With the arrival of spring and April, cherry blossom festivals all over the country began to get busy. On the warm south side, flowers were already sticking out their heads. From Seoul's Yeouido and Seokchon Lake to the Jinhae, Hadong, and Seomjin rivers famous for the Gunhang Festival, and along the Seomjin River in Gurye, where you can enjoy spectacular cherry blossoms. The instant beauty of the petals flying like white snow makes long trips painless. Every spring, the city is covered with cherry blossoms and there are spectacular places. Following Jeonju, the city of flavors, 'Gyeongju' has emerged as a new travel hotspot. If you're planning to visit Gyeongju, which is full of things to see and eat, I recommend spring when cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Be sure to check out the restaurants highly recommended by social media users.
1. 'Hwangnampan', the signature snack of Gyeongju
Like Cheonan's walnut confectionary, the representative bread of Gyeongju has become so famous that no one knows it. First made by Choi Yeong-san in 1935, this bread is sold with plenty of red bean paste in a thin layer of flour. You can make red bean paste using only adzuki beans produced in the Gyeongju region and eat it with confidence. The red bean paste is not very sweet and has a moderate flavor, so I don't feel tired of eating a few. If you take a sip of milk while eating a big bite of Hwangnam bread, the red bean paste and milk blend in your mouth to create a softer flavor. If you visit the store while making bread by hand, you can see the staff piling up adzuki beans on one side of the store and making their own bread.
â–²Shikiginbae review: Hwangnam bread, which is different from Gyeongju bread â–²Business hours: 8:00 to 22:00 â–²Price range: 16,000 won for 20 pieces â–²Location: 347-1 Hwango-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk
2. “Millstone Sundubu,†a sundubu made from 100% domestic soybeans
Not long ago, the two-story building was renovated, and the waiting time was greatly reduced due to the high turnover rate. As soon as they sit down, they serve a side dish of herbs, grilled saury, tofu, and leftover wasabi. If you order sundubu, it will soon be served with the bobbing sound of a hot earthenware pot. You can peel a raw egg and eat it. The smooth flavor of sundubu blends well with the sharp flavor of the broth. There aren't enough restaurants to eat breakfast near Bomun Complex, but this place is open early in the morning, so it's a good place to spend the morning after the trip.
â–²Shikigami Li Zzy review: If sundubu from another house is soft, millstone sundubu is rich and slightly rough. â–²Business hours: 8:00 ~ 21:30 â–²Price range: Sundubu 8,000 won â–²Location: 229-1 Bukgun-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk
3. 90 years of traditional Korean beef sashimi “Hamyangjipâ€
The Gyeongju branch of Ulsan Hamyang House, which has been in the family business for 4 generations. It is located in the food town opposite Donggungwon. The unique feature of this place is sashimi made from Korean beef. It has the same visual appearance as regular sashimi, and contains Korean beef sashimi instead of sashimi. Put in the noodle sari that comes with it and grate it to eat. If you take a big scoop with chopsticks and put it in one bite, you can feel the sweet and sour taste of the broth along with the ice first, followed by the savory sesame seeds and the lighter flavor of Korean beef as you chew. If you remove the ingredients and roll up the rice to eat, it's reassuring.
â–²Shikigami Suda review: The yukhoe was so fresh and the broth was delicious, so it's nice to eat it with somen! â–²Opening hours: 10:00-21:00 â–²Price range: Korean beef sashimi usually 12,000 won, special 15,000 won, yukhoe bibimbap 9,000 won â–²Location: 194-15 Bukgun-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk
4. Enjoy sambap set meal “Yusujung†in a local atmosphere
A Korean restaurant located on the way to Bulguksa Temple. When you walk inside through the long Jangdokdae road, you feel like you've come to a traditional teahouse made of clay and wood. The main building consists of rooms, and the outbuilding is alone. The main menu is grilled yakiniku sambap (12,000 won), which is full of flavor. The meat, which has a sweet yet slightly spicy flavor, is good to wrap and eat. They offer a variety of fresh wrapped vegetables, kelp, cabbage, etc., so you can wrap them any way you like. I also recommend this place because the rice is cooked and the basic herb side dish is not strong.
5. “Ramon†has a beautiful panoramic view of the quiet Bomun Lake
Restaurant Ramon has a beautiful panoramic view of Bomun Lake from the window. The ceilings are high and glass is on all sides, so you can enjoy a meal or drink tea while taking in the panoramic view through the wide windows. Like the name of the store, which means “book†in French, there are interesting interiors that use books as points everywhere. The space between the tables is wide, so the two of you can talk quietly. They sell pasta, pizza, steak, etc. Reservations are essential in spring when the number of customers increases.
â–²Shikigami Heejin e review: Reservations are required for window seats!! Great view â–²Business hours: 11:00-24:00 â–²Price range: Pasta 15,000 won to 19,000 won, steak 38,000 won to 40,000 won â–²Location: 114-20 Bukgun-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk
*Image cooperation: Providing 'Gyeongjuya', a service that provides various travel information such as things to do and eat in Gyeongju