Paju Korean restaurant for homestyle doenjang stew: Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap (심학산 들꽃쌈밥) is a popular restaurant near Simhaksan that is bustling from weekday lunch onward.

The parking lot was already full from weekday lunch time..! I wondered what was so special about this Korean set-meal restaurant near Simhaksan, where guests ranged from their 30s to 60s, but the moment the full spread arrived, I understood. From unlimited ssam vegetables (wrap vegetables), gangdoenjang (thick soybean paste dip), and doenjang stew to spicy squid and spicy pork, everything was perfect at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap, which I visited for weekday lunch~

A great Korean set-meal restaurant found near Simhaksan

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap 📍55-10 Dolgoji-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea ⏰Daily 11:00–21:00 ✔️Weekday break: 15:30–17:00 🚘Large dedicated parking lot in front 👶🏻High chairs available

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap was busy from opening time on a weekday. Its dedicated lot out front is fairly large, but it was already full by weekday lunch👍🏻 I was craving a Korean set meal that would sit well, so I searched for a great spot near Simhaksan. There were ⭐️ loads of glowing repeat-visit reviews, so I arrived right at opening on a weekday.

Since it was featured in the 2025 SBS Matchelin Guide, there was a wonderfully broad range of diners, from their 30s through 60s~ It is near Simhaksan and Paju Premium Outlets, so it would be a nice place to visit as part of a weekend outing.

There is a waiting area inside. There tends to be a wait from weekday lunch time, but the dining room is spacious and tables turn over quickly, so I was able to get seated before long.

What are the set menus and self-service bar like?

Here is the menu at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap. There are two set menus, and the Deul Set seemed to be the one most people ordered.

• Deul Set, per person — ₩20,000: spicy pork, spicy squid, doenjang stew, gangdoenjang, stone-pot rice
• Flower Set, per person — ₩26,000: atka mackerel, mackerel, spicy pork, spicy squid, doenjang stew, gangdoenjang, stone-pot rice
• Gangdoenjang, doenjang stew, and ssam vegetables have unlimited refills.

A self-service bar was ready for us, with all of the basic side dishes provided there, so you can help yourself comfortably. Every side dish felt like homemade banchan (Korean side dishes), seasoned just right; honestly, even just rice and the side dishes were delicious~ And the ssam vegetables were freshness itself!!

The doenjang stew can be refilled too. With freshly served stone-pot rice, gangdoenjang, and ssam vegetables, even this rustic stew tasted deeply savory and so good~ It was not the punchy kind of doenjang stew you get at a meat restaurant, but rather one made with homemade soybean paste, and it was absolutely delicious!

If you start with the warm, sweet pumpkin porridge, the main dishes and stone-pot rice arrive soon after.

The gangdoenjang was not overly salty either—mild and just right—so I piled it generously onto the ssam vegetables. Since both gangdoenjang and vegetables are unlimited, this is a great restaurant to bring your parents to near Simhaksan.

The hot stone-pot rice arrived. Each person gets their own pot, so it is easy to enjoy. And do not forget to pour water over the scorched rice crust to make sungnyung (toasted-rice tea)~🤭

Freshly cooked, steaming stone-pot rice and hot, savory doenjang stew are the foundation. Add the various side dishes, gangdoenjang, ssam vegetables, spicy squid, and spicy pork, and you have a wholesome, filling spread.

A filling spread that is healthy and delicious too

The main dishes arrived. This was the portion for two Deul Sets. It was more generous than I expected, and paired with the ssam vegetables, it was satisfyingly filling. The Deul Set at Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap was neatly and generously laid out! If you love ssambap (rice wrapped in leafy vegetables), I really recommend trying Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap as a Paju meal spot.

Try making a big wrap with all kinds of fresh ssam vegetables, spicy pork, spicy squid, side dishes, and gangdoenjang. There is no food quite like ssambap for enjoying lots of healthy vegetables~ The menu was mild, light, and fresh overall, so even though I ate until I was full, I did not feel heavy afterward👍🏻

After your meal, there is coffee and ice cream by the entrance, so freshen up happily before you go~ 📌 There was a reason people were waiting from weekday lunch onward: this was a Simhaksan ssambap restaurant I would want to visit whenever I am craving a wholesome meal!