Barefoot on the Red Clay Trail – and a Surprising Meal in Uiwang
Barefoot on the Red Clay Trail – and a Surprising Meal in Uiwang
Last Tuesday, during the final burst of summer heat, three college friends and I met up to walk the red clay trail on Mt. Surisan—barefoot. The temperature hit 33°C that day (and 35°C the next!), making it the peak of the lingering summer.
Starting from Apt. Complex 8, the trail was wonderfully accessible. The slope was gentle, and there was even a library along the way! The fresh air, the scenic views, and the unexpected bonus of a library made it a treat for the nose, eyes, mind, and heart. Despite the heat, the layered canopy above shaded us, and the breeze kept us cool enough to enjoy an hour-long walk without discomfort.
We only realized how hungry we were after we came down. My friend drove us about 20 minutes away. When I asked, “Where are we going that's so far?” she just smiled and said, “Trust me.” We passed Gunpo and arrived in Uiwang—at a restaurant called Dungji Totbap (meaning “Nest Hijiki Rice”).
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| Dungji Totbap, clean and welcoming. |
Dungji Totbap – Seaweed Rice with Heart
From the outside, the place looked brand new and clean. The sign read, “Dungji Totbap – Cooking with Heart and Soul.” Tot is a kind of seaweed known for its anti-cancer properties, and yes, it’s the very same one my mom used to mix with vinegar sauce in the winter when I was a kid. I couldn’t help but wonder how it would taste cooked into rice.
Inside, every table was taken—we had to wait for a bit. A note by the entrance stated the restaurant is closed on Mondays and open for lunch only, Tuesday through Sunday, 11AM to 4PM. All guests must be present to be seated—no saving seats. It’s fair both to the restaurant and other customers.
What’s on the Menu?
The menu is as simple as it gets. One main dish: the Totbap Set Meal. One side option: Stir-fried Squid. That’s it. There’s also a kid’s meal for children under 7, but otherwise, you just sit down, count how many people are eating, and decide if you want the squid or not.
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| Simple and focused menu: Totbap set, squid stir-fry, and kids’ meal. |
- Totbap Set: 13,000 KRW
- Kids' Meal: 5,000 KRW
- Extra rice: 2,000 KRW
- Stir-fried squid: 10,000 KRW
- Drinks:
- Soju/Beer: 5,000 KRW
- Soda: 2,000 KRW
- Takeout:
- Side dishes of the day: 8,000 KRW
- Marinated crab: 10,000 KRW
Totbap Set: A Feast on a Tray
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| Totbap set meal—twelve seasonal side dishes plus marinated crab and braised flounder. |
Most tables had added the stir-fried squid too, but unfortunately, it was sold out by the time we ordered.
Lunch usually starts at noon for me, but after hiking, we didn’t sit down to eat until 1:30. I must’ve been hungrier than I realized, because even though the food arrived in under 10 minutes, it felt like forever.
When it arrived, we were greeted with dishes like acorn jelly salad, seasoned eggplant, braised burdock, stir-fried perilla leaves, dried shrimp, pumpkin greens, seaweed salad, mung bean sprouts, cucumber salad, broccoli, ginseng salad, and young radish kimchi—plus the marinated crab and braised flounder. The seaweed soup and sauces didn’t even count as side dishes!
Rice came in a large bowl, and since side dishes were plentiful and refillable, there was no need to mix rice with sauce. In fact, it would be a shame to mix everything together—each banchan deserved to be enjoyed on its own. I even used a separate spoon to pick the fish and portion out the sides, out of courtesy to my longtime friends.
Was It Good? More Than That.Was It Good? More Than That.
From the very first spoonful of soup, it was delicious. The cucumber and ginseng salad were refreshing, and the marinated crab and braised flounder were well seasoned and generously refillable. The hijiki rice reminded me of gondeure-bap (Korean thistle rice), except with seaweed instead of mountain greens. I worried it might be too fishy, but it wasn’t at all—anyone would enjoy it.
I heard that since the restaurant moved to this location, many guests have visited and loved it. If I lived closer, I’d take my family back without hesitation. Sadly, their only branches are in Daejeon, Daegu, and Gimcheon—none in Seoul.
📍 Dungji Totbap – Location Info
- Address: 3-1 Omaegi Baegunsan-gil, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do (2nd Floor)
- Phone: 031-427-7613
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Dine-in and takeout available (no delivery)
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