Korean BBQ with baby chairs at Seoul Express Bus Terminal: Ugojip

I met my younger sister at Express Bus Terminal for the first time in ages, we shopped and played around to our hearts' content, and then headed to Ugojip, a well-known beef BBQ spot there, for some good meat. It's right where you'll be hungry after shopping in the area, so access is great. Here's my review, and I was happy with everything from the meat quality to the atmosphere!

Does Ugojip have baby chairs? A great spot for family meals near Express Bus Terminal

Yes, Ugojip has baby chairs. The very first thing I noticed when I arrived was the baby chairs!

If you're bringing a child to a BBQ restaurant, having a baby chair really matters, and surprisingly many places don't have one. Since Ugojip does, I thought it would be perfect for families with little kids, or as a family-gathering spot near the terminal.

We arrived just a little before the dinner peak, and some tables were already marked as reserved! If we'd come a bit later, we might have had to wait.

Ugojip's aging fridge and wine cellar

On one side of the restaurant there's a fridge for aging beef. High-quality beef was aging away nicely inside.

The aging fridge, with beef ripening inside, really caught my eye. Like the sign that says "aging even more deliciously today," you can tell they take meat quality seriously, which got my hopes up before we even ate.

By the entrance, clean aprons, dental floss and other extras were neatly set out for guests, and there was a lovely wine cellar too! I think wine would go really well with chadolbaegi (thinly sliced beef brisket) or any nice beef BBQ. If you're coming for a date or a get-together, I'd recommend enjoying a glass of wine too.

Ugojip set menus, prices and ordering the couple set

Ugojip's set menus are the couple set (400g) at ₩49,000, the signature set (600g) at ₩79,000, and the chadolbaegi samhap (300g) at ₩39,000. The two of us ordered the couple set.

• Couple set (400g): ₩49,000 (woosamgyeop beef brisket + galbisal rib meat + tosisal skirt meat + chadol doenjang jjigae)
• Signature set (600g): ₩79,000 (chadolbaegi + galbisal + tosisal + salchisal + anchangsal + chadol doenjang jjigae)
• Chadolbaegi samhap (300g): ₩39,000 (chadolbaegi + king scallop + aged kimchi)

After looking slowly through the menu, we settled on the couple set (400g / brisket + tosisal + galbisal), which is perfect for two to enjoy a nice variety. The range of meats is wide and the value is good, so it's an easy choice with no agonizing when there are two of you.

Ugojip's side dishes

Soon after ordering, neat little side dishes were set on the table.

There was a sweet-and-sour scallion salad for lettuce wraps that whets the appetite, refreshing young radish kimchi, myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic-chive-like greens), white kimchi, and wasabi and a special sauce to keep the meat tasting clean! A well-stocked spread of sides that pair wonderfully with beef.

Ugojip couple set beef: starting with woosamgyeop

Ugojip's couple set comes with woosamgyeop, tosisal and galbisal, plus mushrooms, onions and zucchini to grill. And the fresh-looking, marbled meat finally arrived!

From the woosamgyeop to the tosisal and galbisal, the bright red marbling looked really fresh. Mushrooms, onions and zucchini came along for grilling, so the set felt very generous.

First up on the grill was the woosamgyeop, to calm our hunger. As soon as it hit the grill it sizzled, gave off a nutty aroma and cooked in no time. Since it cooks fast, the trick is to grill it quickly and eat it right away before the juices run out.

Woosamgyeop with Ugojip's house soy sauce and chili

I dipped a nicely cooked piece of woosamgyeop in Ugojip's house soy sauce, topped it with a bit of spicy ttaengcho (Korean hot chili), and took a bite. The sharp chili and salty sauce wiped out the greasy richness the brisket can have, and it was the kind of flavor you could eat endlessly! I strongly recommend this house sauce combo.

While grilling the meat, I also cooked onions, mushrooms and zucchini on the side. Browned in the nutty beef fat, the vegetables were sweet and moist, and eating them with the meat brought out the texture and doubled the flavor.

Ugojip's tosisal and galbisal

After starting light with the chadolbaegi, we put the tosisal and galbisal on the grill next, and ate them mild and nutty.

The tosisal was thick yet tender, with juices bursting out, and the galbisal got chewier and more flavorful the more I chewed. I enjoyed it down to the last piece.

How is the doenjang jjigae in Ugojip's couple set?

The doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) in Ugojip's couple set was truly packed with meat. While we were eating the beef, a bubbling stew arrived, and when I gave it a little stir with my spoon, the savory broth was full of tofu and vegetables and, of course, meat! The deep, rich broth was outstanding, a treat that made me finish a bowl of rice in no time.

Ugojip near Express Bus Terminal: who should you go with?

I left Ugojip happily full of good beef with my sister, whom I hadn't seen in a while! The meat quality is great, every side dish is neat, and with baby chairs on hand, I'd strongly recommend it for friends, couples, family gatherings near the terminal, or company dinners. If you're looking for a good BBQ restaurant near Express Bus Terminal, do stop by!