Kang Min-joo's Deulbap Icheon Review (2026): Prices, Hours & Tips

This past weekend, during a trip near Seoul, my husband strongly recommended we visit Kang Min Joo's Deulbap Icheon Main Branch (강민주의 들밥 이천 본점).

Honestly, I was a bit skeptical at first, but

as a Korean food lover, I've found a restaurant of a lifetime, and I'm sharing my honest review, paid for with my own money.

Kang Min Joo's Deulbap Icheon Main Branch

Deulbap means 'rice eaten in the fields'.

Historically, during farm work, people wouldn't go all the way home

but instead prepared and ate a meal at the workplace, which was called deulbap.

Nowadays, it feels like it's somewhere between Hanjeongsik (full-course Korean meal) and Baekban (Korean set meal).

The place I visited was Kang Min Joo's Deulbap Main Branch,

but there's also a separate direct branch in Icheon.

Since the two locations are about a 15-minute drive apart, make sure not to confuse them!

Kang Min Joo's Deulbap Direct Branch is located next to Cafe Yijinsanghoe (카페 이진상회),

so if you want to enjoy a meal and a cafe experience all at once,

the Kang Min Joo's Deulbap Direct Branch might be a better option.

* Just a note: there aren't any cafes within walking distance of the Kang Min Joo's Deulbap Main Branch.

Kang Min Joo's Deulbap Icheon Main Branch

Saturday Weekend Waiting?

We arrived on Saturday, right after opening, at around 10:40 AM,

and were seated immediately without any waiting.

However, about 80% of the restaurant was already dining...

You can register for waiting via Catchtable,

but when we left after our meal around 11:30 AM, there was only one group waiting.

According to my husband, who used to work in Icheon,

you have to do an 'open run' (arrive right when they open) to avoid waiting,

and normally, even people who work nearby find it hard to get a table.

Especially if you plan to visit during peak meal times,

I recommend checking the line-up reservation or waiting status on Catchtable and registering in advance.

Alternatively, at off-peak hours, I recommend brunch or 'jeomjeo' (late lunch/early dinner)!

Parking space is very generous,

and since the surroundings are open fields, you probably don't need to worry about parking.

However, this was based on a morning visit, so it might be busier in the afternoon.

If you're a Korean Food Lover, You Can't Help But Be Satisfied

Kang Min Joo's Deulbap

Kang Min Joo's Deulbap's main menu item is simply the Deulbap.

However, you can add Bori Gulbi, Bulgogi, Grilled Mackerel, and other dishes.

We ordered Deulbap for two people + Grilled Mackerel!

You get 12 kinds of side dishes (banchan).

Usually, only a few side dishes are really tasty, and the rest are just okay,

but here, all of them are above average, plus...

The Kkodulbaegi, Gungchaenamul, fried chili peppers, and fried eggplant were especially delicious.

And get this—**everything is endlessly refillable**!

The natural flavors of the ingredients really shone through, and they weren't overly seasoned,

making it easy to eat a lot.

There were so many customers that the side dishes were piled high,

but it was amazing how they still tasted like homemade food despite being mass-produced.

The **Cheonggukjang** (fermented soybean paste stew) that comes as part of the basic set.

The Cheonggukjang didn't have a strong smell, so even I, who doesn't usually enjoy it,

found it so delicious I scraped every last bit from the bowl.

And the **grilled mackerel** I added!

It was lightly seasoned and perfectly grilled to a crisp.

The thickness was average, and while it wasn't quite Jeju Island (제주도)-level grilled mackerel,

it was still delicious.

The **dolsotbap** (hot stone pot rice) had excellent chewiness.

It wasn't sticky, but wonderfully chewy...

I often can't finish the soongnyung (scorched rice tea), but I polished it all off! : )

Takeout is also available!

In the end, I ended up taking home Gungchaenamul and Kkodulbaegi...

**Side dish takeout is ₩5,000 (~$4) per item**, but

you can choose from the pre-packaged ones or, if you want a different side dish,

they'll pack it separately for you.

While the price is a bit higher than regular side dishes,

the portion is double, and you get to taste it before buying, so it felt well worth the money.

They also **sell Baechu Kimchi (napa cabbage kimchi), sesame oil, and more**, so keep that in mind!

Kang Min-ju's Deulbap Icheon Main Branch (강민주의 들밥 이천 본점)

Travel Tips

As someone who's visited in person, here are some light tips for your visit :)

If you're planning to visit with infants or young children,

you don't need to worry, as **high chairs are available**.

There's a **bojagi** (traditional Korean wrapping cloth) used to cover the tableware on the tables, and **it's sold separately**.

I bought one as a souvenir, and it was ₩5,000 (~$4) each!

There's a wide variety of colors, so picking one out is part of the fun.

I couldn't go inside because there were so many customers, but they say **there are also private rooms**.

If you're planning to dine with a large family

and prefer a slightly quieter space, it might be good to inquire about them.

Chaechae's Overall Review

As you might know from my other restaurant reviews,

I'm not usually one to overhype a restaurant,

but here, I was smiling so much that any frown lines just melted away while I was eating...

If you're a Korean food lover like me, I highly recommend Kang Min-ju's Deulbap Icheon Main Branch!