Korean restaurant in Gyeongju's Hwangnidang-gil: mackerel gondre rice

Location and hours of Hyangtaek in Gyeongju

• 📍Address: 7-7 Sajeong-ro 57beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• ⏰Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–20:00
• Weekday break time 15:00–17:00
• Weekend break time 16:00–17:00

Why Korean food feels right in Gyeongju

Why does Korean food feel so right in Gyeongju? With so many historical sites and the whole city wrapped in a hanok atmosphere, it just feels like you should have a proper, neat Korean meal here. So while we were traveling in Gyeongju, we decided to stop by Hyangtaek's Gyeongju branch, which is famous on Instagram for its mackerel gondre rice (herb rice bowl)!

Friday lunch — was there a wait?

I was worried there'd be crowds and a wait, but since we went a bit after the lunch rush and it was a Friday rather than the weekend, we didn't have to wait! (Though there were still quite a few customers inside.)

The menu at Hyangtaek Gyeongju

If you look at Hyangtaek's menu, you'll see every dish has its own character — I wanted to try them all. I think I'll have to come back and work my way through the whole list.

Pungyeong sikhye for a receipt review

Right now, Hyangtaek Gyeongju is offering pungyeong sikhye (a traditional sweet rice punch) if you leave a Naver receipt review. It's perfect as a dessert, so make sure you write that review and try the sikhye. It came with fine ice slush floating in it, which felt like it cleaned up the palate nicely after the meal. Perfect for a finishing touch!

The dishes we ordered and the full banchan spread

Before the main dishes came out, they set the table with banchan (side dishes) first. The sides that went with the mackerel gondre rice and the eggplant doenjang rice bowl were different from each other.

As someone who takes photos often, I've noticed that a proper Korean spread really does photograph beautifully because of all the varied colors. Everything came in neat dishes, arranged tidily, and it genuinely felt like being treated to something special. No wonder this place has a reputation as a great date spot...

Mackerel gondre rice

This is Hyangtaek's signature dish, the mackerel gondre rice. They didn't give any specific instructions on how to eat it, so I just dug in — and the mackerel wasn't fishy at all, just wonderfully savory. The seasoning wasn't too strong, so it went down really easily. It paired perfectly with the gondre (Korean thistle) too. I want to try making this at home.

Eggplant doenjang rice bowl

Next up is the eggplant doenjang (fermented soybean paste) rice bowl. The flavor is really different from the mackerel gondre rice, so I think it'd be great to order one of each and share. The doenjang wasn't salty, just savory and rich, and it worked really well with the eggplant. The eggplant was so soft that even people who don't usually like eggplant might enjoy this.

The portion wasn't small either, but we finished it all without getting tired of it.

Definitely order the grilled mushroom platter side

I'd seen reviews saying the grilled mushroom platter was a must-order, so we tried it. (Hyangtaek's prices aren't steep overall, so it felt like an easy add.)

The mushroom platter came out grilled to a golden brown, almost like a mushroom pancake — crispy outside, chewy inside, and totally my kind of texture. I'd really recommend ordering this as a side to go with the rice bowls!

Would this work for a meal with parents?

I get why Hyangtaek Gyeongju is such a hot spot on Instagram among Hwangnidang-gil restaurants. If you're visiting Gyeongju and want a neat, proper Korean meal — whether for a date or for a lunch spot to take your parents to — this is one I'd recommend. Honestly, I already have a strong feeling I'll be back the next time I travel to Gyeongju... haha.