元珍食堂

I was temporarily working nearby and wanted to find something to eat, so I saw this place. At first, I looked at the information and didn't have high expectations. On one hand, the style didn’t seem very Korean, and on the other hand, the prices were low, so I thought it would just be enough to fill me up—nothing more.

However, as soon as I walked in, the decor was simple, warm, and clean. The restaurant has about 40 seats, and everything is priced uniformly at $180. Side dishes, rice, water, and drinks can all be refilled. This price is simply amazing! Because of this price, I thought the food wouldn't be that great. I simply ordered a tofu stew and a mixed rice to give it a try, and the taste of both the side dishes and the main meal turned out to be excellent, comparable to what I usually eat at other Korean restaurants.

Tofu Stew with Rice and Sirloin Beef:
This is not the usual type of tofu soup; it’s more like a clear broth, resembling beef soup. The ingredients were quite plentiful.

Korean Mixed Rice with Pork:
Served in a regular iron bowl, not in a stone pot. If you want the stone pot type, you need to order the crispy rice with grilled meat. When it arrived, the ingredients were abundant, and the whole presentation looked really good. It also came with a bowl of seaweed and egg soup.

Additionally, the iced tea is lightly sweetened. The side dish of seaweed was delicious, and the sweet and spicy dish was similar to the usual Korean style. The mung bean noodles were a bit soft, and the flavor was milder with no excessive seasoning. There were also some more Chinese-style side dishes (like dried tofu and some strips), along with bean sprouts and cabbage. Essentially, if you’re eating mixed rice, you can refill everything except the meat!

In the northern part of the country, this price is truly outrageous 🥴. Perhaps it's because it's located next to a school, making it super cheap and very student-friendly!

Before coming in, I bought some ice cream from the convenience store and had some trash with me, and I intended to take it with me. However, halfway through my meal, the owner came over to ask if I needed help throwing it away. She was really kind! 😭

Both guys and girls can eat to their heart's content here. The price makes you feel almost embarrassed for eating too many side dishes; even if the price were doubled, it would still be acceptable...