Yeoksam Korean BBQ after working late: Cheongha and steamed egg

On a day worn out by overtime, I wanted to recharge with proper meat! This is my honest review of Yuklab, a Gangnam Station beef spot with a classy atmosphere, where I enjoyed everything from beef to tender lamb chops with no gamey smell :)

After overtime, a Gangnam Station BBQ restaurant with a friend: Yuklab

Yuklab Gangnam is a Gangnam Station BBQ restaurant that serves both beef and lamb, and I went with a friend who had also just finished working late, for dinner and a drink. Work stress has been really bad lately T_T Overtime is the default, and by the time I leave I feel like my soul has been wrung out.. So what do I need? Delicious meat and a drink! haha My friend happened to be working late too, so we decided to have a nice dinner before going home.

Yuklab Gangnam location and how to get there

The address of Yuklab Gangnam is 28-6 Teheran-ro 1-gil, 2F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It's well known as a beef and lamb place near Gangnam Station. If you're looking for good meat around Gangnam Station or Sinnonhyeon Station, it's worth keeping an eye on.

What the name means: the meat lab

True to its name, 'Yuklab' (肉,LAB), a meat research lab, this Yeoksam restaurant keeps researching how to make beef and lamb more popular. Being able to enjoy lamb as well as beef is what sets it apart from other BBQ places.

What's the Yuklab atmosphere like? Bar seats and tables

Unlike typical BBQ places, Yuklab Gangnam has a refined, stylish atmosphere, with a bar-style area alongside regular tables. When I look for a beef place around Gangnam Station, the atmosphere matters as much as the taste of the meat. It was impressive enough that I wondered, is this really a BBQ place?

It seemed like a good fit for special occasions, dates, family gatherings and get-togethers with friends, and also for wedding invitation meetups or company dinners.

When I visited, there was actually a group of office workers having a company dinner. I heard corkage is allowed too, so it would be nice to bring a favorite bottle of wine.

Booking on Naver: the basic table setting was already prepared

We booked in advance on Naver before visiting Yuklab.

When we arrived, the basic table setting was already laid out, which was nice. We could start eating right after ordering, so there was less waiting.

What I personally liked is that, in contrast to the upscale atmosphere, Yuklab is good value for the quality. From the basic setting to the side dishes, a lot is provided as a free extra, which made me even happier.

Yuklab set for two: price and what's in it

Of the sets for two, we chose the Yuklab set at ₩67,000, which comes with two cuts of beef and lamb chops. Yuklab has top-quality beef selected cut by cut, tender lamb chops with no gamey smell, and even prettily presented highballs and wine.

• Jingalbisal (rib meat) 120g
• Toshisal (skirt meat) 120g
• Lamb chops 230g

With two cuts of beef plus lamb chops, the set felt really generous. I liked it even more that doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and 10-second cheese are free with it.

Meat that looks special from the start

When the meat we ordered arrived, it passed the looks test right away!!! The vivid color and the different marbling on each cut caught my eye, and overall the quality looked great.

Yuklab owns and runs its own distribution company, and I think that structure lets it control meat quality while keeping prices competitive.

Grilling order for the Yuklab set: jingalbisal first

Yuklab kindly guided us on the order to eat the meat, and first up was jingalbisal. It's a cut from the rib area, with a rich nutty flavor and a tender texture.

Thanks to the moderate marbling, the juiciness and richness came out when grilled, and the deep beefy flavor grew as I chewed. It wasn't tough at all and was soft to bite, so it was a happy start from the first mouthful.

My friend also raved about the quality as soon as she ate it.

Grilled eggplant, rice cake, bell pepper and cheese

At Yuklab we could also grill vegetables like eggplant, rice cake and bell pepper alongside the meat. Eating just meat can feel a bit lacking, right?

Grilling cheese together had its own charm, different from the meat.

Second up: toshisal with deep beefy flavor

After the jingalbisal, we grilled the toshisal. It's one of the special cuts that don't come in large amounts from a single cow, with a strong beefy flavor and a distinct grain, yet tender when grilled well.

Grilled golden on the outside and juicy inside, it let the meat's natural flavor come through. If jingalbisal was about richness, toshisal was impressive for its deep beefy flavor.

With the banchan

Rather than eating only meat, pairing it with banchan (side dishes) makes it even better. Adding banchan to a piece of meat really brought the flavor up another notch.

The doenjang stew included in the set

The Yuklab set includes doenjang stew, which was perfect when I craved a savory broth in the middle of the meat. Eating BBQ without doenjang stew feels like the meal isn't finished, right? A spoonful of the savory broth and then another piece of meat made it a hearty meal.

I was even more satisfied that a side like this is part of the set.

Last, thick lamb chops: any gamey smell?

The last item in the Yuklab set was lamb chops, 230g in total. Two thick pieces came out, and they looked very appetizing.

I heard Yuklab uses only young lambs that go through an ethical slaughter process and have halal certification. Maybe that's why I felt little worry about lamb's typical smell.

With lamb chops, it's important not to overcook them, just grill them right~ I grilled them golden and took a bite, and there was no gamey smell and the meat was tender, so I enjoyed it. Biting into the thick meat, I could taste the juices and richness. You can even hold it and tear at it with your hands, which was fun, and I was very satisfied to the end :)

A glass of Cheongha melted the overtime stress

While eating at Yuklab I naturally started thinking about a drink, so I ordered a glass of Cheongha (Korean sake) and shared it with my friend. I found this place by chance while searching for a Gangnam Station beef spot, and I liked both the atmosphere and the food.

So in the end I ordered a glass of Cheongha again today and shared it nicely with my friend haha With good meat and a drink, it felt like the work stress that had piled up eased a little!

Extra order: fluffy steamed egg

We had eaten plenty of meat at Yuklab, but the ending felt lacking, so we also ordered steamed egg. You have to top up the protein to the very end~

The steamed egg was fluffy and soft, which was lovely. Finishing with soft steamed egg after the beef and lamb chops made the meal feel even more filling.

Looking for beef and lamb together near Gangnam Station? Yuklab

I went to Yuklab Gangnam in a hurry with a friend, with no big plan, but the meal was more satisfying than I expected.

The upscale atmosphere, a set where you can enjoy beef and lamb chops together, and a generous set for the price: I liked this place in many ways.

If you're looking for a Gangnam Station beef spot, or a BBQ place with a good atmosphere near Sinnonhyeon Station, how about a nice dinner at Yuklab? haha