Handasot (한다솥)
After our visit to the magnificent Seokguram Grotto, we stopped for lunch at Handasot (한다솥) in Gyeongju. Handasot is a popular chain with outlets across South Korea, specialising in pot rice and grilled fish set meals.
We ordered their signature grilled fish platter, served with a variety of oven grilled fish such as mackerel, Spanish mackerel and hairtail, alongside beef pot rice and an array of traditional banchan. The grilled fish was cooked nicely with crisp skin and moist flesh, while the pot rice was hearty and comforting. As with most Korean meals, the spread of side dishes added colour and variety to the table, and I particularly enjoyed the stir fried anchovies and kimchi.
That said, the meal did not quite live up to our expectations. The food was decent but nothing particularly memorable, especially after the many excellent meals we had enjoyed throughout this trip. Service was also a little disappointing. By Korean standards, where we had consistently experienced warm, efficient and attentive hospitality, this was probably the least impressive service of our journey.
Not every meal on a trip has to be exceptional, and this was one of those perfectly acceptable lunches that simply fuelled us for the rest of the day.
