6 Great Restaurants in Gyeongju

Palujeong Rotary in Hwango-dong is the Mecca of hangover soup (Haejang-guk) in Gyeongju. Several varieties are available, but the standard hangover soup here features buckwheat jelly (Memil-muk) and bean sprouts in a seafood broth. It also includes sargassum, or gulfweed and chopped ripened kimchi as a garnish. You wouldn't think buckwheat jelly would go as well as it does with the soup, but it's a staple here for a reason. Its refreshing taste is great for a morning meal.

Byeolchaeban's main menu is the leaf (lettuce or perilla) wraps (Ssambap), but the spicy beef soup (Yukbuchon Yukgaejang) and mixed rice (Gondalbi Bibimbap) are also worth a try. The Korean beef (Hanu) leaf wraps offer a mild flavor, while the duck and pork leaf wraps come with a nice spicy kick. If you can't get enough of healthy veggies, you're in luck because they generously provide unlimited leaf wrap refills. What's also unique here is the kelp wraps, so be sure to ask for some.

Restaurants specializing in traditional stone-milled soft tofu soup (Sundubu jjigae), around for more than 20 years near Cheomseongdae, are popular with locals as well as tourists. They make the soft tofu directly in the restaurant, so you can check out how it's made yourself. Plus, you can even take the soybean puree that remains after making the tofu. The soft tofu soup is spicy yet light and served in an earthen bowl. You won't find this unique soft tofu texture elsewhere. If you prefer a rich and savory soup without the spice, the clear soft tofu soup is recommended.

Hwangnam Milmyeon, famous not only for their wheat noodle dish but also for the restaurant's wonderful outer appearance, makes fresh noodles just for you the moment you place an order. Once you've been seated, they serve rich beef-bone broth that has been slowly brewed for more than 72 hours. The Hwangnam wheat noodles can be enjoyed with seasoning made from various fruits and vegetables that aren't too spicy. Also available is the wheat noodle soup (Mulmilmyeon), which is served with a broth made from beef bones, chicken and various herbal medicines. The briquette bulgogi, a side menu, is the icing on the cake when eaten together with the noodles.