While most visitors to Gyeongju come for its ancient pagodas and royal tombs, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom offers an equally compelling attraction through its food scene. Beyond the historical monuments, three legendary eateries provide travelers with authentic tastes that have been perfected over decades, serving not just meals but edible pieces of the city's living history.
Near Gyeongju Station, Park Yong-ja Gyeongju Myeongdong Jjolmyeon has been delighting locals and visitors alike for more than 40 years with its specialty chewy noodles. This hometown favorite has mastered the art of jjolmyeon, Korea's beloved bouncy noodle dish, offering four distinct variations on their straightforward menu. Customers can choose from bibim jjolmyeon (spicy mixed style), eomuk jjolmyeon (served with fish cake), yubu jjolmyeon (featuring tofu skin), and naeng jjolmyeon (cold-style preparation), with each dish priced at 9,000 won.
What truly distinguishes this restaurant is its innovative approach to traditionally cold jjolmyeon by serving it with a signature warm, savory anchovy broth. This unexpected twist transforms the typically chilled dish into a comforting bowl of warmth, making it particularly appealing to weary travelers exploring the city. The restaurant maintains its old-school charm with worn walls adorned with celebrity photographs and television show features, yet the interior remains clean while the service stays efficient and welcoming to both groups and solo diners.
For those craving premium grilled meat, Yeongyang Sutbul Galbi stands as a must-visit destination that has operated continuously since 1971. This family-run establishment specializes in hanwoo galbi, carefully marinated and grilled over open charcoal flames, and holds the distinction of being Korea's first restaurant to offer boneless galbi cuts—a practice that has since become standard throughout Korean barbecue culture. The restaurant exclusively uses domestically sourced beef, which undergoes a 12-hour aging process at low temperatures to maximize tenderness.
The menu's stars include the signature marinated galbi at 27,000 won per 110 grams and the more premium skirt meat priced at 30,000 won per 110 grams, both renowned for their melt-in-your-mouth texture and subtly sweet marinade. Accompanying the grilled meats are various house-made side dishes and a particularly popular soybean paste stew crafted from the restaurant's own fermented paste. The kitchen's open layout allows diners to observe the skilled staff as they precisely prepare fresh beef, and locals frequently purchase meat here as gifts, which the restaurant elegantly packages in gold fabric for special occasions.
No discussion of Gyeongju's culinary landmarks would be complete without mentioning Hwangnambbang, home to one of Korea's most iconic pastries. Founded in 1939 in Gyeongju's Hwangnam-dong neighborhood, this bakery holds the remarkable distinction of being Korea's oldest producer of traditional red bean bread, a sweet red bean-filled bun that has genuinely stood the test of time across multiple generations.
The bakery continues to operate under the guidance of the founder's descendants, who still hand-craft each bun without using artificial additives or preservatives. Each pastry features a thin outer layer that wraps around dense, mildly sweet red bean paste made from locally sourced ingredients. Unlike mass-produced alternatives found elsewhere, Hwangnambbang is celebrated for its clean, understated sweetness that develops and intensifies as the buns cool, making them perfect for both immediate consumption and later gifting or snacking.
Visitors can purchase these treasured treats in convenient gift boxes containing either 20 pieces for 24,000 won or 30 pieces for 36,000 won, making them among Gyeongju's most popular souvenirs. At the flagship store, customers can observe the entire baking process through a glass wall, watching as teams of dedicated bakers work tirelessly to meet consistently high demand. Even during weekdays, it's common to see customers forming lines outside the shop, testament to the bakery's enduring popularity.
Gyeongju's diverse food scene tells compelling stories of innovation, resilience, and multi-generational family legacy that mirror the city's broader historical narrative. Whether visitors find themselves sipping hot jjolmyeon broth, savoring perfectly tender grilled beef, or biting into a carefully hand-made red bean bun, they're experiencing flavors that have been refined and perfected over decades of dedicated craftsmanship. While Gyeongju rightfully maintains its reputation as a city of ancient kings and magnificent temples, those who know where to look will discover it's equally deserving of recognition as a kingdom of exceptional culinary experiences.
