Saien

At Saien, it is worth paying attention to the small side dishes served alongside the main course. One diner who ordered bulgogi for lunch described it as pleasantly spicy and savoury, pairing well with rice. The dish that stood out was toraji kimchi among the 5 side dishes: made with bellflower root, it reportedly had a different crunch from the more familiar kimchi made with cabbage or radish. The menu also includes meals such as bulgogi, kimchi stew, doenjang stew and sundubu jjigae, served with rice or soup and 5 side dishes. Another lunchtime diner ordered kimchi stew, first working through the rice and a generous assortment of 5 small side dishes before tucking into the bubbling stew. These set-style meals are a good option when you want a substantial spread of rice, stew and accompaniments.

Another way to eat here is to gather around the all-you-can-eat samgyeopsal. Some diners say staff cooked the meat at their table and showed them how to eat it. One person who had visited several times for the all-you-can-eat option also praised the side dishes. Seafood pancake and japchae are on the menu, too; one diner particularly enjoyed the pancake, making it an easy addition to a meal centred on meat.

For a meal on your own, abalone porridge is another option. A diner who ordered it with oolong tea noted that the serving was generous and came with 5 side dishes. Choose between stew or bulgogi with small accompaniments, an all-you-can-eat meat meal, or a bowl of porridge to savour at an unhurried pace. There are options to suit different appetites and moods.