One of the reasons why Gyeongju is such an attractive travel destination is its delicious food. Early on, the diverse menu was developed to cater to the diverse tastes of out-of-town travelers.
Nowadays, there are many unique restaurants that appeal to younger travelers, adding to the food scene.
If you get hungry while exploring the city, check out the neighborhood eateries.
You can easily find a satisfying meal anywhere.
1. Palwoojeong Haejangguk Street
This is a 50-year-old haejanggukjip street located in Palwoojeong Samgeori, Hwangodong, Gyeongju.
At one time, there were 30 shops, but it’s not the same now.
It’s a favorite spot for people who haven’t forgotten the taste of their grandmother’s haejangguk from long ago when they travel to Gyeongju.
Typically, haejangguk is made with meat and bean sprouts, but this restaurant’s haejangguk is unique in that it is made with buckwheat cakes, bean sprouts
mojaban (seaweed), sour kimchi, and seafood broth.
The soup is light and refreshing. Haejangguk is the main menu, but there are also seonjitguk and chuertang.
2. Ssambap Street
There are many restaurants specializing in ssambap around Daereungwon in Gyeongju.
Rice cooked with glutinous Gyeongju rice is wrapped with organic fresh vegetables and handmade gochujang, miso, and salted fish.
If you order a ssam set meal, you’ll usually get seven to eight vegetables, ssamjang, pork chops, meat, and plenty of side dishes.
There are various menus for each restaurant, such as jeyuk ssambap, Korean beef tteokgalbi ssambap, beef bulgogi ssambap, and cheongguk bulgogi ssambap.
Each house boasts its own unique flavor. It’s close to Daereungwon and Cheomseongdae, so it’s a great place to visit together.
3. Samneung Kalguksu Village
Near Samneung, at the foot of Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju, is Kalguksu Village.
A long time ago, when we grew our wheat here, one or two shops started to open, and now it’s a noodle village.
Each shop has its own specialty, but the noodles are made with pure Korean wheat and cooked in water with anchovies, shrimp, kelp, green onions, etc.
The broth is slightly thick and savory, but the flavors are similar, and you can enjoy suyuk, pajeon, and acorn rice cakes on the side.
It’s a favorite spot for hikers who stroll through the Samneung pine forest or climb and descend Namsan Mountain.
4. Hwasan Bulgogi Complex
In Cheonbuk, about a 20-minute drive from Gyeongju Bomun Complex, is Hwasan Bulgogi Complex, which sells only pure domestic beef.
Since ancient times, Gyeongju has been known as one of the top five beef markets in Korea.
under the name of Gyeongju Thousand Years Korean Beef.
Hwasan Bulgogi Complex, which has a history of nearly 30 years, serves fresh, flavorful beef and pollution-free vegetables.
They are especially famous for their charcoal-broiled ribs, which come with plenty of side dishes.
5. Forest Head Food Village
At the entrance to Gyeongju Bomun Complex, there is a village called Forest Head.
Forest Head has long been a food village where you can find a variety of foods.
Local chicken, charcoal grilled ribs, Korean traditional dishes, spicy soup, soft tofu, and flounder sashimi are all suitable for the atmosphere of Gyeongju.
Enjoying a meal in the relaxed atmosphere of a traditional hanok is another attraction of Gyeongju.
Nearby is the Tomb of King Jinpyeong, which is not widely known to travelers but has a beautiful walking course, making it a great place to explore after your meal.
6. Bukgun Sundubu Village
Bukgun-dong, located at the beginning of the Bomun Complex in Gyeongju, is home to a number of nutritious sundubu restaurants.
It is also called Bomun Sundubu Village because it is located in Bomun Complex. There are many farmers who have been growing soybeans here for a long time.
so soybean dishes developed naturally.
The sharp-tasting sundubu stew served in a clay pot is made with purely domestic soybeans and has a deep flavor.
The flavor of the raw egg served with it is also unique. Each house has its own unique sundubu menu, such as matsutake sundubu and crab jang sundubu.
7. Bomundan Complex Freshwater Spicy Hot Pot
Gyeongju has been famous for its freshwater spicy soup since ancient times.
Although there are fewer freshwater spicy soup restaurants than before, you can find them all over Gyeongju, especially around Bomun Complex.
The freshwater ingredients include catfish, blue crab, horseshoe crab, willowfish, eel, crucian carp, and shrimp.
You can enjoy the fishy, ice-cold, and refreshing flavor. Spicy soup made with fresh freshwater ingredients such as sesame leaves, leeks, buttercups, mushrooms, and taro is also a seasonal nutritious meal. I also like the taste of homemade bean paste in spicy soup.
8. Gyeongju Hwangnidan-gil Restaurants
If you’re looking for more atmospheric restaurants and cafes in Gyeongju, where there are many local food restaurants, visit Hwangnidan-gil.
Hwangnidan-gil, a hotspot for young people, has many beautiful restaurants and cafes that have been renovated from hanoks.
You can enjoy a wide variety of dishes, including Korean and fusion Japanese food, pizza, pasta, craft beer, wheat noodles, dumplings, rice bowls, chicken kangjeong, and kimbap.
Cafes and bakeries offer coffee, sweets, ice cream, and more.
Don’t miss the alleyways in between the streets. There are many unexpected hidden spots.
9. Gyeongju Eupseong Cafe
Gyeongju Eupseong, located in the northeastern part of Gyeongju, is known to have been built during the Goryeo Dynasty.
The town was damaged and is being neatly maintained through a restoration project.
Recently, atmospheric cafes and restaurants have been built in the alleys of the town, such as Hwangnidan-gil, and young people are increasingly visiting this relatively secluded place. You can enjoy unique menus while looking at the town, and especially at night, you can see the beautiful night view of the town.
There are also brunch cafes. Seongdong Market and Jungang Market are nearby, and it’s close to Gyeongju Station.
10. Hwangnamdong Bakery
Bread is a must-try snack and souvenir item when traveling to Gyeongju.
You can find bakeries everywhere in Gyeongju, especially around Hwangnam-dong Daereungwon and Hwangnidan-gil.
The origin of Gyeongju bread is Hwangnam Bread, which started in 1939, and now there are various breads such as Hwangnam Bread, Gyeongju Bread, Charbori Bread, and Juryeonggu Bread, and you can see shops with the names of artisans for each bread.
Hwangnam buns and gyeonggi buns are round buns filled with red bean paste in a flour dough, charbori buns are pancake-shaped buns with red bean paste between the buns made of charbori.
Juryeonggubap is a pancake-shaped bread filled with apples and red beans, and Juryeonggu is shaped like a 14-sided dice from the Silla period.