Baekban — A Proper Korean Set Meal in Paju
Lunch at Bapsarang, a countryside diner in Paju (north of Seoul), the kind of place Koreans call a baekban-jip (백반집).
What is baekban? Baekban (백반) is Korea’s everyday set meal: rice, a stew, a main, and a spread of banchan (반찬, shared side dishes) — all included, no extra charge, refills welcome. It’s home cooking sold cheap.
The banchan is the soul of a baekban place: stir-fried dried shrimp, acorn jelly with quail eggs, seasoned burdock and greens, fresh kimchi. You graze across everything and suddenly your rice bowl is empty.
The baekban set is ₩9,000 (~$6.5). They also do spicy pork, squid stir-fry, braised pollack — and breakfast, and delivery. Countryside diner value.