When you want Korean food for lunch on Gyeongju's Hwangnidan-gil, this is the perfect spot I visited — Wolgyegwan, where you can enjoy spicy stir-fried pork together with marsh snail ssamjang in a hanok!
[Wolgyegwan Information]
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Hours | 11:00 AM ~ 9:30 PM (Open year-round) |
Break Time | 3:30 PM ~ 5:00 PM |
Last Order | 8:30 PM |
Phone | 0507-1380-9535 |
Menu and Food
Wolgyegwan is a Korean ssambap restaurant where you enjoy marsh snail ssamjang as a base along with spicy stir-fried pork, beef bulgogi, chicken drumstick medley, and more. The signature menu, chicken drumstick medley, is famous too, but we ordered the Five-Grain Marsh Snail Ssamjang Set - Pork!
Five-Grain Marsh Snail Ssamjang Set - Pork
The spicy stir-fried pork came out, and the seasoning wasn't too strong, so it was easy to enjoy! The portion was just right for two people. Wrapping the pork with the marsh snail ssamjang in a leaf was nutty and hearty.
Marsh Snail Ssamjang
It was unique that the marsh snail ssamjang had nuts in it, and it was nutty and delicious! It was great on a wrap, and it also paired well mixed bit by bit with rice.
Basic Side Dishes
About 6 kinds of side dishes came out, and they were neat and well presented! I remember the seasoned squid (ojingeo-jeotgal) being tasty.
The wrap vegetables come out together with the main dish, and an extra wrap order costs an additional 2,000 won. The basic wrap portion was enough, but if you eat a lot of wraps, it's good to keep in mind!
Full Menu
The main menu is structured as below.
Menu | Price |
|---|---|
Five-Grain Marsh Snail Ssamjang Set + Flame-Grilled Pork (1 serving) | 15,900 won |
Five-Grain Marsh Snail Ssamjang Set + Beef Bulgogi (1 serving) | 17,900 won |
Chicken Drumstick Medley, Medium (8 pieces) | 29,900 won |
Chicken Drumstick Medley, Large (12 pieces) | 43,900 won |
I'm curious about the chicken drumstick medley too. If I have a chance to stop by Gyeongju next time, I'll give it a try!
There are also side menu items structured as below!
Seafood-Loaded Pajeon: 16,000 won
Mushroom Vegetable Jeon: 11,000 won
Meat Dumplings: 7,000 won
Atmosphere
Interior
Since it's a renovated hanok, the atmosphere was really nice. There were seats where you could look down over Hwangnidan-gil through a full-length window, and overall it felt clean and bright.
I saw quite a few foreign tourists too, probably because it's near Gyeongju's tourist attractions. Foreign guests usually came in groups. Eating Korean food in a hanok seems to be appealing to foreigners as well!
Exterior
Since it's located on Hwangnidan-gil, it was also great for a stroll around the area before or after the meal.
Waiting
We visited on a Saturday lunch, and we were able to go right in without any wait!
There was a CatchTable kiosk in front of the restaurant. Around the time we finished eating and left, a lot of group guests came in, and when groups like that come in, there might be a bit of a wait.
You should be able to check the wait via CatchTable!
Amenities
Restroom
The restroom was right across from the restaurant, outside. It's not hard to find!
Parking
There's no dedicated private parking lot, so you'll need to use a nearby public parking lot.
Smoking Area
As far as I know, Hwangnidan-gil itself doesn't have a smoking area. It seems like a lot of people smoke in the alley to the right of the Wolgyegwan restaurant.
I recommend Wolgyegwan for those who want a hearty meal while enjoying the hanok atmosphere on Gyeongju's Hwangnidan-gil! The seasoning isn't too strong, so anyone can enjoy it without a problem, and the marsh snail ssamjang is so nutty that it paired perfectly with the pork. I recommend giving it a visit!
