[Gyeongnam/Hadong] Doltimi Restaurant – Freshwater Crab Garijang Set Meal

The place we visited as the last stop on our Hadong trip was Doltim's Restaurantam.
It hadn't been long since I had lunch, so I wasn't very hungry, but,
Curious about the Chamgage Garijang, a local specialty of Hadong, I made the effort to walk there.

Rows of landscape photos of Hadong were pasted on banners that filled the entire front of the building.
Overall, the exterior gave the impression of having recently expanded and relocated.

Upon entering, the hall is quite spacious.
With plenty of tables and several private rooms available, the layout seemed well-suited for accommodating large groups.
However, perhaps because it had only recently expanded and relocated, the service, flow, and overall atmosphere felt somewhat disorganized.

Garijang, located at the top of the menu, costs 35,000 won for two people.
Starting with the blue crab set meal (200,000 won for 4 people), dishes such as seasoned raw clams, freshwater crab stew, and freshwater clam soup.
As befits a region along the Seomjin River, the menu mainly features freshwater clams and freshwater crabs.

Chamgegarijang is a local dish that has been passed down for a long time in the Seomjin River basin, including Hadong,
Finely grind the caught mud crabs and boil them with perilla seeds to make a thick porridge-like consistency.

Side dishes were available for unlimited refills.
Although a fairly wide variety of dishes were served, such as marinated crab and braised dried pollack,
When I actually tasted them, there weren't any side dishes that left a lasting impression.

I thought it couldn't be helped since it was made in advance and served cold, but,
As someone who prefers having one proper side dish rather than a wide variety, the selection was a bit disappointing.

When I received the earthenware pot, it was close to perilla seed porridge infused with the aroma of crab.
It contains chives, so it can be eaten as is like porridge or mixed with rice.
Maybe because it was my first time trying this food, it felt more unfamiliar than I expected, and honestly, it wasn't a flavor that I found myself reaching for easily.

The entire shop exuded the distinctive atmosphere of a touristy restaurant.
Freshwater crab paste at a place with a bit more of a local feel
I finished my meal thinking that I would give it another try.