# Apgujeong samgyeopsal BBQ with free doenjang soup: Yeontan Gongjang - By Galpi (https://superchart.com/en/@beyond-the-signboard/) - Written Sep 17, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was provided by the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@beyond-the-signboard/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@beyond-the-signboard/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/index.md) ## In short Yeontan Gongjang is an open-air charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant tucked into an alley in Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam, Seoul. At Yeontan Gongjang we grilled thick pre-seared samgyeopsal (pork belly) and the signature pork king ribs over charcoal briquettes, with a rich complimentary doenjang soup (soybean paste soup) full of meat on the side. For a cool autumn evening spent grilling outdoors, Yeontan Gongjang is a 100% repeat visit. ## Good to know - **What we ordered**: Samgyeopsal (pork belly), pork king ribs - **Banchan**: Seasoned bean sprouts, lettuce, seasoned cabbage, kimchi, garlic, ssamjang, dongchimi (radish water kimchi) - **Complimentary**: Doenjang soup (soybean paste soup), full of meat - **Parking**: Valet parking available - **Seating**: Outdoor yajang seats plus indoor tables - **Self-serve bar**: Alcohol, soft drinks and glasses all self-serve *as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026* ## What kind of place is Yeontan Gongjang, the open-air BBQ spot in Apgujeong Rodeo? Yeontan Gongjang is a charcoal-fire outdoor grill restaurant in Apgujeong Rodeo. It's a yajang (open-air seating) spot you can only enjoy in cool weather like these days — impossible during the scorching summer. The weather has turned properly autumn with cool breezes blowing. There's a really delicious open-air grill restaurant in Apgujeong Rodeo I want to introduce — it's called 'Yeontan Gongjang' (연탄공장), and both the vibe and the taste were so good that I'd give it a 100%!!! repeat-visit rating. Let's get right into the post :) ### Yeontan Gongjang's storefront and the alley entrance ![Exterior of Yeontan Gongjang in Apgujeong Rodeo](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-01-1ut8s-900.webp) ![Warm, nostalgic entrance to Yeontan Gongjang's open-air seating](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-02-1jx68-900.webp) Yeontan Gongjang, the open-air grill restaurant, gives off such a warm, nostalgic vibe at first glance! Walk deeper into the alley and it feels like a whole different world opens up with this fresh open-air atmosphere haha ![Open-air seating leading down the alley at Yeontan Gongjang](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-03-gv9rj-900.webp) One good thing — Yeontan Gongjang offers valet parking! Parking is easy even if you drive here, which makes visiting so convenient :) ## What's on the menu at Yeontan Gongjang ![Yeontan Gongjang's menu listing meats and side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-04-d8xbv-1200.webp) Yeontan Gongjang's menu has a wide variety of meats — raw meat, marinated meat — and above all, it's packed with solid, classic side dishes ㅠㅠㅠ The drink selection is diverse too, basically like they have everything you could want. Looking around at the neighboring tables, hardly any of them had ordered the same side dishes aside from the meat. Doesn't that just mean every single item on the menu is delicious? ## Outdoor charcoal seats vs. indoor tables ![Full view of Yeontan Gongjang's crowded open-air seating](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-05-ihous-900.webp) With the weather so nice, Yeontan Gongjang's outdoor seating was completely full! There are indoor seats too, but almost every guest was enjoying the open-air area haha ![Indoor seating area at Yeontan Gongjang](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-06-4mizt-900.webp) Since it's a bustling, freewheeling open-air grill spot, drinks, beverages, and glasses are all self-serve~! ![Self-serve bar with drinks and glasses at Yeontan Gongjang](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-07-15g5y-900.webp) ![Retro knick-knacks decorating Yeontan Gongjang's interior](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-08-yk0s3-900.webp) The nostalgic scenery of Yeontan Gongjang's interior! There were actually a lot of retro knick-knacks you'd expect to see in a museum, which made the atmosphere even more fun. ![Charcoal brazier set up at a table at Yeontan Gongjang](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-09-f93gk-900.webp) The defining feature of Yeontan Gongjang is that the meat is grilled over charcoal briquettes — and it was definitely much tastier than just grilling on a pan! ## The banchan spread at Yeontan Gongjang ![Banchan spread including seasoned bean sprouts and dongchimi at Yeontan Gongjang](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-10-q2b01-900.webp) Yeontan Gongjang's banchan included seasoned bean sprouts, lettuce, seasoned cabbage, kimchi, garlic, ssamjang, and dongchimi (radish water kimchi)! ## Pre-seared samgyeopsal and the signature pork king ribs ![Thick pre-seared samgyeopsal at Yeontan Gongjang](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-11-705uw-900.webp) The samgyeopsal came out thick~~ Since it's already pre-seared, you just cook it a bit more, which is really convenient. ![Samgyeopsal placed on the charcoal grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-12-ioaqs-900.webp) And here comes the pork king ribs, Yeontan Gongjang's signature dish that we ordered together! ![Table setting with Yeontan Gongjang's signature pork king ribs](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-13-1lusl-900.webp) ![Marinated pork king ribs with sauce soaked in](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-14-c8o7v-900.webp) I started with the raw samgyeopsal first — visually it looked like ordinary pork belly, but it turned out to be the top pick among all the samgyeopsal I've had recently. The thickness and the savory richness were the best.. ![Samgyeopsal turning golden brown on the grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-15-ey81z-900.webp) The complimentary doenjang soup was incredibly rich — seriously deep and delicious! Even though it was just a free side soup, it was packed with meat. ![Complimentary doenjang soup loaded with meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-16-rp16h-900.webp) Tender samgyeopsal full of savory, melting fat! ![A grilled piece of samgyeopsal glistening with fat](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-17-1gt3p-900.webp) The ratio of fat to meat was just right — a delicious samgyeopsal. ![Cross-section of samgyeopsal with a good fat-to-meat ratio](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-18-ws2xv-900.webp) Wrapped up in one bite with the garlic, ssamjang, and lettuce from the banchan~! And together with fluffy rice too~! ![A lettuce wrap of samgyeopsal with garlic and ssamjang](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-19-zeb5c-900.webp) ![Samgyeopsal eaten together with fluffy rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-20-1kgjh-900.webp) Looking at the photos again, I can taste it all over — that thick samgyeopsal was seriously so good ㅠㅠㅠ ![Pork king ribs grilling over the charcoal fire](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-21-16o4n-900.webp) ![Close-up of smoky-flavored pork king ribs](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-22-ueapc-900.webp) The pork king ribs had a marinade that was neither too salty nor too sweet — just perfectly seasoned! ![Pork rib bone grilled to a nice golden brown](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-23-1nuf1-900.webp) ![The last of the pork king ribs eaten down to the bone](https://img.superchart.com/images/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang-24-a4a21-900.webp) Grilling the marinated ribs over charcoal really brings out that full smoky flavor! Even the last rib bone came out nicely browned! I finished every last rib bone at Yeontan Gongjang, and ate so well. ## Is Yeontan Gongjang worth a visit? Final verdict I was curious — an open-air grill spot with this kind of homey charm in Apgujeong Rodeo? — so I went to check it out, and I'm so glad I did ㅠㅠ Crowded, delicious, no reason not to go — that's Yeontan Gongjang. If you want to soak up the autumn weather near Apgujeongrodeo Station while grilling meat and cooling off, definitely make sure to visit Yeontan Gongjang! ## Where it is - Yeontan Gongjang (연탄공장) - 36-4 Apgujeong-ro 48-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 강남구 압구정로48길 36-4 - 37.5261588, 127.0365163 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%97%B0%ED%83%84%EA%B3%B5%EC%9E%A5/@37.5261588,127.0365163,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@beyond-the-signboard/apgujeong-rodeo-yajang-samgyeopsal-doenjang/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt