Korean BBQ family gathering in Isu, Seoul: grilled platter at Hwaseol

Today I went to a Korean BBQ place near Isu Station with my family. I'd walked past it a few times and the unusual interior always caught my eye. Finally went to satisfy my curiosity haha — here's my recommendation for a Korean BBQ spot near Isu Station, Hwaseol.

Where is Hwaseol Isu Branch, and what are the hours and parking?

A recommended gathering spot near Isu Station — Hwaseol

• Address: 13 Dongjak-daero 25-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st-2nd floor)
• Location: 3-minute walk from Isu Station Exit 13
• Hours: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM
• Break time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (no break time on weekends/holidays)
• Parking: Angel-in-us Coffee building parking in front; first 60 min ₩2,000 / additional 60 min ₩2,000, max ₩10,000, stamp required at counter
• Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation

Hwaseol, the go-to Korean BBQ spot near Isu Station, catches your eye from the outside with an interior that feels slightly out of place for the area. It had a log-cabin, hut-like feel that made it cozy and warm.

Tables on the 1st floor, private rooms on the 2nd

We visited after booking through Naver Reservation. It's a large-scale Korean BBQ restaurant spread over two floors — tables mainly on the 1st floor, private rooms mainly on the 2nd. We ate on the 1st floor so I couldn't take photos upstairs, but my sister said it was really spacious.

What side dishes come with the meal at Hwaseol Isu Branch?

Since we'd reserved ahead, the banchan (side dishes) were already set up when we arrived — spicy radish salad, shredded onion, sweet pumpkin mousse salad, kimchi, pickles and seasoned squid, among others. Neat, well-made side dishes that go great with both meat and rice.

Everything was tasty and well-seasoned, and beautifully plated too, so if you're looking for a spot near Isu Station for a business meeting or to take your parents, this could be a good option 😉

What's in the han-don pork platter, and does staff grill it?

A beef spot near Isu Station — Hwaseol

Hwaseol, near Isu Station, is also famous for beef, and they had plenty of beef menu options. So I tried to talk everyone into beef for a bit, but my sister said it had been ages since she'd had pork belly. So, respecting my elders haha, we went with the han-don pork platter. It came with pork neck, rib-cut belly, and beef short rib flap.

This Korean BBQ spot near Sadang, Hwaseol, offers staff grilling service across the board. A staff member took care of everything piece by piece, so we could eat comfortably. Which meant plenty of time for chatting.

How the pork neck tasted

They grilled the pork neck first, and it was tender with none of the dryness or toughness pork neck can sometimes have. Maybe because it was grilled so well 🤭 haha. The juices burst out with each bite and it was really delicious.

Rib-cut pork belly and doenjang jjigae

A Korean BBQ spot near Sadang — Hwaseol Isu Branch

The meat and banchan were both so good the rice kept disappearing. We ate so fast that the belly and rib were grilled together. The belly wasn't regular pork belly but rib-side belly, so the marbling looked great.

Then came the doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) — rich and thick, perfect with rice and meat. Both the side dishes and stew were clean and refined, a quality you don't usually get at a Korean BBQ place, so I think parents would really like it here. It made me happy to come across a place with such neat banchan again after a while.

Finishing with cold noodles

After all that pork belly, we rounded things off properly with cold noodles for dessert. The noodles had a nice chewy texture and were refreshing to finish with. Hwaseol, a great spot near Isu Station where staff grill the meat for you, is more than fine for a visit with parents too. If you're around Isu Station, do stop by ❣️❣️