Dadamu Chatan

Upstairs on the second floor of a building along Akebonobashi Shopping Street, ダダム【茶啖】 serves Korean cooking with a robust, full-bodied character. A lunch favourite, pyeodagwi haejang-guk is a spicy, savoury soup with pork simmered until meltingly tender, cartilage included. Its gentle richness warms from within. Diners also describe being shown, in a friendly way, where to separate the bones and how best to eat the dish—a reassuring touch for a first visit.

For a meal around the table in the evening, gamjatang brings together the concentrated flavour of pork backbone with chunky potatoes, Chinese cabbage and perilla powder. As the spicy broth reduces, its flavour seeps into the ingredients; sharing the pot over highballs or makgeolli gives the meal an easy, convivial pace. Other substantial pots include dakhanmari, a whole chicken simmered for its broth, and the generously filled budae jjigae—both made for sharing.

Grilled dishes and smaller plates are worth a look, too. Samgyeopsal, with its generous slices of pork grilled until well done, is particularly good with rich ssamjang. Add a large jeon, crisp and fragrant on the outside, or a piping-hot gyeran-jjim, softly steamed in an earthenware pot, for an even more satisfying spread.

The casual atmosphere is another draw: the seats are spaced comfortably, making it easy to settle in for conversation and a meal. From an unhurried solo lunch to a lively dinner with friends, the warm hospitality and generous cooking make for a filling meal.