Dishes from Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong-do are brimming with autumn happiness!
The pleasure of tasting the ripen harvests of the season
The fields turn yellow as the rice ripens filling the air with its fresh fragrance. The mountains are decorated with the beautiful colors of autumn. A golden sunset glows on the far horizon of the West Sea. The season of fruition is on its way. The beauty of the season is brought to our dining table with seasonal foods created in Gyeoinggi-do and Chungcheong-do.
Icheon, Gyeonggi-do
Ssalbapjeongsik
Foodies rate Icheon rice as the best in the country
The shiny sheen and the delicate fragrance of steamed rice is a scent of happiness and abundance to many Koreans. Icheon has long been known for its quality rice. During the Joseon Dynasty, Icheon rice was chosen as a special delicacy offered to kings. The region’s fertile land and rivers create a natural environment for rice cultivation. The fame of Icheon rice is still intact. When cooked, Icheon rice blooms with the right stickiness, the shiny sheen and the savory flavor, making it the best quality rice in the country. At most restaurants in Icheon that serve ssalbap jeongsik, a generous portion of meal sets that come with grilled rib patties, bulgogi, grilled dried pollack, and grilled bonnet bellflower roots are available.
“Along with steamed rice, side dishes (9 or 12 dishes in some cases) are presented on the table as they beautifully complement each other in flavor and aroma.”
Recommended Restaurants
Dorak
- Address:
- 485 Hwangmu-ro Sindun-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Tel:
- 031-638-3020
- Business Hour:
- 11:30~21:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Woni Ssalbap
- Address:
- 76-19 Sadong-ro Daewol-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Tel:
- 031-636-0893
- Business Hour:
- 11:00~21:00
- Closed Sundays
Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do
Dubu yori (braised tofu)
Dubu itself is delicious and it goes well with other foods
Soy is so rich in plant protein that it is often called “meat grown on fields”. Dubu (tofu) is made with ground soy beans that are well blended, simmered and coagulated. Tofu is versatile as it can be a main dish on its own or a fantastic side dish. Its plain yet slightly sweet flavor brings out the flavor of other ingredients in the dish. Tofu can be created into a variety of beautiful meals: pudding like soft tofu; soy pulp stew full of umami; spicy tofu hot pot; tofu pancake; and blanched tofu. Tofu can be part of a multicourse meal as well.
“Enjoy tofu toasted on the griddle together with some grilled pork belly and stir fried rice & vegetables.”
Recommended Restaurants
Lotus Hill
- Address:
- 57 Yongneupeondeok-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpy eong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
- Tel:
- 031-774-4577
- Business Hour:
- 11:00~23:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Yongmunsan Chondubu
- Address:
- 3 Yongmunsan-ro, 628 beon-gil, Yongmunmyeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
- Tel:
- 031-771-1104
- Business Hour:
- 09:00~18:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do
Songi hanjeongsik
The delicate aroma, chewy texture and clean taste of pine mushrooms
Songi is often called “the king of mushrooms.” It is highly valued for its chewy texture and nutritional value. But its most well-known trait is its distinctive delicate aroma. An ordinary meal suddenly turns gourmet once songi is added to the composition. It is a precious and pricey ingredient but its popularity only goes up once autumn, the season of songi, arrives. You could grill or blanch fresh songi. The mushrooms are often added to shabu-shabu, jjigae (stew), jjim (a thicker stew vs. jjigae) or grills to release its natural flavor. Hanjeongsik (Korean table d’hote) that includes songi is considered one of the most classy, high-end cuisines in Korea.
Recommended Restaurants
Songihyang
- Address:
- 413 Baegun-ro, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Tel:
- 031-426-9181
- Business Hour:
- 11:30~22:00
- Break Time:
- 15:00~17:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do
Yeonnipbap
The subtle, delicate aroma of lotus leaves enhances the taste of rice
Rice mixed with pine nuts, walnuts, jujube, chestnuts and other nuts are cooked; then the nutty-flavored rice is wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed again. The leaf-wrapped rice is allowed to simmer and sit before serving. This process of cooking, steaming and simmering takes time and care. When the lotus leaves are unwrapped, the fragrance slowly fills the air and the flavor will gently delight your taste buds. Yeonnip bap is normally served with side dishes such as stewed short ribs & lotus roots, bulgogi or grilled fish. They are rich in protein which is believed to complement the mild fragrant rice.
“Try lotus flower tea too. The fully bloomed lotus flowers have a soothing fragrance.”
Recommended Restaurants
Gudeurae Hwangtojeong
- Address:
- 30 Baekjemun-ro, Gyuam-myeon, Buyeo- gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Tel:
- 041-834-6263
- Business Hour:
- 11:00~21:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Yeonkkot Iyagi
- Address:
- 22 Seongwang-ro, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Tel:
- 041-833-3336
- Business Hour:
- 11:30~21:00
- Closed Mondays
Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do
Yakcho bibimbap
Medicinal herb and wild vegetable bibimbap delights the palate and keeps you in shape
In Jecheon (famous for medicinal herbs) you will find yakcho bibimbap, which is different from bibimbaps of other regions. The secret is the yakgochujang — Korean chili paste with medicinal herbs. More than 16 herbs are added to gochujang giving the paste medicinal properties and an herbal flavor. The side dishes include boiled meat slices with autumn herbs and wild vegetables; grilled fish with mulberry leaves, which rids the dish of the fishy smell; and steamed eggs with fleece flower roots. Jecheon established its own brand of restaurant, Yakchaerak. It has 22 locations and uses herbs to create healthier meals.
“Jecheon’s brand for medicinal herbs – Yakchaerak (藥菜樂)”
Recommended Restaurants
Wontteul
- Address:
- 18 Guksabong-ro 26-gil, Geumseong-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
- Tel:
- 043-648-6788
- Business Hour:
- 11:00~21:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Nodaji Matjip
- Address:
- 21 Naeto-ro 47-gil, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
- Tel:
- 043-648-8865
- Business Hour:
- 11:30~22:00
- Closed the 2nd and 4th Sundays
Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do
Milguknakjitang
The deep and full flavor of the soup is just terrific
Seosan gaetbeol nakji (pygmy octopuses caught in the mudflats of Seosan) has a soft texture and a mild flavor. In this region, gourd slices are normally added to the gaetbeol nakji soup. To cook milguk nakji tang (or baksok nakji tang), nakji is placed in a vegetable and gourd soup, then kalguksu (noodles) or sujebi (hand-pulled dough) are added to the pot. When the soup is brought to a boil, the nakji is blanched lightly. The nakji is eaten with softly cooked vegetables. When you are finished with the nakji, place the noodles or sujebi into the thick soup. Or, you may ask for rice and place the rice in the pot and simmer till it becomes soft porridge. The flavor of the milky white soup is terrifically deep.
Recommended Restaurants
Wangsan Nakji Maeul
- Address:
- 4 Seongnam 1-ro, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
- Tel:
- 041-667-8031
- Business Hour:
- 11:00~22:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Jungwang Ppeol Nakji
- Address:
- 70 Eoreumdeul 2-gil, Jigok-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
- Tel:
- 041-664-8088
- Business Hour:
- 12:00~21:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do
Jogae gui, Jogae jjim
See the beautiful sea while enjoying the texture and flavor of fresh clams
Daecheon, a coastal town on the west coast of Korea, is picked by many Koreans for romantic autumn weekend getaways. One of the many attractions in the town is jogae gui geori (“grilled clam” street) where you can enjoy fresh clam dishes at the seafood restaurants lining the street. Generous portions of seafood like scallops, clams, pen shells, abalone, cockles and horned turbans are served along with raw fish, pancakes or noodle soups. Some restaurants grill clams on a briquette fire. When cooked, the clams open. Take one and dip it in the vinegar infused chili paste. The taste is unbeatable. Finish off your meal with some spicy noodle soup made with clam stock.
“After finishing the grilled clams, try the spicy clam kalguksu. They are a fantastic duo.”
Recommended Restaurants
The Clam Factory
- Address:
- 39 Haesuyokjang 8-gil, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
- Tel:
- 041-932-1993
- Business Hour:
- 11:00~03:00
- Closed during Korean traditional public holidays
Manimani Jogae Gui
- Address:
- 26 Haesuyokjang 4-gil, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
- Business Hour:
- 11:30~22:00
- Open year-round
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