Gyodae Korean BBQ with 3 sides and ₩5,000 valet: Galgol Yeontanjip

⏰ Hours: 11:00-22:30 (break time 14:00-16:30) 📍 Address: 24 Seocho-daero 51-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul 🚻 Restroom: Indoor, separated by gender

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch near Gyodae Station: weekday-evening wait?

I was looking for somewhere to have dinner near Gyodae after work, and I ended up at Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch.

Even though it was a weekday evening, there were quite a lot of people. When I arrived there was about a 30-minute wait.

Seeing people waiting made it feel like a place the neighborhood keeps coming back to.

Briquette fire, but the dining room isn't hot

Once inside, it felt less like a quiet restaurant and more like a lively BBQ spot. There were lots of tables of 3-4 people, so it seemed to get a lot of after-work dinner and gathering crowds.

I thought it would be hot since they use briquette fire, but the air conditioning was running the whole time, so it was more comfortable than I expected.

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch menu and prices

The meat menu is substantial and varied, too. Signature menu

• Gochujang briquette bulgogi ₩14,900
• Briquette king-salt pork belly ₩15,900
• Juljuli teukmokssal (pork neck) ₩15,900
• Seolhwa kkodeulsal (limited quantity) ₩17,900

The stews and side dishes were so varied too that I spent a long time deciding!

• Hangover sundubu ₩6,900
• Changdong-ne shrimp steamed egg ₩5,900
• Briquette fried rice ₩6,900
• Flat bibim noodles ₩6,900
• Im Soyoung's doenjang jjigae ₩6,900

The drinks menu was also so cheap I couldn't not order any, haha. And the menu here is so cute — they have both garo (horizontal) and sero (vertical) options for soju? If you order garo, the owner actually brings you the soju lying horizontally!! This was so fun I kept ordering garo.

Basic setting and basil ssamjang

Alongside the basic side dishes, they set out house-made ssamjang (dipping sauce), a one-of-a-kind(?) basil ssamjang, and salt.

At first the basil ssamjang felt a little unfamiliar, but once I tried it, it went really well with the meat. It seemed to cut through the richness of the meat, so I kept reaching for it. It also paired nicely with the sweet potato salad and pickled gochujang.

What we ordered for 2 people

• Kkodeulsal ₩17,900
• Briquette bulgogi ₩14,900
• 1-second draft-soju mix (350cc) ₩3,900
• Changdong-ne shrimp steamed egg ₩5,900
• Yeolmu kimchi noodle soup ₩6,900
• Im Soyoung's doenjang jjigae ₩6,900
• Garo soju ₩3,900 x 3

We definitely ate a lot, haha.

Seolhwa kkodeulsal: why it's a one-day-only special

The dish that stuck with me most was, without question, the seolhwa kkodeulsal!! Even before cooking, the meat was notably thick, and the ratio of fat to lean meat looked great.

Since you grill it yourself, you can also cook it exactly to your preferred doneness, which was a plus.

Cooked to a golden brown, the outside was slightly crisp while the inside kept a chewy texture. The more I chewed, the more the savory flavor came through, and I understood a bit why it's sold as a one-day-only limited item. Personally, I liked the combination with basil ssamjang better than plain salt.

Gochujang briquette bulgogi

The gochujang briquette bulgogi was also a good drinking snack. The gochujang seasoning wasn't overly sweet.

There was a subtle briquette aroma woven through it, so it felt a little different from ordinary seasoned bulgogi.

The meat itself was thin, so it cooked quickly, and it went really well with drinks.

Super value-for-money sides

The sides were also seriously generous and a great deal!! We ordered three of them and ended up way too full, haha.

The shrimp steamed egg came in a more generous portion than I expected!! There were shrimp tucked between the fluffy steamed egg, so it was good to eat in between bites of meat. It also wasn't too salty and was on the soft side, so it was easy to keep eating alongside everything else.

The yeolmu kimchi noodle soup felt like it cleansed the palate after eating meat. The slightly tangy broth with yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) cut through the richness. I imagine a lot of people order it together in summer.

The doenjang jjigae was also solidly true to the basics.

If you're eating meat with rice, I think it's worth adding one to the order.

Naver review event

They were also running an event where writing a Naver review gets you 0.5 servings of pork belly for free. It's worth checking Naver Reservation before your visit to see if you can get the benefit!!

I heard they also run events on Instagram often, so it might be worth checking before you visit.

Final thoughts — parking and waiting tips

After finishing the meal, the complimentary slushie was the perfect finishing touch! It's provided free of charge, so grab one on your way out — perfect for the hot summer!!

One tip: in the evening there can be a lot of customers and a wait, so it helps to visit a bit earlier or avoid peak times. Naver Reservation is also available, so I'd recommend booking ahead if you can!!

Given where it is near Gyodae Station, parking is tough, ㅠㅠ. The adjacent space charges a valet parking fee, plus a separate hourly parking fee, so I'd recommend public transit. The valet fee was ₩5,000.

Recommended menu

If I go for BBQ near Gyodae again, I'd order the kkodeulsal again. The combination with basil ssamjang worked better than expected, and the briquette aroma really brought out the meat's savory flavor. It works well for a group gathering, and it was also a comfortable atmosphere for a casual dinner for two like us. If I visit again, I'd order the kkodeulsal again and also try some of the other meat menu items.