Gijang Korean restaurant for family tteokgalbi: Dongam Tteokgalbi

Dongam Tteokgalbi, a Gijang lunch spot I end up visiting whenever I go to IKEA Busan. It is right in front of IKEA and Lotte Outlet, so it is an easy stop for a meal before going out to have fun.

What were parking, waits, and seating like?

Dongam Tteokgalbi is in a large building directly across from Lotte Outlet, and its own building parking lot is huge, so there is no need to worry about parking. It is above Shabu One, a popular shabu-shabu restaurant in Gijang. It is popular enough that you will need to wait at weekend lunch unless you arrive right at opening. When I called to ask about a reservation for a visit with my mother, I was told they do not take reservations for smaller groups, such as four adults and two young children.

The restaurant is very spacious, with lots of tables. Dongam Tteokgalbi is also a popular place to eat in Gijang. We had previously paid our own way to visit for my mother's birthday, and the children ate so well that I knew we had to come back.

On our previous visit, we sat on the sofa seats by the window, but the table was too far away for the children to eat comfortably. This time, we chose a regular table with chairs.

Self-service corner dishes the children loved

We went in as soon as they opened, ordered, and looked around the self-service bar. The selection may change a little each time, but it was the same as on my previous visit. There were steamed egg and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) at the self-service bar, too. The children ate the steamed egg incredibly well, which made it such a reassuring choice.

There were also stir-fried Vienna sausages and fried rice, so you can help yourself to whatever you like. It was nice not to have to ask for refills and simply serve ourselves.

I had recently been craving spicy stir-fried squid, and they even had it as a main dish. Next to it was jajang sauce—the all-purpose sauce for children! That is one reason it is so nice to come with a baby. There are plenty of dishes to eat with children.

The big basin bowls in front of the sign marked “self-service corner” are for making bibimbap (mixed rice), and you can also use them to serve yourself the miyeok-guk (seaweed soup) placed in front.

With beef miyeok-guk ready as well, it is perfect for coming with a baby. My children really, really loved the food from the self-service corner.

Off to one side, there were at least 10 kinds of banchan (Korean side dishes). Baek-kimchi (white kimchi), cabbage salad, green-onion kimchi, seasoned mung bean sprouts, acorn jelly salad, dried radish strips, chamnamul greens, and other vegetable dishes made it a great choice for bringing parents, too. Dongam Tteokgalbi is a restaurant well worth bringing your parents to.

Warm tofu and dessert, too

Ah, another hidden gem at Dongam Tteokgalbi! Warm tofu and stir-fried kimchi. The tofu was kept warm in a steamer, so we could enjoy it hot, and it was even more savory and delicious with the stir-fried kimchi.

Baby chairs are available, so it is a good place to visit with a baby. There were indeed many tables with children, since there are so many dishes that children can enjoy.

The dessert corner had old-fashioned Korean snacks. They were perfect for freshening up after the meal. Our family's pick was the snack all the way on the right!

Everything that came with the tteokgalbi set meal

Dongam Tteokgalbi is also often recommended as a restaurant near Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Along with the self-service dishes, ordering a meal brings basic side dishes, too. There were eight dishes, including seasoned bracken fern, spicy cucumber salad, stir-fried fish cake, stir-fried mushrooms, and stir-fried seaweed stems. Every single side dish was tasty—there was not one we left untouched.

Dongam Tteokgalbi makes the meal even more special by serving sotbap (rice cooked in an individual pot) rather than a regular bowl of rice. The rice in the photo is for two people, and it was plenty even after sharing it with the children.

And that is not all, everyone,,,,, We only ordered two tteokgalbi set meals, yet crab doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) was included as well.

What we ordered at Dongam Tteokgalbi and how it tasted

We ordered two portions of Dongam Tteokgalbi and added one single portion. We added the single portion for the children, and it cost ₩8,000. Dongam Tteokgalbi costs ₩15,000 and is said to be made with verified imported beef, with a juicy beefy flavor. Last time, we ordered the Korean beef tteokgalbi; they say it uses only 1++ grade Korean beef, and I was happy with its rich, nutty flavor.

Dongam Tteokgalbi's tteokgalbi is packed with beef. It is seasoned just right, so it does not feel like a burden to give to children, and each piece is very large. For two adults and two young children, I felt that just two set meals would have been enough. That is how plentiful and delicious the tteokgalbi is! If you are considering a meal with a baby, a restaurant for your parents, or a family meal, I recommend Dongam Tteokgalbi—something people of all ages are likely to enjoy.