Restaurant review: My Mom's Yangpyeong Haejanggook in Dickson a fun find

So far, I've discovered exactly one deliciously unexpected restaurant this way, Flavours of Jiangnan. The problem though, is that instead of being motivated by my success, I wander the streets of Dickson firmly convinced of the magnitude of the task ahead. I walk past roast meats hanging in the windows and then promptly get distracted by the delicious smell of something I've eaten before and simply must have again.

Tonight, it's My Mom's Yangpyeong Haejanggook. Yangpyeong is a region just outside of Seoul, in South Korea, and haejanggook refers to a bone broth soup. The internet tells me that the word "haejanggook" means "soup to chase a hangover". I'm not hungover, but I'm fully on board with the concept.

Soup is the specialty here. Most soups are available in small bowls, or large portions to share. The large says it serves two to three, but I dare say it'd serve four to six if eaten as part of a shared meal. The namesake haejanggook is traditionally made with things like cow's blood and tripe - you can get that version here, but there are many less intimidating and delicious soups on the menu - no eating of offal required.

You really shouldn't skip the pork backbone and potato stew ($48 for a large portion). Before the soup is brought to the table, a campfire stove is placed in the middle of the group. A few minutes later, a large metal bowl laden with a bright reddish-orange soup, pork bones and potatoes, topped with enoki mushrooms and sweet potato noodles is carefully placed on the burner. The stove is turned on, and the soup bubbles along for 10-15 minutes until you're ready to eat it - usually after polishing off some snacks and a beer, soju or makgeolli.

Back to the soup, the pork meat is tender and falling off the bone. There's not a lot of it - it's not a Western style stew - but what is there is laden with flavour. Ladled over white rice, it's a slightly spicy, umami-laden bowl of deliciousness. I didn't grow up eating this, but somehow it brings with it an almost comforting sense of nostalgia. Pro tip: ask for extra potatoes and/or rice cake when ordering.

The above may not be your thing - that's OK - there are lots of other options. The dolsot bibimbap comes with your choice of beef or spicy pork ($20). Left to sizzle at the table, the rice forms a very moreish, almost crunchy crust from the hot stone bowl. Carrot, beansprouts and cucumber are neatly arranged around the side, topped with stir fried port and a crispy fried egg. Mixed it all up together and it's a complete one bowl meal.

Favourites like Korean fried chicken come in bone-in or boneless options. It's not the best fried chicken I've ever had, the batter isn't quite as crunchy as I'd like. You can ask for sauce on the side though, giving you the option to pick and dip from sweet soy, sweet chilli, spicy chilli or if you really must - cream cheese.

I can't resist trying a different soup, just for something different. I quite like the beef rib soup ($20 for a small portion). It's lighter, cleaner; the beef flavour really shines through. There are strips of deliciously chewy rice cake and slippery sweet potato noodles in there. Winning. I'm already thinking that this place is really going to be hard to walk past in the cold winter months.

We somehow manage to fit in some pork dumplings ($9 for seven). They're golden brown and crunchy, with a juicy pork filling. I'm very taken by the sausage rice cake ($8 for two skewers) - deep fried rice cakes speared with frankfurters that are a throwback to being a kid, all coated in a spicy sweet sauce.

There is dessert here - melon or Oreo bingsu, a shaved ice concoction that I intended to try when I first looked at the menu tonight, but now can't quite fit in. There's always next time.

Service seems to vary a little depending on how busy they are, but the staff are always friendly and happy to help. The setting is ... quaint? Christmas lights hang against one wall while on another, a painted mural of a red Incredible Hulk stares at you. It's all part of the authentic Korean experience, really. I'm quite smitten by this place, not just because the food is so delicious, but also it delivers exactly what it promises - comforting, homestyle Korean food at very reasonable prices. Tonight is not the first time that My Mom's Yangpyeong Haejanggook has distracted me from my goal of trying a new Dickson restaurant - and it certainly won't be the last.

Address: 3/28 Challis St, Dickson

Phone: 6249 7925

Hours: Lunch, 11am-2pm, Tuesday to Saturday; Dinner, 4.30-0pm, Tuesday to Saturday

Owner and chef: Man Young Park

Noise: Not a problem

Outdoor seating: Not an option

Vegetarian: Limited options

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