Jinmi Restaurant Iksan (2026): Hwangdeung Market's 100-Year Bibinbap & Sundae

Places to Visit in Iksan

A Culinary Journey in Jeollabuk-do

Jinmi Sikdang (진미식당) at Hwangdeung Market (황등시장)

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#IksanRestaurant #IksanTravel #JinmiSikdang #IksanJinmiSikdang #BaengnyeonGage Discover 'Jinmi Sikdang (진미식당)', a historic Baengnyeon Gage (백년가게) found in Hwangdeung Market (황등시장) in Iksan (익산). Experience the touching bibimbap made with carefully steeped rice grains, homemade gochujang and ganjang, and even unique sweet potato sundae.m.blog.naver.com

1. Visiting a Baengnyeon Gage (백년가게) on an Iksan Trip

This time, on our way to Jeonju (전주) for a trip with my parents, we naturally enjoyed a drive through Iksan.

After enjoying various attractions in Iksan, such as Mireuksa Temple Site (미륵사지) and Nabawi Catholic Church (나바위 성지 성당), I wanted to casually explore a traditional market, so we headed to Hwangdeung Market.

We explored the small, charming Hwangdeung Market, where you can find heartwarming signboards and alleyways that are hard to experience in a flashy modern supermarket, and continued our culinary journey.

My father, who enjoys touring Baengnyeon Gage establishments, told me that Jinmi Sikdang, an Iksan restaurant beloved for its three generations of culinary heritage, started as Jo Yeo-a's grandmother's store in 1931, continued by Won Geum-ae (her mother) in 1973, and then by Lee Jong-sik (her son) in 2003, and suggested we stop for a bowl of bibimbap.

I'll give you a detailed introduction to the location, atmosphere, menu, and taste of Jinmi Sikdang at Hwangdeung Market, a place in Iksan where you can savor refined yet deeply flavorful food, and where you can truly feel its unique mastery.

2. Jinmi Sikdang (진미식당): Location & Atmosphere

While there aren't as many places to visit in Iksan as one might think, it's still a charming Jeollabuk-do travel destination that's great for a casual stop on the way to Jeonju.

Hwangdeung Market is a traditional market steeped in history, established amidst the lives of workers at the Hwangdeung Granite Quarry (황등 화강함 채석장) during the Japanese colonial period. In the heart of this significant market,

Jinmi Sikdang, nestled in a humble and friendly market alley, is a Baengnyeon Gage and a Blue Ribbon restaurant that has preserved the cozy, old-fashioned charm of its long history, evident in its faded signboard and heartwarming interior.

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Jinmi Sikdang: A Unique Culinary Destination in Jeollabuk-do

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Address

158 Hwangdeung-ro, Hwangdeung-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do

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Parking

Free parking at Hwangdeung Market Parking Lot

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Operating Hours

11:00 - 15:30

Regular closing every Sunday

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Closed on Chuseok (추석) Day (9/26)

Chuseok Holiday Period (9/24, 9/26): 11:00 - 16:00

Upon entering, it was clear that this restaurant has been featured extensively on popular Korean food shows.

This place crafts high-quality dishes using agricultural and livestock products from Iksan City (익산시).

During peak seasons or weekend mealtimes,

wait times can exceed an hour.

Luckily, we visited on a rainy weekday during the off-season, right at opening time,

so we were able to get a table immediately.

Since they only operate during lunchtime,

it gets incredibly crowded on weekends.

If there's a wait, please make sure to add your name to the waiting list

inside the restaurant.

There's also a cool waiting room inside the restaurant.

The restaurant interior boasts spacious table arrangements and a friendly atmosphere.

It filled up with customers almost immediately after opening.

3. Unique Dishes Discovered on Our Jeonbuk (전북) Journey

On our way to Jeonju (전주), we serendipitously enjoyed a drive through Iksan (익산).

It was there that we discovered a truly unique menu at Jinmi Restaurant (진미식당) in Hwangdeung Market (황등시장),

which offered an unforgettable culinary experience during our Iksan trip. Let me introduce you to it!

Menu

Toryeom Beef Tartare Bibimbap (Yukhoe Bibinbap)

Special ₩15,000 (~$11) / Regular ₩12,000 (~$9)

Toryeom Bulgogi Gochujang Bibinbap

₩12,000 (~$9)

(Great for Children)

Toryeom Beef Bulgogi Soy Sauce Bibinbap

₩12,000 (~$9)

"Nalsini" Sweet Potato Sundae

₩13,000 (~$10)

White Offal Seonjigukbap

₩10,000 (~$7)

Sundaegukbap

₩10,000 (~$7)

Seonjiguk

₩6,000 (~$4)

Hanwoo Beef Tartare (Yukhoe) ₩38,000 (~$28)

We ordered the signature dishes: Toryeom Beef Tartare Bibinbap and

"Nalsini" Sweet Potato Sundae.

Jinmi Hwangdeung Yukhoe Bibimbap uses homemade gochujang (Korean chili paste) that's not chalky but deeply flavorful, made with domestic chili powder, and a special homemade soy sauce.

The seasoning was absolutely exquisite!

The bibinbap bowl is served very hot, so those visiting with children

should be cautious.

The reason the restaurant calls it "bibinbap" (비빈밥) instead of "bibimbap" (비빔밥)

is due to its unique cooking method:

it's served already mixed.

The characteristic feature is that the rice is warmed (toryeom) in beef bone broth before being mixed with the seasoning.

It's a cooking method that creates a delicious bowl of food with a touch of sincere care.

Since the rice is already mixed when served, each grain is evenly

seasoned.

The seasoning wasn't overly strong, and the fresh yukhoe (beef tartare) blended perfectly with ingredients like radish greens (munamul), bracken fern (gosarinamul), stir-fried carrots, and shredded seaweed (gimgaru).

It was truly a healthy and deeply moving flavor experience.

As a must-visit spot in Jeonbuk Iksan, I especially recommend bringing your parents here.

They even told us that the shredded seaweed isn't store-bought, but high-quality

gimgaru that they roast themselves!

When you order bibinbap, you also get a small serving of seonjiguk (ox blood soup) on the side.

Its clarity, cleanliness, and profound depth of flavor were truly astonishing;

it just made me exclaim in admiration!

The side dishes (banchan) like lotus root, kimchi, pickled cabbage, and braised mushrooms

were all incredibly delicious, and even our parents loved them.

You can generously help yourself to additional side dishes from the trays next to the kitchen.

The "Nalsini" Sweet Potato Sundae piqued my curiosity even more because it won a gold prize at the Iksan Seodong Festival (익산 서동축제) Processed Food Idea Contest.

This dish features sticky blood sundae as its base, studded with chunks of yellow sweet potato.

The moist and chewy texture delivered a natural sweetness and tenderness from the sweet potato that wasn't overwhelming. Even I, who usually doesn't enjoy glass noodle sundae,

found myself eating it with such delight!

I felt like even those new to sundae could enjoy this delicious flavor without feeling overwhelmed.

4. Unique Culinary Discoveries on Our Jeonbuk (전북) Journey!

While on a drive in Iksan (익산), my father really wanted to visit a particular spot, so I'm thrilled to introduce you to a fantastic culinary destination in Iksan: Jinmi Restaurant (진미식당).

From the rich Toram Yukhoe Bibimbap, steeped in generations of culinary expertise, to the unique sweet and savory sweet potato sundae, it was a Jeonbuk culinary journey where I truly understood why this establishment has been cherished as a Centennial Store for three generations.

If you're looking to enjoy a scenic drive through Iksan and explore its charming spots, or if you're coming from the Seoul Metropolitan Area and heading towards Jeonju (전주) – a renowned Jeonbuk destination – and crave a truly distinct flavor, I highly recommend visiting Jinmi Restaurant! You'll get to soak in the tranquil ambiance of Hwangdeung Market (황등시장), a serene Iksan getaway, and savor the profound, century-old culinary craftsmanship that awaits.