# Samseong-dong Korean BBQ lunch set with blue crab stew: Gukbo Garden

- By Sejin (https://superchart.com/en/@bridge-side-meals/)
- Written Sep 6, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul
- Sponsored: This review was written after a sponsored visit to the restaurant.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@bridge-side-meals/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@bridge-side-meals/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/index.md)

## In short

Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch is a charcoal-grilled galbi (beef rib) restaurant right outside Exit 3 of Samseong Jungang Station in Gangnam, Seoul, with tables on the first floor and private rooms on the second. At lunch the writer ordered the seolhwa marinated rib set, the seolhwa fresh rib set and a single serving of bakpo fresh ribs, choosing kkotgetang (blue crab stew, served with stone-pot rice) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) as the set meals. Because Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch charges the same price for sets and à la carte at lunch, the set that includes a full meal was clearly the better deal.

## Good to know

- **Location**: 1F–2F, Woochang Building, 608 Samseong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (near Samseong Jungang Station Exit 3)
- **Hours**: Daily 11:30–23:00
- **Break time**: Weekdays 15:30–17:00
- **Parking**: Parking available / valet available (5,000 won for 2 hours, extra charge per 10 minutes after)
- **Seating**: First floor: regular tables with partitions; second floor: private rooms
- **What we ordered**: Seolhwa marinated rib set, seolhwa fresh rib set, bakpo fresh ribs (1 serving), draft beer
- **Set meal choices**: Kkotgetang (blue crab stew, includes stone-pot rice), bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles)
- **Dessert**: Yogurt ice cream, coffee, omija (schisandra berry) tea
- **Price reference**: ₩5,000 ≈ $3.7 (2026-09-15)

*as written by the visitor on Sep 6, 2026*

My partner wanted to see the movie Odyssey, so we booked tickets at Megabox Coex and decided to grab lunch first. This time we went to a Samseong-dong favorite: Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch!

> Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch

- 📍 1F, 2F Woochang Building, 608 Samseong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- ⏰ Daily 11:30–23:00
- ⏰ Weekday break time 15:30–17:00
- 🚗 Parking available / valet available
- 🚇 Near Samseong Jungang Station Exit 3
- 👥 2nd floor private rooms available

![Exterior of Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch near Samseong Jungang Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-01-1ge4u-1200.webp)

![View of the entrance to Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-02-1k2we-966.webp)

## Where is Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch, and is there parking?

It's almost right there as soon as you step out of Exit 3 at Samseong Jungang Station, so it's easy to reach by public transit. It's also close to Coex, which made it convenient for us to stop by before a movie or shopping.

![Street view of the ground floor of Woochang Building on Samseong-ro where Gukbo Garden is located](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-03-669k2-966.webp)

![Vertical exterior photo of Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-04-12j83-966.webp)

![Entrance signage at Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-05-12uei-966.webp)

Gukbo Garden uses both floors — the first floor is mostly regular tables, and the second floor operates as private rooms. That makes it well-suited for family gatherings, work dinners, or bringing guests. If you drive, valet parking is available in front of the restaurant, at ₩5,000 for 2 hours with an added charge every 10 minutes after that.

![Central sculpture at the first-floor entrance of Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-06-188pf-966.webp)

## First-floor seating and atmosphere at Gukbo Garden

The sculpture in the middle catches your eye right as you walk in, and overall the vibe was very different from what you'd typically picture at a BBQ restaurant. We usually like old-school, no-frills places, so it had genuinely been a while since we'd been to such a fancy BBQ spot haha. But the tables were really spacious and each seat had a partition, which meant we didn't have to worry much about the tables next to us.

![Spacious first-floor tables with partitions at Gukbo Garden](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-07-xzzk8-966.webp)

## Why the lunch set costs the same as à la carte

You order via the tablet at the table, and the menu had quite a range — from lunch specials to Korean pork, Korean beef, hot pots, and cold noodles. At first we ordered à la carte: one serving each of seolhwa fresh rib, bakpo fresh rib, and seolhwa marinated rib. Why? Because... we wanted to eat a lot of meat, so à la carte seemed better than a set — a very simple line of thinking haha.

But after ordering, it turned out the set and à la carte were the exact same price at lunch;;; I'd assumed a set meant a slightly smaller portion of meat plus noodles or stew, but that wasn't it at all haha. A staff member came over first and said, "The price is the same, but the set comes with a full meal too — should I switch it for you?" So we immediately changed it to one seolhwa marinated rib set, one seolhwa fresh rib set, and one serving of bakpo fresh rib. If you're visiting for lunch, the set is clearly the better deal.

Looking through the menu more, there was a surprisingly wide range of whiskey and wine too. Between the atmosphere and the drink selection, this place seemed well-suited for anyone looking for a Samseong-dong restaurant to take their parents or entertain guests. With the second-floor rooms too, it also works well as a spot for company dinners.

## What side dishes come with the meal

Then the side dishes came out — and there were way more than I expected. Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), kimchi, mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad), pajeori (scallion salad), pickled vegetables, salad, plus salt, wasabi, and garlic oil sauce — a huge variety to pair with the meat.

![Side dish spread at Gukbo Garden including japchae, kimchi, and pajeori](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-08-mi0vy-966.webp)

I'm someone who genuinely loves japchae, so whenever it shows up I always try it first haha. The japchae here was really good. I think I ended up eating almost all of it myself ^^

## Bakpo fresh ribs vs seolhwa fresh ribs: what's the difference?

And finally, the meat arrived! Honestly, up until we ordered, I was thinking, what's even the difference between bakpo and seolhwa...? So I just ordered one of each haha. Once they arrived, the difference was obvious. Bakpo is the thin, wide cut, while seolhwa is sliced thick.

Here, it's cooked over charcoal, and the staff grills the meat for you from start to finish. It's not the style where you're busy grilling while you eat — you can just relax and chat, which I liked. Especially if you're bringing your parents, this kind of service feels like a real plus.

They grilled the fresh ribs first, and since the bakpo is thin, it cooked really fast. The staff kept checking on the doneness, cutting it into bite-sized pieces, and placing the cooked pieces to the side one by one. They also kept explaining the different cuts and asked which one suited our taste better — the service felt genuinely thoughtful.

![Bakpo fresh ribs grilling over charcoal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-09-bducf-966.webp)

![Cooked fresh ribs cut and served by staff](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-10-8ze5g-966.webp)

And then, a bite of bakpo rib. Wow... since it's thin, I expected it to just be plain meat, but it was surprisingly tender. It's a cut with quite a bit of fat, but rather than being greasy, it had a rich, savory flavor that spread through the mouth.

![A piece of bakpo fresh rib dipped in salt](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-11-9hyb3-966.webp)

At first I just dipped it in salt, then later added garlic oil sauce too, but personally, eating bakpo simply like that was the tastiest. Both my partner and I preferred bakpo over seolhwa haha.

Seolhwa is a completely different style from bakpo. Being thicker, it has more of that chewy meat texture, so you really feel like you're properly biting into meat. Since we like softer textures, bakpo suited us better, but if you like a chewier bite, I think you'd prefer seolhwa.

![Thickly sliced seolhwa fresh ribs](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-12-lyk55-966.webp)

We hadn't planned on drinking since it was lunch. We hadn't planned on it... but eating meat without a drink feels like something's missing, right ^^? So in the end we each ordered a draft beer — cheers, haha.

![Two glasses of draft beer ordered alongside the meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-13-1yt4o-966.webp)

![Table with ribs on the charcoal grill and draft beer](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-14-o95kx-966.webp)

## The blue crab stew and bibim naengmyeon included in the lunch set

While we were eating meat, the meal included with the set arrived. I chose kkotgetang (blue crab stew), and my partner chose bibim naengmyeon! It was quite a surprise that ordering kkotgetang also comes with stone-pot rice. This really confirms — ordering the set at lunch is the way to go haha.

![Kkotgetang and stone-pot rice included in the set meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-15-wdff9-966.webp)

![Close-up of the stew with large chunks of blue crab](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-16-1xnj5-966.webp)

The kkotgetang had good-sized chunks of crab, and the broth was richly infused with the seafood flavor from the shrimp and crab. It wasn't just spicy for the sake of it — it was a rich broth that paired well with rice. At the end, I stirred in the stone-pot rice and scraped the bowl completely clean haha.

![Kkotgetang mixed with stone-pot rice stirred in](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-17-olak2-966.webp)

![Bibim naengmyeon served as part of the set meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-18-1bhg3-966.webp)

And then my partner's bibim naengmyeon. I've always been the type to think marinated ribs = bibim naengmyeon, so whenever I eat meat, I make sure to have it alongside. It was pleasantly sweet and tangy, and wrapping the noodles with meat and radish together — yeah, this combo never fails.

The staff mentioned they make the naengmyeon broth in-house and had us try it on its own, and it was really different from the store-bought naengmyeon broth I usually have at home haha. I drink often, so I always keep store-bought hangover-cure naengmyeon broth at home ^^. This one was a bit cleaner and more natural in flavor.

![A glass of the restaurant's house-made naengmyeon broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-19-ej8hk-966.webp)

![Seolhwa marinated ribs grilling over charcoal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-20-16afi-966.webp)

## How we grilled and ate the seolhwa marinated ribs

Now, marinated rib time. Marinated meat can burn black in an instant if you're not careful. But they kept moving the tongs and scissors, grilling it evenly on both sides, and cooked it perfectly clean with no burnt spots.

The fully cooked marinated ribs were delicious on their own, but with so many side dishes, there was fun in mixing and matching. A bite with stone-pot rice, geotjeori (fresh kimchi), and meat; a bite with wasabi; a bite with pajeori; a bite with mu-saengchae. It felt like getting several different flavors out of one meat haha.

![Table spread of marinated ribs with side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-21-1pdtj-966.webp)

We were seated toward the inside, but when I looked over at the window seats while eating, they looked really nice too. It might get a bit warm sitting there for long with all that sunlight coming in haha, but photos would definitely turn out much better in that spot.

![Sunlit window seating at Gukbo Garden](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-22-1pdte-966.webp)

By the counter, there was a full display of the liquor actually sold there, which gave the whole place a bit more of an upscale Korean dining feel than your typical Samseong-dong BBQ restaurant. That made it well-suited for company dinners or important meals in the area.

![Whiskey and wine bottles displayed at the counter](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-23-12gbr-966.webp)

![Dessert counter with yogurt ice cream and drinks](https://img.superchart.com/images/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew/gukbo-garden-samseong-lunch-set-crab-stew-24-19z8x-966.webp)

## Dessert: yogurt ice cream, coffee and omija tea

Paying on the way out, I noticed they also had yogurt ice cream, coffee, and omija tea (five-flavor berry tea) set up as dessert. We were seriously full from the meal, but there's always room for ice cream, right?

So we each grabbed one and ate it while walking to Coex haha. From meat to the meal to dessert, it really felt like a proper, complete meal.

## Is Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch worth it for lunch?

- ✔️ Right by Samseong Jungang Station, great accessibility
- ✔️ Convenient service — staff grill the meat from start to finish
- ✔️ Bakpo rib is especially soft and savory, a real favorite
- ✔️ For lunch visits, the set with a meal included beats à la carte
- ✔️ Has 2nd floor private rooms — good for family meals or company dinners

My partner and I usually much prefer old-school, no-frills BBQ places, so it had been a while since we'd been to such an upscale Samseong-dong restaurant — and eating there, we found ourselves thinking, "Ah... there's a certain pleasure to places like this too haha." The meat itself was delicious, but every single side dish was solid too, and above all, the staff being nearby the whole time, ready to take care of anything we needed, was genuinely great service. Somewhere I'd love to bring my parents back to next time! And if my company had a dinner here? I would show up without question haha.

## Where it is

- Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch (국보가든 삼성본점)
- 608 Samseong-ro, 1F and 2F Woochang Building, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 강남구 삼성로 608 1층, 2층
- 37.5138611, 127.0532607
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EA%B5%AD%EB%B3%B4%EA%B0%80%EB%93%A0%20%EC%82%BC%EC%84%B1%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5138611,127.0532607,17z

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