid... these were Korean side dishes right up my alley. I love chives. The freshly dressed chives went perfectly with the bossam.

Tender bossam and rice cooked in a pot

Look at the generous portion of the main bossam too. Even with this many side dishes, the bossam portion was no joke—such great value. It came with dried shredded radish and kimchi, plus even a little tofu, wow. Kimchi and tofu are always a delicious combination.

I also loved that it came with doenjang-jjigae. And if you visit, I absolutely recommend getting the rice cooked in a pot. The fluffy rice, nurungji (crispy scorched rice), and side dishes go so well together, so add the rice pot for ₩2,000.

It looks as though there are a lot of accommodations for international visitors around here. I saw lots of overseas visitors. I imagine they are surprised to find such a table-leg-breaking Korean meal in the ₩10,000 range. For Seoul, the prices felt genuinely warm and old-fashioned.

The bossam itself was so tender and delicious, and the portion was quite satisfying for a set meal. The bossam is good. I completely recommend the bossam rice pot set.

I had been curious because it is quite famous in Dongdaemun-gu as a great-value restaurant in the ₩10,000 range with a table full of side dishes, and it turned out to be a satisfying meal.

The rice pot is cooked to order, so it takes a little time, but I think I would definitely order it again on my next visit. Rice cooked in a pot really is the best.

It was black rice and so delicious. There are already so many side dishes, but the rice is delicious too, so beware: you may overeat. It had been a while since I enjoyed such a generous Korean set meal.

There is also the great-value ₩10,000 bansang set, so if you love a variety of side dishes or are looking for a good-value Korean restaurant, give it a visit.