"Discovered a life-changing Korean set menu restaurant! I can't believe how delicious the royal hot pot at 필동 한국의집 is.."

A Hidden Gem Discovered by Chance

Recently, while watching a drama, I became curious about royal cuisine, and during my search, I discovered a place called 한국의집. It's said to be a 5-minute walk from Chungmuro Station, so I decided to visit with a friend over the weekend.

From the entrance, a real hanok welcomes you, and the atmosphere was incredible. It was built in 1957 as a guesthouse for foreign guests, so it has a history of nearly 70 years. The staff, dressed in hanbok, checked our reservation, making it feel like we had traveled back to the Joseon Dynasty.

The Charm of Eating Royal Cuisine in a Hanok

Sitting at the guided seat and looking at the menu, I noticed that the main dish was the Sinseollo set. Hearing that it had received the Blue Ribbon for three consecutive years, my expectations were high. But the price was surprisingly affordable, which was nice.

Looking out the window, the hanok garden was truly healing. My friend said, "This place is totally Instagram-worthy," and took a lot of photos, haha.

A Continuous Stream of Amazement from the Appetizers

When the food arrived, it looked like a true work of art. Starting with pumpkin porridge, followed by oat dumplings, grilled king oyster mushrooms, and mustard salad... Each one was a taste I had never experienced before. Especially the pumpkin porridge, with its popping corn texture, was intriguing and not too sweet, which suited my taste.

The grilled king oyster mushrooms had a wonderful aroma. The vegetables inside were crunchy and perfectly seasoned. My friend was amazed, saying, "Is this really a mushroom?"

The Taste of Tradition Felt in Gujeolpan

When the Gujeolpan was served, it was truly moving. Nine side dishes were beautifully arranged, centered around pollack roe steamed eggs, with acorn jelly pancakes, vitamin greens salad, and mustard leaf kimchi... Each one was delicious. I especially loved the mustard leaf kimchi and ate it all up, haha.

The staff informed us in advance that "Gujeolpan cannot be refilled," so my friend and I shared it amicably. But the portion was just right.

The Highlight of the Main Dish, Chicken and Mung Bean Cake

The chicken and mung bean cake was a truly fascinating dish. Made by steaming mung beans and chicken breast like a cake, it was moist and savory, making it very tasty. Eating it with mung bean porridge sauce made it really mild and clean. I thought, "Is this what royal cuisine tastes like?"

The True Value of Abalone and Pine Mushroom Stew

When the abalone and pine mushroom stew was served, the aroma was different from the start. The abalone was tender, and the pine mushroom aroma was truly delightful. There was no fishy taste at all, and it was surprisingly clean. With the addition of beef broth and sesame oil, it was really delicious.

The Harmony of Grilled Tilefish and Red Bean Paste

The grilled tilefish from Jeju Island was truly well-oiled. It was served with a red bean paste made from red beans and fermented soybeans, and this paste was really charming! It was mild yet savory, making me want to keep eating it.

Revitalizing with Jisam Sinseon Tang

Jisam Sinseon Tang was truly a health food in itself. They say it uses the top 2% of red ginseng, and my friend and I joked, "Let's eat Cheonsam when we get older," haha. The broth made from black chicken bones and beef warmed our bodies chilled by the winter wind. Each piece of tendon, meatball, and pancake was carefully included.

The Special Taste of Sweetfish Gangjeong

Sweetfish Gangjeong was a dish I had never tried before, but it was surprisingly delicious. The sweetfish, coated in glutinous rice flour and fried, was combined with bean sprouts and water parsley salad, and fried green onion strips, creating a really good texture.

Jangsaeng Doraji Marinated Beef

The marinated beef, soaked in the essence of Jangsaeng Doraji that had absorbed the earth's energy for 20 years, was really tender. It was served with medicinal Doraji tempura and kimchi sauce, and the kimchi sauce was unique yet delicious. It was a familiar yet unfamiliar taste.

Hearty with Chestnut Rice and Hyojonggaeng

"Koreans are all about rice power!" they say, and Hyojonggaeng, known as the hangover soup of the nobility, was finally something I got to try! It was saltier than expected, making it perfect for the day after drinking. It felt like a galbitang with abalone, but with a stronger seasoning and plenty of napa cabbage, making it great for soothing the stomach.

The chestnut rice was really savory and sweet. I usually don't like rice that much, but I finished a whole bowl of this. The chewy rice grains combined with the chestnuts were really delicious.

Ending with Gohojae Autumn Tea Table

It was really nice that you could taste the Gohojae tea without having to make a separate reservation when having a Korean set meal. Starting with green tea sikhye, followed by orange jelly, yakgwa sandwich, nectarine jeonggwa, dried persimmon roll, chestnut yulan, and green tea dasik... There was really a variety.

I really like dasik, and the fun of nibbling on it little by little was so enjoyable. Overall, it wasn't too sweet, so it was a taste you could keep eating while sitting down.

Overall Impression and Willingness to Revisit

The meal at 한국의집 was truly a special experience. Eating royal cuisine in a hanok, isn't this the essence of real K-food? From the atmosphere to the taste and service, everything was satisfying, especially with traditional liquor.

The price is a bit on the higher side, but for this quality, I think it's well worth it. Next time, I definitely want to bring foreign friends to properly show them the taste of Korea. The menu changes with the seasons, so I'm curious about the winter, spring, and summer menus too!

I highly recommend 한국의집! You won't regret visiting