Lamb BBQ in Hapjeong with parking and Christmas decor: Gukjeyangsik

I've been craving lamb like crazy lately. Even after eating it a few times, I keep thinking about it. There's no cure for this,, you just have to eat it until you stop thinking about it. I heard there was a great lamb place near Hapjeong Station, so we went for a date: Gukjeyangsik (국제양식). I'll say it right at the start of this long post: it truly became my life-best lamb place. We said we'd definitely come back and eat again, so this is a totally satisfied review.

Is there parking at Gukjeyangsik in Hapjeong?

Gukjeyangsik has parking behind the restaurant, so you can drive there even in Hapjeong. It only fits about 5 cars, so it isn't big, and if cars are double-parked, someone has to move one out of the way.

I mean, seriously, a restaurant in Hapjeong with its own parking lot?! Just being able to visit without worrying about parking is so nice. Parking is a worry on every Seoul outing ㅜ On the weekday evening we visited, about 3 spots were left, so we parked safely. Done.

Christmas decor from late October: Gukjeyangsik's exterior and interior

Park, turn around, and there's Gukjeyangsik with its pretty exterior. It was late October and it already had a full Christmas mood. I love the Christmas vibe so much, it really feels like a gift of a space.

Inside, I gasped: wait, this is a lamb place?! The atmosphere is that good. There were prettily decorated corners here and there inside too, with a strong Christmas feel. The mirror and Christmas props up front were so pretty that we snapped photos on our way out.

Do you need a reservation at Gukjeyangsik?

Gukjeyangsik fills up even on weekday evenings, so I recommend reserving. Walk-in guests could eat if a seat was free, but the group seating has limited space and was fully booked.

We reserved, and the reservation name was thoughtfully placed on the table. Such kindness makes me so happy. Sadly, some people left without getting to eat..

Group tables and bar seats: good for a date or blind date

Inside Gukjeyangsik is split into two areas: the space with windows is group seating for 3 or more, and the rest is bar seating. There were two of us, so we reserved bar seats and were guided to a seat further inside.

How is the mood here this good, I thought, and looking around, lots of people seemed to be on dates like us. It seems like a great place for a blind date too.

Gukjeyangsik's basic side dishes and sauces

The basic setting at Gukjeyangsik is personal tableware and sauces on a green table mat at each seat, plus corn salad, pickled tomatoes and carrot râpée in the middle to share. The personal sauces are Maldon salt, wasabi with whole-grain mustard, mint jelly, and a cabbage soy sauce.

It's all neatly laid out on a moody green mat. A heads-up: the lamb was sooo good that honestly.. there were more moments when I dipped in nothing at all.

Where to put your coat: numbered cabinets for each table

Behind the seats at Gukjeyangsik there are cabinets for storing coats and bags. Each table is given a number, so nothing gets lost.

It's winter now, so coats and bags pile up, and it's comfortable to store them. The cabinets are so atmospheric and pretty that I opened one just because haha.

Signature brazier set for two: what's included and the price

What we ordered at Gukjeyangsik was the most basic one, the signature brazier set (for 2 people). It comes with shoulder rack, lamb loin, brazier bean sprout stir-fry, tacos and mixed vegetables, and as written in the original post it's ₩62,0 for 2, ₩95,000 for 3 and ₩124,000 for 4.

One of the good things about Gukjeyangsik is that they grill everything for you. Isn't meat best when someone grills it for you? haha Not only is it convenient when the staff grill it, you get to eat the meat at its best.

Amazing hand skills. Just watching it cook made me so happy that I took tons of photos. They move so busily, yet grill everything just right, which is honestly amazing.

Brazier-fried bean sprouts and marinated tomatoes

The bean sprout stir-fry that comes with the meat at Gukjeyangsik isn't just a pile of sprouts dropped on a plate, it's a real dish. I could honestly eat just the sprouts..?

I already guessed the meat would be good at Gukjeyangsik because the basic side dishes were sooo, so, so delicious. The corn salad, pickled tomatoes and carrot râpée in the back too. The pickled tomatoes especially, crazy..

First cut: shoulder rack with a pinch of Maldon salt

The first thing grilled and placed on our small plates at Gukjeyangsik was the shoulder rack, from the lamb's shoulder. They recommended dipping it lightly in Maldon salt.

It was so good I almost filled up on sprouts alone.. If you hold out and wait, they grill the meat and put it on each person's plate. Ahh, just look at this thick and tender lamb. It's even tastier than it looks haha. Looking at the photos makes me want it again,, even as I write this, my partner suddenly said next to me, "ah, I'm thinking about Gukjeyangsik's lamb," and I went "you too..?" haha The first bite was with salt, and after that I ate only the meat. Why is it so good,, and of course I wrapped it up with the sprouts too haha.

Grilled pineapple, white kimchi and mixed vegetables

Gukjeyangsik serves the vegetables grilled with the meat, prettily arranged in a bowl: grilled pineapple, zucchini, garlic, mushrooms, onion and white kimchi (baek-kimchi). At first I thought it was cabbage, but I think they grilled the kimchi.

Even though I don't usually like grilled pineapple, I don't know how they grilled it here, but the smoky, sweet, warm pineapple went so well that my eyes went wide.

Gukjeyangsik's lamb fried rice: oil-coated, separate grains

The lamb fried rice at Gukjeyangsik is the ultimate, with every grain coated in oil for a fluffy texture. I was craving carbs, so I added it to the brazier set.

Lamb fried rice for me, who keeps snapping lately because of a carb shortage. I kept saying I wanted meat and ate it eagerly, but maybe carbs were what my fullness needed..haha Isn't kindness and a big heart supposed to come from carbs? ㅜhaha So this is the texture of oil fried rice, really.. the best. I've never seen anyone scoop it like that with such a deep spoon,,, I took a photo of the startling spoonful first.

Tortillas at a lamb restaurant? Gukjeyangsik's tacos

What's special about Gukjeyangsik is that they grill a tortilla and put lamb on top. It's placed in front of you with tomato and olive sauce.

Tortillas.. at a lamb place? I thought, but I took a bite without thinking much, and from now on,, any leftover lamb is definitely going in a tortilla. How do they come up with such genius ideas?

It looked so good that I kept taking photos and spilled sauce all over my clothes ㅜ But it was so, so delicious that I forgot it quickly. It tastes different from just eating lamb. The meaty aroma somehow felt even fuller, so I was hap-py.

Dessert: homemade tiramisu from the review event

At Gukjeyangsik you can get homemade tiramisu if you join the Naver review event. It was a perfect tiramisu: creamy, moist and just sweet enough.

Wait, why is even the tiramisu good here.. Were our mouths just in a sweet mood that day? I never expected to meet a tiramisu like this at a lamb place. From the first bite of the side dishes to the meat, the tortilla and the last tiramisu, every single thing was delicious, and I was moved again and again by Gukjeyangsik near Hapjeong Station.

I visited through a good opportunity, but finding a great restaurant by chance like this makes me so happy. There are lots of pretty cafés nearby too, so we even promised to come to a café next time and then eat here again. A place I absolutely want to revisit. Dinner was ppperfect.