A Delightful Hanjeongsik Experience with Breathtaking Bukhangang River Views at Totamgol
Hello!
Isn't the weather absolutely perfect these days?
The sky is high, the sunshine is warm, and you just have to soak in that sweet, sweet autumn breeze to truly feel the season.
It's not too chilly, not too hot – it's a shame to stay indoors on such a fantastic day!
Even after arriving, enchanted by the autumn air near Seoul, you might hesitate to go inside.
But don't worry!
Totamgol, a Bukhangang River restaurant I visited today, is the perfect place to enjoy the Bukhangang River view and this wonderful weather, with its outdoor seating.
I highly recommend this place if you want to experience a proper Korean set meal.
Now, let me share my review of a healing meal at Totamgol.
1. Tranquil Hanok Charm (Parking & Atmosphere)
Totamgol has a large parking area in front of the restaurant, so you can visit comfortably without worrying about parking.
It's spacious enough to accommodate even on weekends or during peak hours.
The building itself is a tranquil Hanok (traditional Korean house) style that captures the essence of a Korean set meal restaurant, making you feel at ease from the moment you step inside.
Inside, the interior is decorated with exposed rafters and a pleasant atmosphere, allowing you to feel the traditional beauty.
It's already a well-known famous restaurant visited by many celebrities.
The luxurious yet comfortable atmosphere made it immediately clear why it's so popular.
A great place to have a delicious meal with your parents!
2. Menu Composition and Ordering
One of the advantages of Totamgol's menu is the variety of main dishes, allowing you to choose according to your taste.
The hot stone pot set menus are especially popular.
Menu
Price
Special Thistle Hot Stone Pot Set Meal
₩35,000
Totamgol Hot Stone Pot Set Meal
₩30,000
Hot Stone Pot Eel Set Meal
₩44,000
Braised Cutlassfish Set Meal
₩25,000
Braised Mackerel Set Meal
₩25,000
Spicy Stir-fried Chicken Set Meal
₩25,000
Grilled Cutlassfish Set Meal
₩25,000
Spicy Pork Set Meal
₩25,000
Thistle Hot Stone Pot Rice (Single)
₩18,000
Additional Single Dishes: Tofu Kimchi, Kimchi Pancake, Deodeok (Lanceolata) Root, Grilled Eel, etc.
3. Romantic Outdoor Dining with Bukhangang River Views
The weather was so nice that day, even though I visited at a somewhat awkward time of 4 PM on a weekday, the outdoor seating was already full.
Everyone must have come to enjoy the romance, not wanting to miss this fantastic weather, just like me.
I was lucky enough to get a seat at an outdoor table.
With a clear view of the Bukhangang River and the beautiful mountain scenery in the background, and such a lavish spread of food,
I really felt like a noble lady!
The combination of the natural scenery unfolding before my eyes, the warm autumn sunshine, and the delicious and refined food provided a special experience that couldn't be found in any fancy restaurant.
The entire meal was pure healing, and it felt like a trip rather than just eating a meal.
We ordered two Special Thistle Hot Stone Pot Set Meals so that we could taste a variety of main dishes at once.
It comes with a whopping five main dishes: Totamgol's signature Thistle Hot Stone Pot Rice, grilled yellow corvina, grilled mackerel, grilled deodeok root, spicy pork, and braised cutlassfish!
I highly recommend ordering the Special Thistle Hot Stone Pot Set Meal if you want to enjoy a variety of flavors.
4. A Feast of 5 Main Dishes and Rich Thistle Hot Stone Pot Rice
As soon as the Special Set Meal was served, the table was filled with side dishes and main dishes.
The basic side dishes included pickled cabbage, seasoned squid, soybean paste with perilla leaves, seasoned bean sprouts, soy beans, kimchi, pickled peppers, seaweed salad, and green laver.
Each one had a homemade style taste that felt carefully prepared.
???? Thistle Hot Stone Pot Rice & Cheonggukjang (Fermented Soybean Stew)
As soon as I opened the lid of the thistle rice served in a very hot stone pot, the rich aroma of thistle swirled around my nose, which was truly amazing.
I've had this kind of hot stone pot rice or thistle rice in many places because I like it so much, but Totamgol's thistle rice had the richest aroma and was the most delicious of all the places I've been to.
The rice is seasoned by default!
My husband scooped out the rice and prepared to make scorched rice by pouring water into the remaining pot, then added a little more sesame oil and soy sauce to the rice and mixed it.
Then he said it was exploding with umami and told me to try a spoonful quickly!
Adding soy sauce and sesame oil exploded with umami, which was another charm!
But I prefer to put various side dishes on top and eat it.
Because each of the side dishes here is so delicious, I like to feel that taste.
My husband especially said that he wanted to pack the perilla leaves and green laver to take home.
The cheonggukjang served with Totamgol had whole soybeans and a deep, savory taste that was just like the homemade taste that my grandmother would make.
It was served warm, bubbling hot, making it perfect to enjoy with rice.
???? An In-Depth Exploration of the 5 Main Dishes
I tasted each of the grilled yellow corvina, grilled mackerel, grilled deodeok root, spicy pork, and braised cutlassfish included in the Special Menu.
Grilled Mackerel: I don't actually like grilled fish, especially grilled mackerel.
I tend to avoid it because of the fishy smell or dry texture, but the grilled mackerel here was crispy on the outside and so chewy on the inside, with no smell at all.
Thanks to that, I really enjoyed it.
Braised Cutlassfish: My personal favorite menu item was the braised cutlassfish.
In addition, it was simmered in the sauce just right, so the sauce was well absorbed, and eating the large pieces of cutlassfish with radish makes my mouth water even now.
It wasn't spicy, but it had a moderately spicy yet deep taste, so it was a true rice thief.
Grilled Deodeok (Lanceolata) Root: Grilled deodeok root, made by grilling fragrant deodeok in a sweet sauce, boasted a fantastic harmony with thistle rice.
The unique texture and aroma of deodeok played a significant role in stimulating the appetite.
Spicy Pork & Grilled Yellow Corvina: The spicy and sweet spicy pork and the savory grilled yellow corvina also had impeccable flavors, and it was fun to eat a variety of side dishes alternately.
In the end, I enjoyed the true Korean set meal experience by putting large pieces of grilled deodeok, grilled mackerel, and braised cutlassfish on a spoonful of rice and eating it heartily.
5. The Finale is Always Scorched Rice!
The time I was most looking forward to after finishing the rice was this scorched rice time!
Since the hot stone pot rice itself is delicious, the scorched rice made with its residual heat also has another umami flavor.
Eating the scorched rice, which had been soaked in warm water, with seasoned squid, allowed me to finish the meal neatly.
The combination of savory scorched rice and chewy seasoned squid was perfect, so I scraped the pot clean.
If you are looking for a good restaurant in Yangpyeong Seojong-myeon, I highly recommend Totamgol, which offers not only a delicious meal but also healing and romance.
Indoor seating is also good, but on a nice day, be sure to sit on the outdoor terrace and enjoy an unparalleled healing time by eating a spoonful of breeze and a spoonful of rice!
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