Lee Chan-won’s Top 5 Restaurants
- His go-to, true favorite tteokbokki spot: Yeongdong Market’s 'Yangyang Bulddeokbokki'
- You’ll be stuffed from all the noodles: Eunpyeong’s 'Gaio Guksu'
- Nostalgic hometown flavors: Daegu’s 'Son Junghun Original Pond Catfish Stew'
- The place that carries on Lee Chan-won’s parents’ makchang legacy: Daegu’s 'Hoya Makchang'
- Unyang bulgogi with a dozen tidy side dishes: Gongpyeong-dong’s 'Ondolbang Restaurant'
The cozy satisfaction of a simple, hearty meal lingers. Trot singer Lee Chan-won often picks places that prioritize honest flavors and warm atmospheres over flash. These restaurants let you taste depth and care in familiar dishes — the kind that naturally draw you back. A humble table that delivers sure satisfaction resonates with a lot of people. Here are five spots Lee Chan-won swears by, each offering that unmistakable charm.
The go-to, true favorite tteokbokki shop he visits often: Yeongdong Market’s 'Yangyang Bulddeokbokki'
Lee Chan-won visited Yeongdong Market’s 'Yangyang Bulddeokbokki' on the show Pyeon Restaurant, filming a tteokbokki-and-tempura mukbang. It’s one of his real regular spots — he even orders delivery when he’s busy. The soft wheat rice cakes soak up the sweet sauce perfectly, and despite the “bul” (fire) in the name, it’s not overwhelmingly spicy. The tempura comes in large sizes and in many varieties, so you can pick what suits you. The chili tempura is stuffed with meat, making it as pleasing to look at as it is to eat. The small kimbap is simply wrapped with perilla leaf and pickled radish, but dipped in tteokbokki broth, it’s pure bliss.
ㅣSee more about 'Yangyang Bulddeokbokki' on SikSin
- ✔Location
32 Hakdong-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- ✔Hours
10:50–1:00 AM
- ✔Prices
Tteokbokki 4,000 KRW (≈ $3.00) Busan odeng 3,000 KRW (≈ $2.25) 6 pieces of tempura 5,000 KRW (≈ $3.75)
You’ll be stuffed from all the noodles: Eunpyeong’s 'Gaio Guksu'
Gaio Guksu in Eunpyeong is famous for generous portions and satisfying bowls. Lee Chan-won’s visits to the Mok-dong branch helped boost its profile. The signature is a spicy chive noodle soup: blanched bean sprouts sit at the bottom, then thinly sliced danmuji, fried tofu, noodles, and a heap of spicy seasoned chives topped with shredded seaweed. Because the chives cool the broth quickly, staff pour fresh hot stock over the bowl midway so you can keep it warm. It starts mildly spiced and builds as you eat, leaving a pleasant heat by the end. The crunch of chives and bean sprouts gives every bite lively texture.
See more details on SikSin about 'Gaio Guksu'▶
- ▲Location
132 Yeonseo-ro, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul
- ▲Hours
Mon–Sat 11:30 AM–9:00 PM (Break 3:00–3:30 PM) / Closed Sundays
- ▲Prices
Banquet noodles 7,500 KRW (≈ $5.63) Bibim noodles 8,000 KRW (≈ $6.00) Chive noodles 8,500 KRW (≈ $6.38)
Nostalgic hometown flavors: Daegu’s 'Son Junghun Original Pond Catfish Stew'
Son Junghun Original Pond Catfish Stew serves one of Daegu’s must-try spicy catfish stews. Lee Chan-won has said he loves the tender catfish meat and even named catfish stew as a dish he’d want to share with a future partner. Big whole catfish are served in a clean, refreshing broth with chives and glass noodles — and the noodles are refillable. As the stew simmers, the broth thickens and melds with the catfish, getting even better. Mix rice with some glass noodles and broth and you’ll polish off a bowl in no time.
ㅣSee more about 'Son Junghun Original Pond Catfish Stew' on SikSin
- ✔Location
7-9 Bugok 2-gil, Dasa-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu
- ✔Hours
10:10 AM–8:50 PM (Last order 8:05 PM)
- ✔Price
Large catfish stew 50,000 KRW (≈ $37.50)
The place that carries on Lee Chan-won’s parents’ makchang legacy: Daegu’s 'Hoya Makchang'
Hoya Makchang is beloved as Lee Chan-won’s makchang spot. The restaurant reopened on the same site, carrying forward the know-how from his parents’ original makchang business. The makchang is lightly pre-seared yet stays juicy — that’s this place’s signature. Diners finish grilling the pieces over charcoal at the table, then dip them into a nutty, savory makjang sauce made with walnut and soybean powders. Add cheongyang chili or garlic if you like more kick. Complimentary rolled omelet, spicy ramen, and chewy rice cake snacks round out a generous spread that feels as warm as it is filling.
ㅣSee more about 'Hoya Makchang' on SikSin
- ✔Location
151 Seonwonnam-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu (Hanmaeum Apartment Shopping Center)
- ✔Hours
5:00 PM–12:00 AM / Closed on the 1st and 3rd Sundays each month
- ✔Prices
Fresh makchang 8,000 KRW (≈ $6.00) Beef short rib 8,000 KRW (≈ $6.00)
Unyang bulgogi and a dozen tidy side dishes, Gongpyeong-dong 'Ondolbang Restaurant'
Ondolbang Restaurant in Gongpyeong-dong was featured on the 100th special episode of foodie Heo Young-man’s "Baekban Journey," alongside Lee Chan-won. Their specialty is Unyang-style bulgogi served with 18 side dishes and young radish rice. Young radish rice mixes rice with tender young radish and assorted greens; well-fermented young radish is great mixed in or enjoyed as a side. The bubbling doenjang stew you finish at the table is a highlight. Mildly seasoned side dishes and a hearty bean-pulp stew keep you reaching for another bowl of rice. With neatly arranged banchan, fresh wrap greens, and tender Unyang-style bulgogi, the meal is generous and deeply satisfying.
ㅣSee more about 'Ondolbang Restaurant' on SikSin
- ✔Location
72-9 Dongseong-ro 12-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu
- ✔Hours
Daily 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
- ✔Prices
Ondol bulgogi + young radish rice set 18,000 KRW (≈ $13.50), Banja-gui (flower sirloin 120g / ≈ 4.2 oz) 25,000 KRW (≈ $18.75)
