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Samchun Kase: An Unforgettable Dining Adventure in Guwol-dong

Have you heard of imocase, nunacase, or halmeonicase? These trendy dining experiences are all the rage in Korea. But have you ever heard of Samchun Kase? I hadn’t either, until now! The name might sound unusual, but don’t let it fool you. This is a truly special dining experience.

The key isn’t just that it’s run by a ‘Samchun’ (a Korean term for uncle or middle-aged man) – it’s the unique character of the place. Located in the heart of Guwol-dong’s bustling Rodeo Street (known for its high rent), the owner, who has a background in running a Chinese restaurant, offers a variety of affordable dishes based on Chinese cuisine in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The price is a reasonable ₩20,000 per person. Why so affordable? Because the owner actually owns the building, so there’s no rent to worry about! This ‘youthful’ (육회한, often used in place of ‘unique’ for comedic effect in Korean) Samchun runs what I’d call a hidden gem: Samchun’s House in Guwol-dong.

Finding Samchun’s House

Samchun’s House is located behind the Ito Tower in Guwol-dong. From Exit 6 of Arts Center Station, you’ll immediately see the Ito Tower. Walk around the back of the building, and you’ll find this charming establishment. Previously, this spot was a gomtang (Korean beef bone soup) restaurant. Before that, it was a Chinese restaurant. The owner originally bought this space and has experimented with different types of restaurants over the years. Now, he runs the Samchun Kase experience, which is what I came to enjoy.

For ₩20,000 per person, you get the ‘Samchun Kase’ experience. This means Samchun prepares the dishes as he sees fit, so the menu listed might not be what you actually get. Keep that in mind! Also, reservations are essential. I made my reservation a few days in advance by phone.

Inside Samchun’s House

The interior is small, with only six tables. The middle-aged owner runs the place single-handedly. It’s important to remember to call him ‘Samchun,’ not ‘사장님’ (president/owner). Even a man who looked older than the owner was calling him ‘Samchun’! So, from now on, I’ll refer to him as Samchun as well. Since it’s a one-person operation, there’s no menu. Just tell him how many people are in your party, and the Samchun Kase begins immediately.

The Feast Begins

First up were the basics: pickled radish, kimchi, and danmuji (yellow pickled radish). Samchun proudly proclaimed that the kimchi was exceptional. Having previously run a gomtang restaurant, it was exactly like the kimchi you’d find at a top-notch soup place – refreshing and delicious.

The Dishes

Next, we had gochujapchae (stir-fried glass noodles with peppers and pork). As you can see, it came out glistening. The vibrant red color made it even more appetizing. And the taste lived up to the visuals! The spicy flavor perfectly suited my palate. The generous portions were a definite plus. It was better than most Chinese restaurants’ gochujapchae!

Then came tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and gochisanjeok (meat skewers). The tangsuyuk was served bumuk (sauce already poured over). Let me just say that the tangsuyuk was the best dish of the night, closely followed by the gochujapchae. Considering Samchun’s background running a Chinese restaurant, I expected the Chinese dishes to be good. But this tangsuyuk was among the best I’ve had in recent years!

Because it’s bumuk, it’s obviously not as crispy as it would be if the sauce were served on the side. If crispiness is crucial for you, you should tell Samchun beforehand. But I’m of the opinion that as long as tangsuyuk is delicious, it doesn’t matter whether it’s bumuk or jjeokmuk (dipped in sauce). It was incredibly chewy, the pork inside was tasty, and the sauce was addictive. Samchun was clearly proud of his tangsuyuk, and he had every right to be. If a Chinese restaurant near me served tangsuyuk this good, I’d be there every week! For reference, the pork used in both the tangsuyuk and the gochujapchae is all locally sourced.

The gochisanjeok was, as the name suggests, packed with meat. Meaty and flavorful, it was impossible not to enjoy. I suspected that it might be store-bought, but Samchun confirmed that he makes it himself!

Following the meat dishes, we received grilled tilefish (gajami gui), dumplings (mandu), and shrimp tempura (saeu twigim). The dumplings and shrimp tempura were commercially produced, so there’s not much to say about them. They were welcome additions, filling our stomachs.

The tilefish was perfectly grilled – crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It tasted exactly how you’d imagine delicious grilled fish to taste. It made me want a bowl of white rice!

Next up was dubukimchi (tofu with stir-fried kimchi). The combination of stir-fried kimchi sprinkled with sesame seeds and soft tofu is a classic. What else is there to say? It’s delicious.

As I mentioned earlier, you have to call the owner ‘Samchun’ at this place. I consistently called him ‘Samchun’ from the beginning, and he rewarded me with a complimentary soft drink. Shortly after, he noticed that the gochujapchae plate was empty.

I jokingly said, “Thank you! But is it usually refillable?” He replied, “It’s not usually, but I’ll give you more.” So, the key here is that refills aren’t officially part of the package, but if you politely ask for a small portion, you might get lucky. Of course, if he’s too busy, he might not be able to accommodate. But if you call him ‘Samchun’ and ask nicely, he’ll likely oblige. Ultimately, it’s up to Samchun’s discretion. That’s the Samchun Kase experience!

Finally, Samchun’s gomtang (beef bone soup) arrived. This was the last dish. A soup dish is always included, often altang (spicy fish roe soup), but sometimes you get lucky and get gomtang. Again, it’s up to Samchun! It was loaded with brisket and glass noodles. Since Samchun previously ran a gomtang restaurant, he puts his expertise to good use and occasionally includes gomtang in the Samchun Kase experience. It was rich and flavorful. His experience with gomtang clearly shows! It felt like a hangover cure in every sip. It tastes even better with a sprinkle of pepper.

Also, rice is free! And ramen noodles too! I found out later that you can get free rice and ramen noodles. I decided to skip the rice and noodles since I was going out for another round after this meal, but I bet the gomtang would be amazing with rice mixed in.

So, that was the Samchun Kase experience for the day. To summarize, the tangsuyuk, gochujapchae, and gomtang were exceptionally delicious. The tangsuyuk and gochujapchae seem to be staples, but the gomtang might be replaced with altang or another soup. The dumplings and shrimp tempura were standard fare, so I won’t elaborate. The grilled fish and dubukimchi tasted exactly as you’d expect.

Google Search & Assessment of Guwol-dong Restaurants

A quick Google search for “restaurants near Guwol-dong, Incheon” reveals a variety of dining options, ranging from Korean BBQ and seafood to international cuisines like Italian and Vietnamese. Based on online reviews, the area seems to have a lively food scene with many popular spots. However, Samchun’s House stands out due to its unique concept (Samchun Kase) and the personal touch provided by the owner. The affordability and the home-cooked style of the dishes make it an attractive alternative to the more commercialized restaurants in the area.

Many Google reviews mention the fresh seafood options in Guwol-dong, a reflection of Incheon’s coastal location. There are also positive comments regarding the quality of Korean BBQ places, which seem to be popular for group gatherings. However, few places seem to offer the personalized and intimate experience that Samchun’s House does, making it a truly unique gem in the Guwol-dong dining scene.

Final Thoughts & Important Reminders

Finally, as I mentioned before, reservations for Samchun Kase are essential! If you visit without a reservation, you’ll likely be turned away. Call the phone number listed to make a reservation. Opening hours are typically around 2-3 PM, and closing time is up to Samchun’s discretion. Also, for the record, this is not a sponsored ad. This is my honest review based on my own expense.

That’s the end of my review! I’m going to head out now. Goodbye!