Dongtan rice-mixing kimchi jjim and egg roll set for two: Yangpuni

A weekend lunch in Dongtan, craving spicy kimchi jjim

When you're craving something spicy and hearty in Korean food, kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and kimchi jjim (braised kimchi) come to mind! I wanted kimchi jjim for weekend lunch, so I visited Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal near Dongtan Central Park 🍽️ I tried the pork belly kimchi jjim set, which came with an egg roll too, so I got to enjoy a really filling meal haha.

Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal

It's located in the restaurant row near Gaenari Park, and there's a parking lot right in front so driving over is fine too. On chilly days, hot food really hits the spot, right? haha Since summer is winding down and it's getting a bit chilly, I've been craving warm soups or spicy Korean food.

Wide tables and a self-serve bar at Yangpuni

The interior was quite spacious, clean, and pleasant. The tables were well-spaced with partitions, so it felt separated and more comfortable to eat in haha. Every table had a burner, so you could keep your food warm until the very end! Since they also serve samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), each table had a hood too. The tables themselves are wide and there are baby chairs, so it'd be great to bring kids along!

You order through the table order system. It's known for kimchi jjigae, but I went with pork belly kimchi jjim! haha If the kimchi jjigae is good, the kimchi jjim should be good too, right? Pork belly kimchi jjim set for two, ₩28,000

The basic side dishes were dried radish strips, seasoned soybeans, and seaweed flakes. You can grab extra sides from the self-serve bar. The cutlery sets are kept in sealed bags, which made me feel like the restaurant cares about cleanliness — kind of reassuring and made me feel good for no reason haha.

Onion, scallion strips, bean sprouts, kimchi, dried radish strips, seasoned soybeans, garlic, and ssamjang (dipping sauce) — sides that felt like home-cooked banchan pairing perfectly with kimchi jjigae or other Korean food! Especially the seasoned soybeans haha, it's been ages since I had them and they were so tasty, salty-sweet, that I went back for more several times haha. It made me feel excited, like eating home-cooked food after a long time!

How thick is the egg roll?

The egg roll came out first! 🥚 Wow, look how thick it is, right? It's even thicker in person haha. Since it's freshly made after ordering, steam was rising off of it and it made me want to dig in right away!

A thick egg roll packed full all the way to the center! There were vegetables inside too, giving it a real home-cooked feel haha. It's made so beautifully that it looks even more delicious, doesn't it?

It had a fluffy, soft texture and was really tasty haha. It's lightly seasoned already, not too strong, so it'd be good for kids too, and dipping it lightly in sweet-and-tangy ketchup made the seasoning just right — a delicious egg roll. It was so thick that even one piece was filling haha.

What comes in the pork belly kimchi jjim set for two?

Pork belly, kimchi, onion, scallion, and tofu filled the pot, with just enough broth to give it a stew-like feel, which I liked. The pork belly kimchi jjim is already cooked, so you can eat it right away! 🍚 Rice is included in the set, so you don't need to order it separately!

I simmered it on low heat while eating haha. There was really a ton of pork belly, and since it's Korean pork, it was soft, savory, and so delicious!

The look of it is no joke haha. Just looking at the photo makes me hungry again 🤤 The broth is spicy and tangy, and with so much pork belly packed in, it's really rich! It's great mixed with rice, and adding ramen noodles would make it even better!

I let it simmer a bit longer on gentle low heat, and the kimchi turned tender with the seasoning soaked in deeply — so delicious! It was especially reassuring that the kimchi is domestically sourced ☺️ The tofu was seasoned all the way through too, and the mild tofu paired well with the spicy sauce haha.

Mixing rice, kimchi and seaweed flakes in a big bowl

Above all, kimchi jjim has to be eaten with rice, right? haha Rice, meat, kimchi combo... one bowl of rice, gone just like that! The seasoning is really rich, so anyone who loves Korean food will be satisfied! The sauce is spicy with plenty of onion, giving a subtle sweetness alongside well-fermented kimchi and savory, tender pork belly!

Putting rice, broth, kimchi, meat, and seaweed flakes into the bowl that comes with it and mixing it all together... for kimchi jjim, this is the place! If you want to eat a proper meal today, I recommend kimchi jjim!

Is Yangpuni worth it for a hearty Korean meal in Dongtan?

I visited Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal near Dongtan Central Park when I was craving a hearty Korean meal. The pork belly kimchi jjim set we had came with pork belly, well-fermented kimchi, and a fluffy egg roll, all generously portioned and filling! Especially the combo of kimchi jjim and egg roll worked so well together that it felt like a proper Korean home-cooked meal — very satisfying. If you're near Dongtan Central Park looking for hearty Korean food like kimchi jjigae or kimchi jjim, I recommend stopping by Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal 🍽️