Bansong-dong kimchi braise spot for a weekend walk-in lunch: Yangpuni

Today's post is about a weekend morning visit to Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal, a well-known restaurant in Gaenari Park in Bansong-dong, Dongtan.

Where to park at Yangpuni inside Gaenari Park on a weekend

Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal has a decent amount of parking space right in front, which was nice. It was already full when we got there so we parked in the alley, but the area is pretty quiet outside weekday dinner hours, so parking on a weekend shouldn't be a hassle haha.

Can you walk into Yangpuni without a reservation at weekend lunch?

At Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal in Bansong-dong, Dongtan, the main menu is kimchi jjigae, duruchigi, and kimchi-jjim, and they also sell grilled samgyeopsal haha. The place is clean, so I felt good the moment I walked in. It was an odd hour so we went in as a walk-in without a reservation, and even at that awkward weekend lunch slot there were quite a few customers.

Pork belly kimchi-jjim set for two with egg roll: what it includes

We ordered the pork belly kimchi-jjim set for two, and get this — the price includes the egg roll... Isn't that great value? There are also kimchi jjigae sets and duruchigi sets. You can swap the egg roll for bulgogi or something else, but that costs ₩1,000 extra haha. Still, ₩1,000 for that upgrade is unbeatable value.

They also have grilled meat, which seems like it'd be great for an evening visit. I love kimchi-jjim and order it delivered a lot normally. But eating it in the restaurant is definitely tastier than delivery haha. You can order the main dishes individually, or go for the value set like I did haha.

I only photographed the signature dishes, but they also serve naengmyeon (cold noodles). Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal in Bansong-dong, Dongtan has plenty of side dishes too, so you can enjoy a variety. They say they use domestic kimchi and a special sauce for deep flavor.

Basic side dishes and the self-serve bar at Yangpuni

The basic side dishes are salted squid, beans, and laver, and you can grab extras from the self-serve bar haha.

The self-serve bar has pickled onion, seasoned chives, and bean sprouts, which seem meant for people grilling samgyeopsal. I still grabbed some myself though;; haha;; Honestly I didn't realize that until after I'd already brought it over...

Is Yangpuni good for group meals and work dinners?

The space is roomy enough that it'd be good for all kinds of gatherings or work dinners. If you're looking for a spot for a dinner near Gaenari Park in Dongtan, Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal in Bansong-dong, Dongtan is worth a visit haha. The tables are spaced well enough that you can eat without feeling crowded.

The forearm-sized egg roll that comes with the set

The egg roll came out right away, and it's honestly the size of your forearm... super thick. A lot of restaurants these days use liquid egg mix instead of real egg, but this one was clearly real egg. I don't really like ketchup drizzled on top, so I was glad it came on the side, letting me dip just the right amount.

Warm, thick egg roll with just the right seasoning — fluffy and soft, so good. When you're eating spicy red food like kimchi-jjim, an egg dish is essential.

How the pork belly kimchi-jjim tastes, and how big the portion is

Next, the pork belly kimchi-jjim came out right away. They turned on the burner for us to keep simmering while eating, but it was already fully cooked when it arrived, so we just kept it on low heat while eating so it wouldn't get cold haha.

There was plenty of tofu, and even though we ate a piece of pork with almost every bite, there was still a ton of meat left haha. No off smell, thick cut, and a good ratio of lean to fat. The kimchi had that deep flavor of well-aged kimjang kimchi, and it went together perfectly.

Wrap the tofu, meat, and kimchi together in one bite, then have some rice, then the egg roll — a flavor you could eat forever haha. I'm apparently not the only one who knows how good it is, because delivery riders kept coming and going the whole time we were eating haha. I guess famous restaurants become famous for a reason.

The portion was really huge — even with two big eaters, we ended up not finishing it all ㅠㅠ. The rice was black rice too, healthy and fluffy and delicious. Plenty of meat, plenty of kimchi, and tofu on top — a perfect pork belly kimchi-jjim!! A basic kimchi-jjim is actually hard to get right, and this one had that fundamental, solid flavor, which I really liked.

Is Yangpuni in Bansong-dong worth a return visit?

I'd go back to Yangpuni Kimchi Jjigae & Samgyeopsal in Bansong-dong, Dongtan, so I'm recommending it. Above all, the value for money is great, so if you live nearby, definitely give it a visit — recommended!