[Convenience Store Adventure] Generous Dosirak... Home-Cooked Meal Vibes Abound

Stir-fried Pork and Squid 'Excellent'
Black Rice with Fried Egg on Top
Potato Stir-fry Slightly Disappointing

As high inflation continues, it has become a time when at least 10,000 won is needed to have a proper meal. In this situation, I visited GS25 upon hearing the news that Kim Hyeja’s dosirak has returned more generously after 6 years. Recently, it has once again gained word-of-mouth as a cost-effective (performance for price) dosirak, and it is practically sold out continuously.

The first installment of the generous home-cooked meal dosirak features spicy stir-fried pork (jeyuk bokkeum), a dish loved by the entire nation, as the main side dish. This dosirak is made with a secure lid, allowing it to be microwaved directly. After cooking it for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, a delicious jeyuk set meal was completed. Sprinkling the included sesame oil over the jeyuk bokkeum brought out a savory aroma that whetted the appetite. The meat was garnished with sesame seeds, sliced red chili, and green chili, showing attention to visual appeal as well. The taste was not spicy but had a moderate sweetness, comparable to that of a famous restaurant.

The rice mixed with black rice stimulated the feeling of home-cooked meals. The amount of rice was sufficient for an adult male, and a moist, soft-fried egg was placed on top, giving a sense that nutrition was also considered. The side dish of stir-fried fish cake had a chewy texture, and the salty and spicy flavors were well balanced. The tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) was based on bulgogi seasoning, moist rather than dry, and tasted good. The stir-fried kimchi harmonized sourness, sweetness, and umami well.

Generous Homemade Squid Bulgogi.
Photo by Im Chunhan

The second installment of the generous home-cooked meal dosirak features stir-fried squid and soy sauce bulgogi as the main dishes. Like the jeyuk bokkeum dosirak, it includes sesame oil, which is meant to be poured over the stir-fried squid or chamnamul (Korean wild greens). The stir-fried squid had a thick sauce texture, with the seasoning deeply absorbed into the squid, green onions, and chili peppers. The squid was chewy, and the sauce itself was spicy yet sweet, making it perfect to mix with rice. The soy sauce bulgogi was well tenderized, and its sweet and salty flavor was perfect to eat with rice.

The black rice, fried egg, and stir-fried kimchi were the same as in the first installment. Another side dish included chamnamul, and adding sesame oil enhanced its fragrant flavor. The stir-fried potatoes were thinly julienned, soft yet firm enough not to break apart. However, only two thin strips each of carrot and ham were included, which was quite disappointing. It seems necessary to adjust the ratio of potatoes to add a bit more carrot and ham as an improvement.