Namyangju charcoal-grilled pork ribs: Galbi Yechan Jinjeop

Can you eat pork ribs at 3 p.m.?

My wife and I went to Galbi Yechan Namyangju Jinjeop Branch (갈비예찬 남양주진접점) for pork ribs. It was around 3 p.m., later than a typical lunch hour, but the restaurant was operating without a break time during our visit, so we could eat at ease.

Even at the late lunch hour, families and larger groups were eating there. There was a large parking lot in front, which made it convenient to visit by car.

How much did we eat with the 2+1 marinated pork promotion?

We ordered saeng dwaeji yangnyeom (fresh marinated pork) that day. A 2+1 promotion was running during our visit. One serving was 250 g, so we ordered two servings and received 750 g in total. It looked like quite a lot for two when the meat first arrived, and with mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth), it was filling.

What was the charcoal-grilled marinated fresh pork like?

The saeng dwaeji yangnyeom was grilled directly over charcoal. Marinated meat can burn easily on the outside when the heat is too high, so I turned it over as it cooked. The surface browned nicely while the inside stayed moist, and the meat was not too thin, so it had a pleasant chew.

The first taste was the gentle sweetness of the marinade, followed by a subtle charcoal aroma. I tend to tire quickly of marinades that are too strong or sweet, but this one did not taste overly seasoned to me, so it was easy to eat the meat on its own.

I ate it with lettuce geotjeori (lightly seasoned fresh kimchi) and dipped it lightly in barley doenjang. Adding garlic and Cheongyang chili peppers brought spicy and savory notes to the sweet meat. The meat that had seemed plentiful at first disappeared pleasantly as my wife and I talked.

What came with the meal and was available at the self-service bar?

The side dishes included lettuce geotjeori, pickled garlic scapes, seasoned raw crab, yuzu lotus root, and black sesame salad.

The lettuce geotjeori went well with the charcoal-grilled meat. The yuzu lotus root was tangy and crisp, refreshing my palate between bites. Seasoned raw crab and barley doenjang also came as standard, so there were several things to eat alongside the meat.

The self-service bar had vegetables, whole garlic cloves, Cheongyang chili peppers, and more. I could take as much as I needed, which was convenient for me because I like to have plenty of vegetables with grilled meat.

How was the mul naengmyeon after the meat?

After the meat, we ordered mul naengmyeon. It was made with extruded noodles prepared in-house, and the noodles were pleasantly chewy. Eating it with the cool broth made my mouth feel refreshed. Rather than simply tasting cold, the broth had a well-balanced flavor, making it a good way to finish the meal.

Is there space for family gatherings or company dinners?

As I looked around, I saw group dining rooms in addition to the regular tables. Their layout seemed to let diners eat without paying as much attention to neighboring tables, so I thought they would suit family gatherings or company dinners. They also looked useful for family occasions hosting elders, such as a 70th-birthday celebration.

The tables and surrounding area were clean, and the self-service bar was orderly. The large parking lot and vegetable self-service bar were convenient that day, and I especially liked being able to have a late lunch without running into a break time.