Gilpung Andong Review 2026: Best Heotjesabap Dining

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ANDONG

Gilpung

Highly Recommended! A Must-Visit Local Heotjesabab Restaurant near Hahoe Village, Andong

© Written & Photographed by Naver Travel Blogger hyeoniz

If you're planning a trip to Andong,

there's one traditional dish you absolutely must try:

Heotjesabab (traditional mock-ritual rice dish)!

After exploring Byeongsanseowon and Hahoe Folk Village,

I was trying to decide where to grab a bite

and ended up visiting "Gilpung," a spot heavily favored by locals.

From Heotjesabab to local salted mackerel,

you can taste all of Andong's iconic dishes in one place.

It was incredibly satisfying, making it a perfect dining spot

even if you're traveling with your parents! :)

1. Recommended Andong Day Route

The most efficient route

I highly recommend is:

Byeongsanseowon → Hahoe Folk Village → Gilpung

Since Byeongsanseowon and Hahoe Village are quite close to each other,

it's perfect to explore them in the morning

and head to Gilpung right in time for lunch!

As anyone who has walked through Hahoe Village during summer knows...

there is barely any shade to hide from the sun.

I visited right in the middle of the day,

and I was literally drenched in sweat! ㅠㅠ

So, wrapping up our tour and stepping into the ice-cold

comfort of Gilpung for a hearty meal was pure bliss.

This spot has been featured on the hit TV show

Welcome, First Time in Korea? and

Poongja's famous food show, Togan-jib.

So while it's highly popular among tourists,

I noticed plenty of local Andong residents

streaming in as soon as lunchtime hit.

After eating here, I totally understood why

both locals and travelers rave about it!

2. Parking & Interior Vibe

One of the biggest perks of Gilpung!

Their private parking lot is incredibly spacious,

making parking absolutely stress-free even on weekends.

Since they host many tour groups,

they’ve made sure to provide plenty of parking spots.

Stepping inside,

the space was much larger than I expected.

It felt vast enough to easily

accommodate around 100 people,

and the generous table spacing

meant it never felt crowded or stuffy.

But above all, the best part was the air conditioning!

After sweating buckets at

Byeongsanseowon and Hahoe Village,

walking into that icy blast of AC

honestly felt like absolute heaven haha.

Inside, there's also a private room-style space,

making it perfect for dining with parents, large family gatherings,

or group events!

The walls were absolutely covered with celebrity autographs,

it's crazy to imagine just how many people have visited this place! 😮

3. Recommended Menu at Gilpung

Gilpung is officially recognized by the Korea Tourism Organization

as a 'Clean and Delicious Restaurant'!

The best part? You can try all of Andong's signature dishes

right here in one place!

The signature menu items include:

Heotjesabap (traditional ritual-style rice), Andong salted mackerel,

Andong jjimdak (braised chicken), and Hanwoo bulgogi

You can also get the jjimdak to go! haha

If this is your final stop of the trip,

taking some jjimdak home is an absolute pro-tip! 👍

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What is Heotjesabap?

Heotjesabap literally means 'fake memorial ceremony rice.' It refers to a meal

prepared just like a traditional ancestral rite table, even when no ritual is held.

It's a historic, traditional local dish originating right here in Andong.

Featuring a variety of foods usually placed on a ritual table—like fish, skewered meat, savory pancakes (jeon), seasoned vegetables, and soup—

it's all beautifully served together as a complete meal! :)

They also sell traditional Andong Soju on one side of the restaurant,

making it perfect to pick up as a gift or souvenir!

You can even purchase the salted mackerel separately!

It was so delicious that I wanted to bring some home to eat with my daily meals.

Seriously so good (highly recommended!)

4. Honest Review: Heotjesabap & Salted Mackerel

Here is what we ordered:

Standard Heotjesabap Table: ~$9

Andong Whole Salted Grilled Mackerel: ~$10

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While their jjimdak and bulgogi are also famous,

pairing the Heotjesabap with the salted mackerel

created an incredibly clean, savory, and beautifully arranged meal.

My parents enjoyed it so much!

It's definitely the combination I highly recommend

if you are traveling with family or elders.

The salted mackerel was perfectly grilled—golden and crispy on the outside,

and incredibly moist and juicy on the inside.

The salty flavor paired beautifully with the rice,

and there wasn't even a trace of any fishy smell.

Just one bite of it makes you want to devour a whole bowl of rice,

instantly showing me why this is Andong's most famous dish!

The owner told us that mixing it with a drizzle of soy sauce is the traditional way,

and you can add gochujang (red chili paste) if you prefer.

So, I decided to mix it up with just a little bit of soy sauce...

and oh my gosh, it was incredibly delicious even without the gochujang!

Especially when topped with a bit of chive kimchi—

it was truly the ultimate pairing! Pure perfection!

The tangguk (beef radish soup) was also very clean and not overpowering,

making it the perfect palate cleanser between bites.

Most of all, the side dishes, served just like

traditional ancestral rite foods, were highly impressive!

From shark meat (dombaegi) and skewered beef to pan-fried pollack fillets and pan-fried tofu,

getting to taste all these unique dishes

in one sitting

made me feel like I was truly experiencing Andong's authentic traditions haha.

My mom actually said, "Usually, we only get this depth of flavor after holding a proper ancestral rite,

when the ancestors have paid a visit.

How on earth does this taste so incredibly good without even holding a ritual?!"

haha, she was thoroughly impressed!

For dessert, they serve Andong gamju (sweet rice drink)!

It had a wonderfully subtle, sweet flavor. It was so good,

and you can even buy some to go if you like it.

Just a quick tip:

Gamju is sweet and loved by kids,

while Andong sikhye is red, slightly spicy, and appeals to a more mature,

traditional palate, so you can choose according to your taste! :)

If you're planning a trip to Andong,

be sure to save this spot and pay a visit!

Even when I return to Andong in the future,

I would definitely come back to enjoy this combination again :)