Pork bone BBQ in Mulgeum, Yangsan for a family dinner: Jinhae Jang

What is Jinhae Jang Bone Kalguksu, Yangsan Branch?

Jinhae Jang Bone Kalguksu, Yangsan Branch (진해장뼈칼국수 양산점) is a bone kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) and grilled pork bone restaurant in the Beomeo housing district of Mulgeum, Yangsan, right in front of Yangbudae (Pusan National University's Yangsan campus). When I want a really filling meal, bone kalguksu and grilled bones are among the first things that come to mind. I heard that the bone kalguksu that went viral in Seoul and Gyeonggi can be had in Yangsan too, so I was excited before even going. So I brought the whole family, my parents and my little brother.

Jinhae Jang Yangsan opening hours and parking

• Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Fri 10:00–21:00 / Sat–Sun 09:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 20:30
• Parking: 2 spots in front of the shop, or Hwangsan Village public lot at ₩600 per 30 minutes (max ₩6,000) — tell them and you get ₩1,000 off the parking fee
• High oil price relief subsidy accepted

Jinhae Jang Yangsan also gives 10% off meal menus on weekday lunch (11:00–15:00, excluding public holidays). For Pusan National University Yangsan campus students and office workers nearby, that looks like a great-value lunch.

What is the atmosphere like on a weekend evening?

I visited on a weekend evening and arrived a bit early, so there were hardly any customers when I walked in. That let me take photos of the shop in peace, but by the time we finished and left, the tables were starting to fill up one by one.

At weekend dinner time, it seemed like quite a popular spot, with lots of families and people coming in for a hangover-curing meal.

Jinhae Jang menu and prices

• Bone kalguksu ₩11,000
• Spicy bone kalguksu ₩11,500
• Pork gomtang (pork bone soup) kalguksu ₩11,000
• Spicy pork gomtang kalguksu ₩11,500
• Galbi-marinated grilled bones: small (2 servings) ₩15,000 / large (3 servings) ₩25,000
• Spicy garlic grilled bones: small (2 servings) ₩15,000 / large (3 servings) ₩25,000
• Old-style pork cutlet ₩7,000
• Soju, beer, makgeolli ₩4,000

I thought a bone kalguksu place would only sell kalguksu, but there were all sorts of menus like grilled bones and cold pork. A friend who had been before told me I absolutely, absolutely had to try the grilled bones, so I ordered them.

What the four of us ordered

• Galbi-marinated grilled bones, large ₩25,000
• Bone kalguksu ₩11,000
• Old-style pork cutlet ₩7,000
• Jinro (soju) ₩4,000
• Cass (beer) ₩4,000

How are the self-bar and kimchi?

At the Jinhae Jang Yangsan self-bar you can grab things like chili peppers, kimchi, onions, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), sauces and ssamjang (dipping paste) yourself, and I especially liked that the rice is free to refill.

The kimchi here is a work of art!!!! Honestly, if the kimchi at a kalguksu place isn't good, I don't go. But this was so, so delicious and spicy that I think I kept going back for refills.

Bone kalguksu for ₩11,000: how are the broth and portion?

I started with the signature bone kalguksu (₩11,000). Jinhae Jang says it uses domestic pork neck bones, removes the blood for 24 hours, then adds a aged special seasoning and simmers for over 3 hours.

It wasn't that instant-bone-broth taste, but a clean, refreshing broth that isn't harsh. I sprinkled on pepper from the table to my liking and it was so good.

My mom is diligently holding up the meat for the photo,, the bone had a ton of meat on it, and there were 3 whole pieces, so generous.

The kick here is this meat sauce. It was so good that my dad asked a staff member partway through how it's made,, ((embarrassed)) They say it's mustard plus a special soy sauce, and it completely cuts the greasiness of the meat so you can keep eating it endlessly.

It's an amazing amount, hard to believe it's ₩11,000. And that on a weekday lunch (11:00–15:00) you can eat this for just ₩10,000 is unbelievable.

The kalguksu noodles were pleasantly thin, soft and chewy, perfect with the bean sprouts. I think people looking for a hangover meal would love it.

Large galbi-marinated grilled bones for ₩25,000: really 3 servings?

The large galbi-marinated grilled bones (₩25,000) were personally the dish I was most looking forward to that day. My jaw dropped the moment I saw the generous portion.

There were 6 chunks so big they were hard to lift with chopsticks. They say it's flavored with homemade galbi marinade, and the sweet-salty sauce felt like an all-purpose sauce that would taste good on any dish.

It could easily turn cloying when it meets fatty meat, but not at all. Eaten with fragrant green onion that isn't sweet, I never got sick of it and enjoyed it to the end.

When we grill galbi at home, my mom is the one who gets tired of the galbi marinade fastest. But she said she never got sick of this one and ate it happily. The meat was also cooked tender and came off the bone easily, so it was easy to eat.

A large for ₩25,000 is already ridiculous, and it's tasty too, so this is a place I'll probably revisit soon. Who else can eat a large grilled bones for ₩25,000 in this era of high prices ..!!!

Going with kids? Old-style pork cutlet for ₩7,000

If you visit Jinhae Jang Yangsan with children, or with anyone who can't eat spicy food, I'd also recommend the old-style pork cutlet (₩7,000). I have a little brother, so I ordered it, and it was exactly that thin old-school cutlet taste, flawless, and on top of that it came with a heap of multigrain rice, totally my taste,,,,

Who is Jinhae Jang Yangsan recommended for?

Can you see how clean we wiped everything out? Even though it was an early evening and we weren't hungry, we cleared it all. I'd recommend Jinhae Jang to people who want a filling meal, people who like a deep, rich broth, and people looking for a family dining spot.

The bone kalguksu broth is especially rich, so I think people looking for a hangover meal will be satisfied too. The grilled bones are great on price, but the taste is so excellent that next time I'll probably go just for them.

They even have toothpicks, plum drink and mint candies ready like this, which is nice for rinsing your mouth after a lot of meat. If you're looking for a filling meal in Mulgeum, Yangsan, in the Beomeo housing district, give Jinhae Jang a visit.