Dadam Jeongsik
다담정식
About
Bustling basement cafeteria in Jongno serving home-style Korean set meals with free refills on meat, eggs, and side dishes.
Tucked inside the basement arcade of Gwanjeong Building along the Cheonggyecheon, Dadam Jeongsik operates with the clockwork efficiency essential to Jongno’s bustling lunch rush. Across the hall, the dining area splits into two spacious sections, accommodating both solitary solo diners and waves of office workers seeking a restorative, home-style meal. There is no menu to deliberate over; simply state your party size at the door, and uniform-clad staff rapidly assemble the house set for 10,000 won. Served either on individual compartmentalized platters or neatly arrayed side dishes, the daily meal centers on the classic pillars of contemporary office-district *baekban*. Tender, savory-sweet pork bulgogi takes center stage alongside an impeccably crisped fish fillet—such as mackerel or Atka mackerel. Fluffy, rolled omelets (*gyeran-mari*), seasoned with nostalgic restraint like home-cooked egg strips, balance the rich meats. Crisp seasonal banchan rotates regularly, often featuring crunchy cucumber salad, seasoned *gungchae* (stem lettuce) with mushrooms, and fresh kimchi. Each setting comes anchored by a bubbling hot earthenware *ttukbaegi*—sometimes filled with hearty beef seaweed soup, on other days a pungent, savory *doenjang-jjigae* loaded with vegetables and tofu. What sets this basement staple apart is its generous refilling policy. During peak lunch hours, diners can visit a self-service bar to replenish dishes, including bulgogi and egg rolls, while evening patrons can simply ask the accommodating owner for seconds directly on their trays. Despite the subterranean setting and constant stream of midday traffic, the open-kitchen space remains pristine, clean, and free of heavy cooking odors. It offers straightforward, unpretentious fuel tailored to the pace of Jongno's working crowd, delivering the quiet satisfaction of a well-rounded meal cooked fresh every single day.
Menu
- Dadam Set Meal₩10,000
Local tips
- Single-item menu: simply tell staff your headcount upon entering.
- Popular lunch spot for nearby workers; visit during evening hours for a quieter meal.
- Sides and rice are refillable via self-bar at lunch, or by asking the owner at dinner.
- Closed on weekends and public holidays.
Details
- Jonggak Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- —
- Monday
- 11:00–20:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–20:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–20:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–20:00
- Friday
- 11:00–20:00
- Saturday
- —