Surime: A Royal Silla Table in Gyeongju

Among the many treasures of Korean cuisine, japchae holds a special place. Made from glass noodles stir-fried with a colorful variety of vegetables and seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil, it is both comforting and festive. Its harmony of textures and flavors has made it a beloved dish across generations. As the Korean holiday of Chuseok , the harvest festival, approaches, japchae will once again appear on countless tables. During this time, families gather to share food and gratitude, and japchae is always welcomed as a centerpiece of joy. Yet its charm is not limited to holidays—it is equally loved in everyday life, served at family dinners and celebrations alike. At Gyeongju Silla Bansang Surime , our japchae is prepared with the same philosophy that guides all of our cooking: respect for tradition, careful selection of ingredients, and the belief that food should carry sincerity. Each strand of noodle and each slice of vegetable reflects the care we place in offering not just...

In the journey of a restaurant, honors and titles may be given, but what truly endures are the countless days and nights spent in the kitchen. At Surime , the spirit of our cuisine has been shaped over more than forty years—season by season, dish by dish, guest by guest. To us, cooking has never been a performance. It is a discipline of patience, of listening to ingredients, of serving each meal with sincerity. The recognition as a Master of Korean Cuisine is not the culmination of this path, but a quiet reflection of the values we have carried all along: tradition, care, and the belief that food can connect hearts across time. From the first simmer of broth to the last glance of a departing guest, every moment is part of this living history. Here in Gyeongju, a city that still holds the echoes of the Silla dynasty, we continue to place these values at the center of our table, and to welcome each visitor as part of the story.

Kimchi is one of Korea’s most iconic dishes, a fermented side dish that has nourished families for centuries.  Traditionally made with napa cabbage, it carries the balance of spice, salt, and time. At Surime , however, we also prepare a special variation using regular cabbage—a simple twist that brings its own character. This cabbage kimchi offers a lighter crunch and a subtle sweetness, making it both refreshing and familiar. Prepared in our kitchen by hand, each batch reflects the same care and attention that guides all of our meals. It is no surprise that this version has quickly become a favorite among international guests, who find its gentle flavor approachable and memorable. For us, making kimchi is never only about taste. It is about preserving a philosophy of care—choosing fresh ingredients, preparing them with patience, and offering them to our guests with sincerity. In this way, every dish continues the story of Gyeongju, where history and hospitality live side by side...

Holiday Schedule — October 2025 Closed : Monday, October 6 (Chuseok Day) Regular Closing Day : Every Monday Open : All other days during the October holiday   October in Korea carries the spirit of Chuseok, the traditional harvest festival often compared to Thanksgiving. Families gather, share meals, and honor the season’s abundance—a time when the table has always been at the heart of celebration. At Gyeongju Silla Bansang Surime , we welcome guests throughout the long October holiday. As always, the restaurant will be closed on Monday, October 6 , which is our regular weekly closing day. Aside from this, all other days of the holiday will remain open as usual. We invite you to experience the richness of Korea’s traditions here in the thousand-year-old city of Gyeongju. May your Chuseok journey be filled with warmth, gratitude, and memorable flavors.

The meals at Surime follow a path that connects the legacy of Gyeongju to the present day. The spirit of Silla was never only about preserving the past, but about renewing it with meaning in every era. In this way, each meal becomes a bridge between what has been and what is now. That is why recording matters. The hands that prepare, the moments of pause, the cycle of learning and reaffirming—all remain as quiet traces. They are not simply remnants of a day gone by, but small lights guiding the way forward. The tables at Surime are built upon these layers of care and reflection. May each meal offered here linger not only as a flavor, but as a memory that endures.

Through the height of summer, Surime was embraced by the gifts of nature. The shade of green in our garden, the clear sunlight, and the freshness of seasonal fruits all found their way to our table.  Sometimes they appeared as a refreshing dessert, other times as ingredients woven into our dishes. With every sweet flavor and fragrance shared, we felt a deep sense of gratitude. Now the seasons begin to turn. The abundance of summer lingers as a memory, while we look ahead to the gifts of autumn and winter. Grains, root vegetables, and the richness of colder days will bring a different depth to our meals. In the thousand-year-old city of Gyeongju, Surime follows the rhythm of nature to prepare each table. Holding onto the memory of summer, we await the stories that the coming seasons will offer, hoping to share them with every guest who visits.

At Surime, every table tells a story beyond the names of its dishes. Each ingredient has traveled a distance to arrive here, then passes through our hands to be prepared with care and placed in harmony on the table. Freshness is preserved, balance is considered, and sincerity is carried through every step. This process is not only about cooking—it is about how we begin each day. Even in a single side dish or a small handful of vegetables, we try to let no detail go unattended. By the time a meal reaches your table, it holds more than flavors; it carries the warmth of intention. In the thousand-year-old city of Gyeongju, the table we serve at Surime becomes something more than food. It is a moment where freshness, care, and tradition come together, creating a memory meant to stay with you long after the meal is finished.

What lingers most from a meal? The flavors may fade, but the feeling of being welcomed with warmth often lasts much longer. At Gyeongju Silla Bansang Surime , hospitality is woven into every detail. It is found not only in the dishes carefully arranged on the table, but also in the atmosphere of sincerity that surrounds each guest. Just as the royal banquets of the Silla Dynasty were about more than food, dining here is an experience of respect and care carried into the present day. Within the calm embrace of a hanok, with balance in every dish and kindness in every gesture, a meal becomes more than nourishment—it becomes a lasting memory. At Surime, we welcome each day with the hope that your time in Gyeongju will remain a warm and treasured part of your journey.

As I looked up at the APEC 2025 banners hanging at Gyeongju Station this autumn, it felt as though the city was opening its doors to the world.  In this thousand-year-old capital of Silla, now drawing global attention once again, we at Surime are also preparing to welcome our guests. At gatherings where the world comes together, what matters most is not only the meeting itself, but how cultures are shared through genuine hospitality. At Gyeongju Silla Bansang Surime , we carry on the legacy of royal Korean dining, placing sincerity and dignity into every meal we serve. True warmth, we believe, is not found in grand words but in a carefully set table and an honest welcome. The hanok setting of Surime offers a quiet sense of presence. With open views and traditional architecture, every meal becomes more than food alone—it becomes a chance to feel the history and atmosphere of Gyeongju. Here, tradition and modernity meet naturally, creating a bridge between the past and the present. ...

The story of Surime begins not only with food, but from the very first moment you arrive. In the heart of Gyeongju, a city that carries a thousand years of Silla history, our restaurant greets guests with the charm of a traditional hanok —a Korean-style house built with natural materials and designed to live in harmony with the seasons. Passing through the tiled roof gate and wooden pillars feels like stepping into another time.  Inside, your eyes are drawn upward to the seokkarae —the exposed wooden rafters that form the ceiling of a hanok. More than just structure, seokkarae reflects the beauty and practicality of Korean architecture, showing how tradition values both elegance and function. From the dining table, large glass windows open onto a wide panorama of greenery. While preserving the outer form of a hanok, the interior has been designed with a modern touch to frame the scenery outside. Guests enjoy their meal while watching the seasons unfold, experiencing how past and p...

  In Korea, no traditional banquet is complete without a sweet and gentle ending. That role is often played by sikhye (식혜), a refreshing rice drink that has been cherished for centuries. At Surime, Gyeongju Silla Bansang , we prepare sikhye as a way of carrying on this custom, offering our guests a glimpse into how Koreans have closed their meals for generations. Sikhye is made from just two simple ingredients—rice and malt—but the process transforms them into something extraordinary. The grains of rice float like small pearls in a clear golden liquid, carrying a delicate sweetness created naturally through fermentation. In the past, sikhye was served at royal banquets of the Silla Dynasty, as well as at family gatherings, holidays, and celebrations. It was more than a drink; it was a sign of care and hospitality. At Surime, we serve sikhye at the end of our Silla Bansang Set Menu and alongside the Red Crab Tofu Stew . Guests often say that its light sweetness calms the palate ...

At Surime, tradition is not only served at the table—it lives in the courtyard. Behind the restaurant in Gyeongju, rows of earthenware jars called onggi rest quietly under the sun and wind. Inside these jars, we ferment our own soy sauce ( ganjang ), soybean paste ( doenjang ), and chili paste ( gochujang ) using the same methods passed down for centuries in Korea. These jars may look simple, but they are an essential part of Korean culinary heritage. The porous clay allows air to breathe through, while the lid protects the ingredients inside. Time, sunlight, wind, and even the changing seasons all take part in the slow process of fermentation. What results is not just a condiment, but a living flavor—deep, complex, and full of character. At Surime, Gyeongju Silla Bansang , we believe that a meal carries more meaning when it begins at its very roots. By preparing our own sauces, we honor the philosophy of sincerity and health that guides everything we do. The Silla Bansang Set and ...

What makes a meal truly memorable during your travels? Sometimes, it is not only about food, but about the unique experience that comes with it. In Gyeongju, a thousand-year-old capital of the Silla kingdom, history and the present coexist in daily life. At Surimoe, Gyeongju Silla Bansang , we strive to bring the city’s philosophy and atmosphere to your table with a healthy and refined meal rooted in tradition and sincerity. Yesterday, an international guest at Surimoe was deeply moved when welcomed by our staff in traditional Silla attire. // Although it is not possible to dress this way every day due to the seasons, such moments create a vivid impression—as if stepping into a royal court of Silla itself. The guest remarked that here, one can taste not only food but also history. This is exactly what Surimoe wishes to share: not merely serving dishes, but offering moments where tradition and people meet in a living space. Our signature Silla Bansang Set Menu reflects the elegance ...

  What does it mean to enjoy a single meal in a city where a thousand years of history remain? Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla kingdom, is a noble city where the breath of a millennium still lingers. At Surimoe, Gyeongju Silla Bansang , we strive to bring the spirit of this city onto today’s dining table. Our signature menu, the Silla Bansang Set , is a modern interpretation of the royal table of Silla. It is more than just a collection of side dishes; it embodies our philosophy of serving a healthy and refined meal, created with tradition and sincerity. Another highlight, the Red Crab Tofu Stew , carries the vitality of the East Sea in a single bowl, reimagining the richness that ancient Silla once enjoyed through its connection to the sea. A meal at Surimoe is never just about filling the stomach. Yesterday, one guest shared, “The food is so neat that it makes me feel at ease.” That single remark is the reason we continue on this path. What we ultimately wish to deliv...

Another day at Surimoe begins with the question: “Why are we walking this path?” It is not simply about running a restaurant, but about serving a healthy and refined meal here in Gyeongju, rooted in tradition and sincerity. The value we want to share most with our guests is devotion . Each royal set meal and each bowl of Red Crab Tofu Stew carries not just flavor, but the heart of welcoming every guest as if they were family. Yesterday, one guest told us, “The food is so neat that it makes me feel at ease.” Those words sustain us through the day. As a manager, I make a daily vow: to keep honest flavors for our guests, warm respect with our staff, and a brand philosophy rooted in this region. The Silla Royal Table embodies the tradition of a thousand-year-old city, while the Red Crab Tofu Stew brings the vitality of the sea into a modern dish. These two menus are the face and philosophy of our restaurant. Our staff carry this philosophy in every small act—wiping the tables, greeti...