Geumsugangsan

About

Riverside retreat in Anyang Art Park serving duck and whole chicken baeksuk alongside seafood pajeon with convenient valley access.

Tucked into Anyang Art Park along the mountain stream, Geumsu Gangsan operates as a quintessential summer valley retreat. Spanning two floors with both low floor tables and standard seating, the restaurant thrives on its proximity to the water. Stone steps lead straight from the property down into the cool creek bed, allowing guests to splash in the shallows before returning wrapped in towels to steaming cauldrons of restorative poultry broth. While older pool features on-site face periodic closures, the natural valley current right outside remains the primary draw, bolstered by generous full-day parking that eases the area's fierce weekend congestion. The table centers on restorative simmering pots, led by the herbal sulfur duck baeksuk (*hanbang yuhwang ori baeksuk*) and its local chicken counterparts, available alongside varieties enriched with fragrant neongi mushrooms. The duck meat cooks until it pulls easily from the bone, infused with the clean, earthy depth of medicinal roots that eliminate any need for added salt. Meals typically start with a spread of banchan, including seasoned bean sprouts, pickled radish, and wild perilla shoots, followed by set-menu staples like crisp seafood scallion pancakes (*haemul pajeon*) and savory acorn jelly salad (*dotorimuk*). After picking through the tender poultry, the finishing touch is the essential porridge—either stirred together with glutinous rice served tableside or simmered directly in the remaining broth. For those seeking heat instead of herbal broth, the braised spicy chicken stew (*dakbokkeumtang*) offers a rich sauce primed for finishing with fried rice. Prices reflect the expected valley premiums, and peak-season service can tilt brisk and impersonal amid the flurry of wet towels and families packing the porch. Even so, securing a shaded platform table by the water with a pre-ordered pot of duck remains an enduring seasonal ritual in Anyang.