Surime

One of the most memorable restaurants I visited during my trip to South Korea! 🌟 If you want a truly authentic Korean food experience, this is the place. They serve an incredible variety of side dishes, but the soon tofu was my absolute favorite. After we took our first sip, my friends and I looked at each other in shock. We were lucky to arrive during a non-busy hour, which gave us the chance to chat with the waitress, who also happens to be the owner's sister! She was so kind and informative, and you could really feel the passion and detail put into every dish. A quick tip: this restaurant does require reservations, so make sure to call ahead. If you’re staying at a hotel, ask the staff to help you reserve—it’s completely worth it. Highly recommended!

Found this place through Instagram and thought I’d wanna take my friends from US. This place does require phone reservations so I highly recommend asking your hotel staff to call the restaurant the moment you check into your hotel. Distance wise it is quite a distance if you take public transportation so I highly recommend taking taxi from 황리단길(Hwangnidangil). Depending on the traffic, it only took us 18min to get here. Another important note! This place does not accept customers after 5pm. We learned it the hard way. Instead of snacking at Hwangnidangil, come straight here and eat a healthy hearty meal. After eating, go digest at the shopping area. This place is a must stop!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars An unforgettable cultural and culinary experience! I had an absolutely amazing time at Surime in Gyeongju. It wasn’t just a meal — it was a heartfelt journey into Korean history, culture, and hospitality. The moment I stepped into the traditional hanok space, I felt like time had stopped. The beautifully preserved architecture and the peaceful atmosphere instantly brought a sense of calm. The traditional Korean royal meal (Hanjeongsik) I experienced was truly breathtaking. Each dish was crafted with incredible care and balance. The pine mushroom herbal broth, Gujeolpan (nine-section dish), deodeok (mountain herb) dishes, and grilled jumbo shrimp were all so delicately prepared — they looked like edible works of art. I almost felt guilty eating them! What moved me even more was the depth of flavor in the dishes made with 20-year-aged doenjang (soybean paste), fermented seafood sauces, and seasoned herbs and pickles using natural enzymes. The sincerity and warmth of the people running this place were palpable. They explained the story behind each dish, and I could feel how deeply proud they were to share Korean tradition. Right next door, I visited a 300-year-old hanok (traditional house). The rows of aged jang (fermented sauce) jars were a sight to behold. I also spent the night there — and it was a magical experience. Dining among spring flowers in a serene hanok setting, surrounded by traditional Korean décor, brought a level of peace that words can hardly describe. This was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable moments of my entire trip to Korea. If you’re looking to go beyond typical tourist attractions and truly experience the beauty and authenticity of Korean tradition — Surime is a must-visit. I will remember this experience for the rest of my life. Thank you, Surime!

It's a traditional Korean table made by a traditional Korean court food master. She received royal food from Han Hee-soon, the last court lady of the Joseon Dynasty, and is a successor to Hwang Hye-sung, the honorary holder of royal food in the Joseon Dynasty, and has trained his disciples in Gyeongju for 30 years. Fortunately, the CEO gave us a tour of the Jangdokdae for 20 years What's real here is that they showed me a salt jar that can be used for 50 years, soaking soy sauce and soybean paste, soaking all the enzymes, and salt. She's a person who continues the pride and pulse of Korean food The food is also salty, sweet, and sour according to the five colors. Those who don't know are just meat-grilled nubias, just vegetables, but there is no flaw in the composition of self-grown spring vegetables and high-end cow Korean beef, the combination of colors and bowls. It's a must-have course for formal entertainment or foreigners Of course, I think those who love Korean food will definitely do it Especially during the day, you can feel the taste of the royal food transfer comfortably by developing a red crab soft tofu set meal that is so cost-effective. It's a day like I lived in a palace because I came to Gyeongju, looked at cultural assets, and ate food here. Thank you for the food!

I am so happy and pleased for being able to dine in here in Surime. As you might have read, the food here are all prepared by a professional chef who uses seasonal fresh local ingredients, and some vegetables and the sauces are independently grown/made in their own garden. This restaurant appears in many local blogs as one of the recommended restaurant whilst in Gyeongju. Please note in advance that this is a fine dining restaurant with a set menu that has few ranges of price. The concept is to serve "Han Jeong Sik', a traditional Korean course meal, which usually are prepared by many households when they have family visit. The food, of course, is sensational and taste very delicious to me. I felt pampered when having the set course here, taste the food one by one in order, which was guided by the staff. They gradually increased our taste buds by starting the food from the lightest to the rich and flavorful one. The course then closed with a seasonal sweets and local fruits and fresh beverage. In terms reservation, I got a help from a local, which you can ask maybe from your airbnb hosts, hotel's staff, a local friend, or your tour guide if you have one. It would just be easier to let them know if you have any food restriction as well. This place opens for lunch and dinner, and it is located a bit far from the tourists area. We took a taxi to go there (around 20-30 minutes from Hwangnidan-ril for dinner, however, was hard to get the taxi back. I recommend to book a car with or without a driver, or make sure you have arrange the transport before. Would I be recommended this place? Definitely. Especially if you are a food enthusiast who who'd like to expand your culinary journey.

The food was so good!! You can tell they only use natural seasonings. Come hungry because they give you multiple rounds of food (we had a dinner set menu). I highly recommend it!! BTW, reservation only.

One of the most unforgettable dining experiences I’ve had in Korea. Surimye is a stunning hanok-style restaurant in Gyeongju that serves traditional royal Korean cuisine with heart and precision. I visited twice in one day — lunch and dinner — and both meals blew me away. For lunch, I had the Snow Crab Soft Tofu Stew (Hongge Sundubu), which was rich, flavorful, and packed with delicate crab meat. It came with 12 beautifully prepared side dishes that were all perfectly seasoned and balanced. After a peaceful afternoon viewing cherry blossoms at Bulguksa Temple, I returned for dinner and tried the Bulguksa Course Menu — an elegant multi-course royal-style feast. Every dish, from grilled hanwoo beef to abalone with matsutake mushrooms, was unforgettable. The setting is calm and breathtaking, the staff is kind, and Chef Park Mi-sook’s attention to detail shows in every bite. If you’re in Gyeongju, this is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates authentic Korean cuisine and culture. 5 stars. Would give 6 if I could.

Love the private dining space and hanok atmosphere. Food was so delicious and healthy. We did 100,000 won per person course, we got to try so many different variety of foods