Yangyang Korean barbecue lunch special: Yeoyejeong

For my first meal on a spontaneous trip to Yangyang, I went to Yeoyejeong (여여정). I had hoped for salt-aged meat, but traffic delayed my arrival, so I ordered the lunch special and galbitang instead. I was disappointed to miss the grilled meat, but I was happy with the set meal and its flavors.

Was Yeoyejeong easy to reach by car during a Yangyang trip?

Yeoyejeong is at 49 Ssangsolbaegi-gil, Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun. When I visited, it was about two minutes by car from Yangyang IC and about 10 minutes from where I was staying. Naksansa Temple and Naksan Beach were also about 15 minutes away by car, making it easy to include in a travel route.

The parking lot was spacious and uncrowded. The welcoming exterior, with its rural atmosphere, also stayed with me.

Was there a wait for a late lunch?

The interior walls were decorated with guestbook entries left by diners. Even though I arrived close to 2 PM, there were many customers.

There were open seats by the entrance window and farther inside, so I did not have to wait. We sat at a sunny window table and ordered right away.

Until what time could I order meat and the lunch special?

At first, I planned to order samgyeopsal (pork belly), hangjeongsal (pork jowl), and fresh galbi. However, I was told that meat orders were only available until 1:30 PM during my visit. The lunch special was also only available until 2 PM, so I just managed to order it.

Since I had come specifically for the salt-aged meat, I was very disappointed not to try the grilled meat. If I visit again, I would like to arrive in time for meat orders.

What came with the ₩13,000 lunch special?

The ₩13,000 lunch special came with marinated galbi, sotbap (rice cooked in an individual pot), and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). Seeing the neatly arranged Korean meal helped ease some of my disappointment.

The banchan (side dishes) reminded me of food my maternal grandmother used to make. I do not usually eat much eggplant, but I kept reaching for the eggplant side dish here.

The marinated galbi was gently sweet and savory. It went well with rice alongside fresh buchu-geotjeori (fresh chive salad), and I found the set, including sotbap and doenjang-jjigae, satisfying for the price.

When I opened the sotbap lid, a sweet rice aroma rose up, and the grains had a pleasant stickiness. Finishing the savory nurungji (scorched rice) made it a filling meal after a long drive.

How was the galbitang I had with it?

The amount of galbi filling the earthenware bowl was the first thing I noticed in the galbitang. There was plenty of meat on the bones, and it was tender when I tried it.

I mixed rice into the broth and ate it with kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). The glass noodles were a nice extra, and I felt full after the meal.

I did not get to have the grilled meat I had expected, but the lunch special and galbitang made for a pleasant first meal of the trip. I also remember the welcoming exterior, comfortable interior, and kind service.