Ansan Korean restaurant for marinated beef ribs: Cheongnyuok

I had an appointment on Banwol Island and heard there was a newly opened butcher-style restaurant, so I stopped by Cheongnyuok.

New restaurants have been popping up one by one around Banwol Island lately, and this seemed like a spot worth noting if you have been looking for a neat, clean barbecue restaurant in the area.

Since it is new, everything was clean overall, and the generous spacing between tables made it easy to enjoy a relaxed meal.

• Address: 1F, 7 MTV 17-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si
• Hours: Daily 11:30–23:00
• Last order: 22:00
• Parking: Available in the building
• Marinated beef short rib set for 2: ₩70,000

What comes with the marinated beef short rib set

We ordered the marinated beef short rib set for two that day. The set already includes doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) and a bowl of steamed rice.

After we ordered, side dishes that pair well with meat arrived first—salad, marinated raw crab, green onion kimchi, shredded scallions, and more—and the charcoal soon followed. Meat really is best over charcoal.

Marinated beef short ribs grilled over charcoal

Finally, the beef ribs arrived. I put them on the charcoal and waited for them to cook, and I think this is the time that feels longest whenever I come out for meat. Since the meat was already marinated, I first tried it on its own without any side dishes.

As a butcher-style restaurant, I had high expectations for the meat, and the texture was quite tender from the first bite. Even though these were marinated beef ribs, they were not tough, and the more I chewed, the more the flavor of the beef came through. They were delicious on their own, but meat is always even better with ssam vegetables.

With beef on lettuce and shredded scallions on top, each bite felt wonderfully full.

Doenjang-jjigae that paired so well with the meat

Personally, the doenjang-jjigae was one of the dishes I really liked that day. I am someone who always has doenjang-jjigae at a barbecue restaurant, but sometimes the soybean paste flavor is too strong or the stew tastes a little muddy, you know? Cheongnyuok's doenjang-jjigae was clean-tasting without that feeling.

It was a solid, back-to-basics doenjang-jjigae. It had plenty of vegetables and tofu too, so it was great with rice. Taking a spoonful of hot stew while eating the marinated ribs felt like it reset my palate, so it went very well with the meat. A piece of meat with a little rice, wrapped in ssam vegetables—well, meat and rice are a combination that simply cannot fail.

My top pick was the green onion kimchi

And among the basic side dishes that day, my top pick was the green onion kimchi. The seasoning was just right, not overly strong, and it paired incredibly well with the marinated beef ribs. If you keep eating ribs, they can start to feel a little rich, but the green onion kimchi cut right through that. It was the kind of flavor that naturally makes you want rice, and I have no idea how many times I ate them together. If you have marinated ribs at Cheongnyuok, I really recommend trying them with the green onion kimchi.

A Banwol Island barbecue restaurant for family gatherings or company dinners

I liked the meat at Cheongnyuok, but I also liked how spacious and clean the restaurant was. There are separate rooms, so it looked convenient for visiting with a larger group. It seemed like a good choice not only for a family meal, but also for a Banwol Island company dinner or gathering.

You can help yourself to extra side dishes, which was convenient, and the staff were kind too, so we had a pleasant meal.

I found this place by chance while I was on Banwol Island for an appointment, but I left more satisfied with the meal than I expected. The tender marinated beef ribs, clean-tasting doenjang-jjigae, and pleasantly sticky rice made a great combination. More than anything, the pairing of green onion kimchi and ribs is what I remember most. If you are looking for a good restaurant or barbecue spot on Banwol Island, Cheongnyuok is worth a visit. If you have been searching for samgyeopsal (pork belly) restaurants on Banwol Island but feel like beef this time, keep the marinated beef short rib set in mind.