Isu Korean BBQ with free doenjang stew and basil pesto: Hwaseol Isu

What kind of restaurant is Hwaseol Isu Branch?

Hwaseol Isu Branch is a beef and pork grill restaurant on the restaurant row near Isu Station. I'd already been here once for a work dinner, and both the beef and pork were delicious, plus it's corkage-free, so that outing went well too. This time I went with a friend for dinner and was satisfied all over again.

It's right on the Isu Station restaurant row, so it's easy to get to, and the interior is pretty clean and tidy, making it a good spot for anything from a meal with friends to an office dinner to a family outing.

We are Hwaseol Sadang·Isu Branch, the trendiest room-style Korean BBQ restaurant in the Isu-Sadang area. Hwaseol Sadang·Isu Branch is styled after an American West lodge, with a spacious and comfortable 165㎡ (50 pyeong) space, corkage-free policy, and large private rooms ready — a beef and pork grill restaurant living up to its name with tender meat. Hongno Sang-il Jeomseol (紅爐上一點雪) 'A single flake of snow melts on a red-hot brazier.' Just as snow scattered on a glowing brazier melts away without a trace, so too can worries and cares dissolve depending on one's mindset. In that spirit, we are Hwaseol, a snowflake-marbled short rib specialty restaurant made by restaurateurs who chose the right path over the easy one, hoping that the snowflake-marbled meat melting in your mouth over the hot grill will melt away your worries along with it. The restaurant spans two floors: the 1st floor offers a quiet, casual dining experience, while the 2nd floor has group seating and private rooms. For parking, please use the mechanical parking at the Angel-in-us building in front of the restaurant. With our receipt, it's 2,000 won per hour. (Please note that wide cars or mid-size and larger SUVs cannot be accommodated.) Grandeur, Equus, and SUVs smaller than mid-size can be parked.

What comes on the 109,000-won Hwaseol 1% Black Beef Platter?

Hwaseol 1% Black Beef Platter, 109,000 won Selected cut by cut from the world-famous top 1% of beef. Flower skirt steak + sirloin + short rib skirt, with complimentary stew.

It's a combo platter that lets you try flower skirt steak, sirloin, and short rib skirt all in one order, and I picked it for the generous set-up that even comes with complimentary stew.

The biggest perk of the Hwaseol 1% Black Beef Platter is that you get to enjoy the most popular beef cuts — flower skirt steak, sirloin, and short rib skirt — all at once! Sticking with just one cut can get a little repetitive, but each cut has a different texture and flavor, so it's fun to pick and choose as you go.

The free doenjang stew, basil pesto and seaweed

Each cut has its own charm, so anyone who loves beef would be pretty satisfied with this combo ❤️ And the stew that's practically mandatory when eating grilled meat came out too, which was great alongside rice! That miso soup was legit good~

Dipping in the basil pesto was tasty too!

Flower skirt steak, sirloin and short rib skirt: how they differ

The flower skirt steak in particular has an appealing nuttiness from the marbling and a soft texture, while the sirloin let me really taste that rich, distinct beef flavor! The short rib skirt was chewy yet juicy — the texture difference among the three cuts was really clear! The meat tasted best not overcooked, just grilled enough to keep the juices in, then dipped lightly in salt!

Wrapping it in seaweed was also a great pairing

Is Hwaseol Isu Branch a good spot for a work dinner near Isu Station?

Hwaseol Isu Branch is in an easy-to-reach location from Isu Station, so it's a good place to gather after work, and above all, handling both beef and pork is a real plus. If your group has both beef people and pork people, choosing a menu is easier! Especially if you're looking for a good place for a work dinner around Isu Station, an Isu Korean beef spot, or an Isu beef restaurant, this one's worth adding to the list!