Gwacheon hanok restaurant: 500g charcoal pork rib lunch, Najumyeonok

Why we chose Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch for a Gwacheon hanjeongsik lunch

Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch (나주면옥 과천점) is a Gwacheon restaurant where you can eat pork ribs together with neat hanjeongsik-style (Korean set meal) side dishes. My husband and I wanted a hearty lunch in Gwacheon, and while searching for a Gwacheon hanjeongsik place, the combination of pork ribs and tidy side dishes caught my eye. If you're looking for a lunch spot near Seoul Grand Park or Seoul Land, it seems like a decent place to stop by.

Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch pork ribs 500g: how big is the portion?

We ordered 500g of pork ribs, and the amount of meat was so generous it felt like more than that. The marinade was well aged, so the flavor soaked all the way into the meat. It didn't feel like the weight was padded out with sauce; there was plenty of actual meat, and it wasn't too sweet, so it was easy to keep eating. That's also why I'd recommend it to anyone hunting for a good pork rib place in Gwacheon.

• Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
• Parking: available

Exterior and interior: entering through a hanok gate

The exterior of Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch is decorated in an elegant, old-fashioned style like a stylish hanok (traditional Korean house). Walking through the entrance, which looks like an old gate, I felt like a nobleman entering a grand official's mansion, which was fun from the very start, haha. Among lunch spots near Seoul Land, it's a good one if you care about atmosphere too.

At the entrance, the buckwheat flour and rice used at Najumyeonok were on display. It felt like they were showing you directly what ingredients they use, which built trust. Inside, the calm of a hanok blends naturally with clean, modern interior design, and it was pretty.

What do the basic side dishes look like at Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch?

The table at Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch was neatly filled with side dishes that go well with ribs: soy sauce marinated crab (ganjang gejang), lotus root, onion salad, kimchi and more. It was such a full spread that searching for a Gwacheon hanjeongsik place felt worth it. The side dishes didn't feel thrown together; they were solidly put together with things you keep reaching for.

The salty soy sauce crab was great with rice, and the crunchy lotus root and onion salad cleaned up my palate when eaten between bites of meat. It felt like they care about the basic spread as well as the main pork ribs, so I thought it would work for a family meal out too.

Tips for grilling charcoal-marinated pork ribs well

Marinated pork ribs burn quickly if you look away for a moment, so flip them often! When I put the pork ribs on the charcoal at Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch, they filled the whole grill. A small tip for grilling them well: don't leave them to cook for a long time like pork belly!!

My husband used to burn ribs a lot and I'd nag him from the side, haha. This time he grilled them to a nice golden color, so I properly praised him for improving his rib-grilling skills!

The taste of well-cooked pork ribs

The well-cooked Najumyeonok pork ribs were tender to chew, and the sweet marinade and charcoal aroma blended nicely in my mouth. The sweetness and saltiness weren't overdone, so the savory flavor of the meat came through. Putting a piece of rib on white rice and adding kimchi was heavenly. As a lunch near Seoul Grand Park, it's easy for all ages to share.

Dried radish green doenjang soup with ox blood

The siraegi doenjang soup (soybean paste soup with dried radish greens) at Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch even had seonji (congealed ox blood) in it, so it was filling like a hangover soup, and it went well with the pork ribs. It wasn't heavy or muddy; it was clean and nutty. The dried radish greens were also cooked soft, not tough, and went down easily.

The broth had the deep flavor of doenjang (fermented soybean paste) without being salty or harsh, so it was easy to eat. Taking a spoonful now and then while eating meat seemed to tidy up my mouth, and I enjoyed it with rice to the very end, haha.

Bibim naengmyeon topped with a piece of pork rib

The bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) at Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch was tangy and sweet and tasty even on its own. But when I put a piece of rib on top and ate them together, the spiciness and the sweet-salty marinade came together, and I thought, glad I ordered this!

Verdict: how is it for a family lunch near Seoul Grand Park and Seoul Land?

If you're looking for a Gwacheon hanjeongsik place, I'd recommend Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch. The portion of meat is generous and the seasoning is moderate, so we enjoyed it to the end. If you're looking for a lunch spot near Seoul Grand Park or Seoul Land, it seems good to visit with family. We were satisfied to enjoy a full table and charcoal pork ribs together, haha.