Seongnam Korean restaurant set with sotbap and jeon: Morang Haemul

At Morang Haemul Sotbap Jungja Station branch (모랑해물솥밥 정자역점), a place I visit from time to time, I had sotbap with yukjeon and nakji-bokkeum this time. We chose a set so we could try several dishes together, and the seafood sotbap and yukjeon were especially suited to my taste. This meal was written after I received the products and services.

Where is Morang Haemul Sotbap Jungja Station branch, and is parking available?

The restaurant is on the second floor of Prugeo City 2 at 197 Jeongjail-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. We parked in the building and took the elevator upstairs. The parking lot felt quite spacious, and we had no trouble finding a space. Parking support is also available when you dine there.

There was a menu display in front of the restaurant, so it was easy to look over the options before going in. The hours listed in the original were 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with a break from 3 to 5 p.m. Sundays were listed as closed.

What were the seating and waiting areas like on a weekend afternoon?

We visited around 1:30 p.m. on a weekend. The tables were not completely full, and we saw diners getting up after finishing their meals one by one.

There was a separate waiting area to the left of the entrance.

My favorite seats are the ones built in the shape of a house. They felt cozy, and there were also customers spending a long time talking there that day. They looked like a good option for eating and chatting with friends.

How much is the sotbap and nakji-bokkeum set, and what can you choose?

We ordered the “sotbap and nakji-bokkeum set,” priced at ₩68,000. It was listed for two to three people, and it suited us because we wanted to have sotbap, jeon, and a cooked dish together.

• For the sotbap, you can choose between gondre sotbap and seafood sotbap.
• For the side dish, you can choose between seafood pajeon and yukjeon.
• Nakji-bokkeum is included as standard.
• Somyeon can be added for ₩3,000.

We chose seafood sotbap and yukjeon, and added somyeon to mix with the nakji-bokkeum.

What went well with the yukjeon?

After a short wait, the food arrived all at once. I tried the yukjeon first.

The yukjeon arrived warm and tasted mild because it was not heavily seasoned. It went even better with the tangy seasoned chives served alongside it. I preferred eating the yukjeon with the chives rather than on its own.

Is the nakji-bokkeum manageable if you ask for less spice?

I asked for it to be made less spicy when ordering, but it was still quite hot for me, since I am not good with spicy food. I eased the heat by eating a bite of nakji followed by a bite of rice.

The somyeon we added felt slightly stiff when it first arrived. Once mixed into the nakji-bokkeum sauce, though, the noodles loosened and picked up the sauce well. Eating it with rice and somyeon kept me reaching for more despite the heat.

How were the seafood sotbap and side dishes?

When I lifted the lid of the seafood sotbap, the first thing I noticed was the generous amount of seafood on top. The seafood also tasted fresh, and the dish was filling with the rice.

Among the side dishes, the mushroom dish was my favorite. It had a slightly sour, earthy flavor, and I liked it enough to keep reaching for it.

Is makgeolli available to have with the jeon?

The kiosk had a separate section introducing the “makgeolli of the month.”

We did not drink makgeolli that day. Seeing customers nearby order jeon and makgeolli while chatting made me want to try seafood pajeon with makgeolli next time.

How was it for sharing Korean dishes among several people?

Ordering the set let us try a variety of dishes, from sotbap to yukjeon and nakji-bokkeum. I especially liked the sotbap with its generous seafood and the warm yukjeon. What stayed with me was that the nakji-bokkeum was still spicy for me even after I asked for less heat.

Because there were many Korean dishes to choose from, I felt it would also work well for a meal with parents or for sharing several plates with friends. It was convenient to park in the building and dine there as well.