Sododuk is an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant near Camp Humphreys that's a great place to start your Korean cuisine journey. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
Arriving in South Korea, I brought many goals, including trips to the country’s museums, art galleries and festivals. But I was most excited about the food.
A visit to an authentic Korean barbecue restaurant was atop the to-do list. Luckily, there is one not far from Camp Humphreys called Sododuk.
Sododuk is a two-story brick building just beyond the Humphreys’ Yoon gate. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet and a great place to start your Korean cuisine journey.
Marinated steak sizzles on the grill at Sododuk near Camp Humphreys, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
The restaurant’s parking lot is a bit tricky to access; I drove past it, then turned around and backtracked to reach it.
Inside the restaurant, I received an enthusiastic greeting from the staff, who showed me to a table and explained the ordering process. A Korean buffet differs from those in the States.
Sododuk is an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant near Camp Humphreys that's a great place to start your Korean cuisine journey. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
They brought me three kinds of meat: marinated steak, beef flank and pork shoulder. Everything else you get on your own. I chose rice, kimchi, pickled jalapenos, marinated onions, lettuce and fresh garlic. It all looked delicious.
After I had all my side items, the staff delivered hot coals, placed them in the grill and covered them with a disposable, tin cover.
Everything was perfect. The marinated steak was both sweet and savory. The kimchi was spicy but not overwhelming.
You can't go wrong with the kimchi on the all-you-can-eat buffet at Sododuk near Camp Humphreys, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
The best part is that all of this was 27,800 won, or about $21. My only gripe is that if you don’t finish your meat, you’ll be charged an extra 10,000 won.
Sododuk is a great place for newcomers to immerse themselves for the first time into South Korean culture and cuisine. You can fill yourself with food and not break the bank.
Sododuk
Location: 142, Paengseongdaegyo-gil, Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do 17974
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Prices: Flat price of 27,800 won per person.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A short drive from Camp Humphreys’ Yoon gate.
Information: Phone: 031-658-9300; Online: facebook.com/pages/Sododuk/1855494127865377
