The area around Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul can be described as a representative office-dense area, where numerous professionals work. Therefore, it’s common to find a plethora of diverse restaurants near Gwanghwamun Station.
“Seoul Gwanghwamun Korean Restaurant: Daon Samgyeopsal”
“Daon Samgyeopsal” is also one of the restaurants you can find near Gwanghwamun Station. This restaurant is not located in an underground arcade of another building, but occupies a standalone building on the first floor.
Previously, there was only one restaurant operated under the name “Daon”. However, not long ago, they expanded to the adjacent building and opened a new restaurant called “Daon Samgyeopsal,” focusing on stone pot rice for lunch and samgyeopsal (pork belly) for dinner.
Of course, with this expansion, the original “Daon” restaurant is still in operation. However, while the original restaurant used to handle all menu items in one place, now “Daon Samgyeopsal” offers set meals based on stone pot rice, while the original “Daon” provides individual dishes with regular rice.
“The Menu at Daon Samgyeopsal”
For lunch at Daon Samgyeopsal, only set menus are offered, and the main menu items and prices are as follows:
- Grilled Mackerel Set Meal: KRW 11,000
- Stir-fried Pork Set Meal: KRW 11,000
- Bossam (Boiled Pork Wraps) Set Meal: KRW 13,000
- Kimchi Stew: KRW 9,000
“A Neat and Hearty Meal with Stone Pot Rice”
When you order from the menu, various side dishes are provided. Five basic side dishes are served, and the standard sesame seaweed soup is also served.
After a short wait, the main menu item you ordered arrives, followed by the stone pot rice. The stone pot rice allows you to create nurungji (crispy rice) by pouring hot water over the rice, giving you the feeling of a meal laid out so lavishly that the table might break. You might experience the table feeling a bit cramped due to the abundance of food.
After enjoying a hearty meal with various side dishes and the main menu, and even making nurungji at the end, you’ll feel satisfied knowing you’ve had a proper meal. Personally, I prefer the “Grilled Mackerel Set Meal.” Eating the modestly grilled mackerel with rice makes for a satisfying meal.
Considering that stone pot rice is also provided, KRW 11,000 is a reasonable price. Given the recent increase in prices, there are very few places where you can have a lunch for under KRW 10,000 in the Gwanghwamun area. With this quantity and quality, KRW 11,000 is quite reasonable.
However, please note that the restaurant as a whole doesn’t exude a luxurious atmosphere. It might be a bit lacking for important meetings. Nevertheless, it’s best to remember this place as a restaurant with excellent value for money.
“Seoul Gwanghwamun Korean Restaurant: Daon Samgyeopsal”
- Address: 1st Floor, 5-19 Saemunan-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Postal Code: 03182)
- Phone: 02-722-7882
- Operating Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:30 AM – 12:30 AM, (Sat-Sun) 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM