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Discover Jungdeundarak, a hidden gem near Deoksugung Palace in Seoul, serving healthy, authentic Korean dishes like Gondre Bap and spicy Jjukkumi Bokkeum. Expect a wait during weekday lunches!
I recently met up with my sibling, who works near City Hall, and found myself strolling along the picturesque Deoksugung Stone Wall Path. It had been a while since I'd visited!
My sibling, always in the know about the best local spots, insisted on taking me to their favorite hidden gem. It turned out to be a fantastic restaurant called Jungdeundarak, located right in front of the Deoksugung Stone Wall Path, just a stone's throw from City Hall Station, Exit 1.
Tucked away on the second floor, above a cafe called Doldamkong, it felt like a true local secret that only those in the know would discover!
Apparently, this spot is so popular that there's often a considerable wait during weekday lunch hours.
Reservations are only possible by phone, and parking isn't available on-site, so plan to use a public parking lot nearby.
"Honest, healthy flavors for a wholesome meal"? I was already impressed just climbing the stairs!
Honestly, I went in expecting a typical office worker's lunch spot – great food, but not much in terms of ambiance.
But my sibling, who had arrived early to snag a table, managed to get us a fantastic window seat overlooking the Deoksugung Stone Wall! 😆
Seriously, the view was incredible!
The menu at Jungdeundarak is delightfully simple. The main offering is the Gondre Bapsang (Gondre Rice Set Meal), where you choose your main protein from Spicy Pork (Jeyuk), Spicy Stir-fried Webfoot Octopus (Jjukkumi), or Marinated Beef (Bulgogi).
The menu even includes English and Chinese translations, which is a huge plus for international visitors! Every Gondre Bapsang also comes with Dulkkae Siraegi Guk (perilla seed dried radish greens soup).
We opted for the Gondre Bap & Jjukkumi Bokkeum for two, and added a side of Steamed Egg!
Our total came out to ~$26.
As we chatted and enjoyed the view of the Deoksugung Stone Wall Path, our side dishes and Gondre Bap were served.
The basic side dishes included five different items: seaweed, bean sprouts, diced radish kimchi (kkakdugi), shredded radish salad (mu-chae), and even tteokbokki!
Doesn't the Gondre Bap look absolutely delicious?
With the addition of the Dulkkae Siraegi Guk, it was a truly satisfying and wholesome meal.
Soon after, the Jjukkumi Bokkeum arrived, and its vibrant color was simply radiant! ✨
What I loved most was that, across the board, from the side dishes to the Jjukkumi Bokkeum, the seasoning wasn't overpowering.
Even the seaweed wasn't the seasoned, savory kind, but rather plain, unseasoned seaweed, which might not be for everyone, but I personally found it delightful!
The jjukkumi had a wonderfully chewy and fresh texture, and tasted fantastic.
Often, jjukkumi bokkeum can be intensely spicy, salty, and overtly stimulating.
However, Jungdeundarak's version felt like a genuine home-cooked meal, with a healthy, less-intense flavor profile that was easy and enjoyable to eat!
The freshly made, piping hot Steamed Egg was also a delightful sight, packed with onions and carrots, truly a classic Korean home-style dish!
It paired perfectly with the jjukkumi bokkeum, so I highly recommend ordering it!
As the sun set, the lights along the Deoksugung Stone Wall came on, making Jungdeundarak an even more atmospheric dining spot!
With its long row of window seats, it seems ideal for solo diners, and also perfect for sharing multiple dishes with friends. It's easy to see why it's so popular as a lunch spot for local office workers.
I'm definitely keen to try the Jeyuk or other menu items, so I'll absolutely be back next time I'm in the City Hall area!
📍 Jungdeundarak
2nd Floor, Hyeonjin Building, 9 Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
A healthy Gondre Bap and Jjukkumi Bokkeum meal overlooking the Deoksugung Stone Wall Path.
Pre-Visit (Expectation): ★★★
During Visit (Experience): ★★★★
Post-Visit (Memory): ★★★★
*What is the Wellness Archive Index?
Jeongdeun Darrak is located right in front of Deoksugung Stone Wall Road, directly opposite Exit 1 of City Hall Station. It is on the 2nd floor, above the Doldamkong Cafe.
The total price for the Gondre-bap & Jjukkumi-bokkeum for 2 and Steamed Egg ordered in the article is ~$26. The Gondre-bapsang (Gondre Rice Set) includes Perilla Seed Siraegi-guk (dried radish greens soup), gim (seaweed), bean sprouts, kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi), mu-chae (shredded radish salad), and tteokbokki, making a total of 5 basic side dishes.
Parking is not available at Jeongdeun Darrak, so you will need to use a public parking lot. Reservations can only be made by phone, and there may be a waiting line during weekday lunch hours.
Jeongdeun Darrak's Jjukkumi-bokkeum is characterized by its healthy flavor—not too strong or overly stimulating. Among the basic side dishes, the gim (seaweed) is served plain, without seasoning.
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