Yangju Korean BBQ restaurant for charcoal LA galbi: Manpo Galbi

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch for ribs in Yangju

This time, I visited Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch. It is a rib restaurant serving beef ribs, pork ribs, naengmyeon (cold noodles), and more.

It is on the first floor at 65 Songrang-ro, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, and the parking lot was very spacious and easy to use. Highly recommend it if convenient parking matters to you.

The restaurant was also quite spacious and clean, so it looked like a nice spot for a family meal or a gathering with friends. We came for the meat menu that day!

Manpo Galbi menu and weekday lunch rib set

The menu has quite a range of ribs: handmade Korean pork galbi, 250 g for ₩19,000; fresh Korean pork galbi, 200 g for ₩21,000; handmade LA galbi, 250 g for ₩28,000; and fresh or marinated beef ribs, 250 g for ₩38,000. There were also plenty of meal options besides meat, including Korean beef yukhoe (seasoned raw beef), brisket soybean-paste rice soup, brisket soybean-paste stew, galbitang (beef short-rib soup), ppyeo haejangguk (spicy pork-bone soup), and yukhoe bibimbap.

They also offer a handmade rib set at weekday lunch: 250 g of pork ribs, naengmyeon, and brisket soybean-paste rice soup. It looked like a good lunch option too.

That day, we ordered fresh beef ribs and handmade LA galbi.

Scallion salad and assorted side dishes

Once we ordered the meat, the side dishes came out first. There was pa-chae (shredded scallion salad), assorted seasoned vegetables, pickles, and lots of sides that went well with meat. I especially liked the scallion salad because it cut through the richness of the ribs.

A grilled piece of meat topped with scallion salad was just perfect! With so many side dishes, it was nice to mix and match while eating the meat.

Finally, the dishes we ordered arrived!

Handmade LA galbi with sweet-savory seasoning and charcoal aroma

First up, the handmade LA galbi! The meat was fairly thick, and the marbling was clearly visible. Once it went over the charcoal, a subtle smoky aroma came through as it began to brown nicely.

LA galbi is all about picking every last bit of meat off the bones, haha. The seasoning was nicely sweet and salty with charcoal flavor added in, so it was delicious. It was not overwhelmingly sweet—just a seasoning that went well with the meat! It was tasty with rice and great with the scallion salad too.

The nutty flavor of fresh beef ribs

Next came the fresh beef ribs! Unlike marinated ribs, these let you taste the flavor of the meat itself. The marbling looks pretty good even in the photo, right?

Grilled over charcoal, they browned beautifully on the outside while staying moist inside. Personally, if you prefer the meat's own nutty flavor to the sweetness of marinated ribs, I recommend the fresh ribs too! A light dip in salt brings out the meat flavor even more. Charcoal-grilled meat really is better...

As the meat cooked over the charcoal, it absorbed a subtle smoky flavor that made it feel different from grilling at home. Ribs, especially marinated ones, can catch a little on the grill, and those bits are tasty too, haha. Turn them carefully so they do not burn, and they brown up beautifully.

Soybean-paste rice soup served with the meat

Soybean-paste rice soup! A Korean BBQ restaurant cannot skip doenjang-jjigae (soybean-paste stew), right? I was going to order some on purpose, but they said the soybean-paste rice soup comes with a meat order. Such a win.

It arrived bubbling away, with tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables inside. The savory, salty soybean-paste stew was great for spoonfuls between bites of meat, and ordering a bowl of rice with it made the meal really satisfying. Soybean-paste stew plus rice with meat is impossible to resist, haha. Meat alone can get a little rich, and the stew balanced it out nicely.

Free handmade Hamheung naengmyeon for dessert

Another thing I liked at Manpo Galbi! Their handmade Hamheung naengmyeon was listed as free. I love finishing a meat meal with naengmyeon, so it was great to get dessert noodles for free. Marinated ribs followed by cool naengmyeon is just perfect! You know how, even when you are full, there is still room for naengmyeon, haha.

Why it looked good for family meals or work gatherings

Overall, the restaurant was spacious and the tables had plenty of room, so it looked like a good place for a family meal or for friends coming out for meat.

The menu ranges from Korean pork to LA galbi and beef ribs, so a group could choose according to everyone's preferences. There is also a rib set at lunch, so it seems suitable for lunch as well as dinner!

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch is a good place to visit when you want ribs in Yangju. The charcoal-grilled ribs had a lovely smoky aroma, and I liked the variety of meat choices, from fresh Korean pork ribs to LA galbi and beef ribs.

There were plenty of side dishes, plus soybean-paste stew and naengmyeon, making it easy to have a hearty meal! If you love naengmyeon after meat, keep the free dessert noodles in mind, haha. I recommend it to anyone looking for a rib restaurant in Yangju, or a place for a family meal or gathering! Good~~