Family Korean BBQ in Gwangmyeong: Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi

Choosing a menu when eating out with a child is sneakily difficult, right? It has to taste good to adults, and the child needs to be able to eat it well without it being too spicy. This time, I went to Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi with my child. To give you the conclusion first... this is somewhere I want to return to because my child ate so well! 😆💕 Once I tried their signature Seoseo Galbi, I thought, “Ah~ now I get why the place is called Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi.” The sweet marinade had soaked right into the meat, and above all, it was seriously tender~ My child who came with me really polished off a whole bowl of rice with the Seoseo Galbi.🍚🥩

Where Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi is near Gwangmyeong Market

Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi is near Gwangmyeong Traditional Market and fairly close to Gwangmyeongsageori Station, so it is in a handy spot when you are looking for Korean barbecue around Gwangmyeongsageori. Head into the alley and you will see the big Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi sign on a brick building. There were quite a few people dining inside when we visited too, and it had exactly the feel of a neighborhood barbecue restaurant that has been loved for a long time. 😊

• Location: 1F, 3-5 Gwangi-ro, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Hours: Daily 12:00–22:00

What was the dining room like with a child?

Once we went in, the restaurant was roomier and neater than I expected from the outside. Each table had a hood to draw in the meat smoke, and the spacing between chairs and tables did not feel cramped either. Since I visited with my child, I found myself paying extra attention to details like these. They also have high chairs, so I think this is worth noting for anyone looking for a family restaurant to visit with children.

Take as many side dishes as you need from the self-service bar

One thing I liked here was the self-service bar. There was a great variety of side dishes that go well with barbecue, from ssam vegetables (wrap greens) and shredded scallions to garlic, chili peppers, pickled onions, and marinated raw crab. It was convenient because you could go back for as much of any side dish as you needed while eating. Especially if you eat lots of lettuce or shredded scallions with your meat, a place with a self-service bar is definitely handy.👍 As in the photos, the side dishes were all lined up on one side, so it was easy to take just a little of what you wanted.

We chose Seoseo Galbi and pork ribs

You know how a restaurant with a simple menu is that confident in its food, right? And I liked that the choices were simple and not difficult~ (I... have... decision-making... issues....)

How the signature Seoseo Galbi tasted

The charcoal arrived, and we finally put the meat on the grill. As it started sizzling, the marinade and charcoal aroma rose together... and that just made me hungrier.😂 Then I took a bite and thought, ah... now I get why it is called “Seoseo Galbi”! Personally, Seoseo Galbi was the one I remembered most out of the two dishes. Rather than an overwhelmingly strong marinade, it had a sweet and savory rib marinade that had soaked nicely into the meat. Grilling it over charcoal added a light smoky flavor to the outside, which made it even better. They also brought out one free doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), which was lovely to sip alongside the meat.

Tender texture and the house special sauce

What I liked most about the Seoseo Galbi was its tender texture. When ribs are chewy, you have to chew for ages, which can feel a little daunting when you are eating with a child. But the Seoseo Galbi here was so tender that it went down softly without much chewing! The sweet rib marinade plus the tender meat must have been exactly right for my child’s taste. Before I could even eat mine, my child beside me kept asking for more meat...🤣 And dipping the meat generously in this Seoseo Galbi special sauce is such a perfect pairing~~

My child finished a whole bowl of rice

This was what surprised me most that day. Usually, when we eat out with my child, I have to keep helping with this and that so they will eat, but that day it was a piece of Seoseo Galbi and a spoonful of rice, then another piece of Seoseo Galbi and a spoonful of rice... and a whole bowl of rice was simply gone! I even said while eating, “You are really eating well today, aren’t you?” haha. The sweet rib marinade was not too challenging for my child, and above all, the meat was tender, so they ate it really well. That is why I remember this as more than simply a place with tasty meat—it is a Gwangmyeongsageori barbecue restaurant I want to revisit with my child.💕

Charcoal-grilled pork ribs, nicely browned too

After the Seoseo Galbi, we grilled the pork ribs too. The pork ribs were also well marinated and delicious once browned over charcoal. You know that distinctive sweet flavor and smoky aroma marinated meat gets when it is cooked with a little char.🔥 Put some meat on ssam vegetables with shredded scallions and take a big bite, and it really feels like you have come to a proper barbecue restaurant! Both the Seoseo Galbi and pork ribs were delicious, but if I absolutely had to choose one, I would pick the Seoseo Galbi! There is a reason it is the signature dish.👍

Finish with bibim naengmyeon

After barbecue, you have to finish with naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), right? We also tried bibim naengmyeon, and mixing the noodles through its sweet-and-tangy sauce felt like it refreshed the palate after the meat. I also recommend saving one or two pieces of rib and wrapping them with the bibim naengmyeon! The rib plus bibim naengmyeon combination is irresistible.😋

I would bring my child back next time too

This time we tried both the Seoseo Galbi and pork ribs, and both were delicious, so we left very full. Still, the Seoseo Galbi was by far the most memorable! The sweet marinade had soaked right into the meat, and it was so tender that it was good to eat with a child too. More than anything, seeing my child finish a whole bowl of rice with the Seoseo Galbi was already enough to satisfy this mom.🤣💕 If I have reason to be around Gwangmyeong Market next time, I would like to visit again with my child. If you are looking for a Gwangmyeongsageori barbecue restaurant or somewhere near Gwangmyeong Market for a family rib meal, keep Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi in mind.🥩❤️