Hapjeong pork rib BBQ: spicy ribs in cream pasta sauce at Champpoppo

My pork rib cooldown is over~~ It was the weekend, and I was wondering what tasty thing to eat, then I saw a new pork rib place in Hapjeong and thought, this is it!! So I went. Let me introduce it~~

It's the Hapjeong pork rib restaurant, Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong Branch (참뽀뽀쪽갈비 합정점).

Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong hours and amenities

• Hours: Mon–Sun 17:00–01:00
• Groups welcome
• No pets
• No parking

Interior and atmosphere at Champpoppo Hapjeong

As you'd expect from a newly opened place, the inside was really clean. The tables are round, and if you book ahead they'll set up seating for anywhere from 6 to 20 people! It looks like a good Hapjeong pork rib spot for groups too, haha.

What two people ordered and what it cost

There were two of us, and we had

• Pasta set ₩51,000
• Cheese bomb steamed egg ₩5,000
• Beer ₩5,000

That's what we ate.

The ribs come out pre-grilled, and they say they start grilling the moment you order! It takes about 15 minutes, and getting them freshly grilled like that is probably why they taste so good. They also run review events that vary by party size and are quite generous, so give one a try when you visit.

Side dishes: chicken porridge, pork skin and grilling potatoes

The free side dishes made me really happy. They lay out a surprisingly lavish spread of solid stuff, and everything from the three dipping sauces and the Kewpie mayo salad to the seasoned onions was so good...

The real stars are here... these weren't ordered as sides, they're genuinely part of the free spread, hahaha. A quick intro:

The chicken porridge (dakjuk), drizzled with sesame oil, was so good... It's been a while since I had chicken porridge, and it felt like buying samgye porridge (ginseng chicken porridge) at a restaurant... A great backup for the ribs.

You grill sliced potatoes and pork skin (kkopdegi) over charcoal, and it made me crave soju... The pork skin was plump and so good. A Hapjeong pork rib place where even the free sides are the real deal.

This is the steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) we ordered as a side... full of cheesy flavor, and perfectly seasoned, a really good steamed egg. It's so good with the ribs.

The main pork rib spread at Champpoppo

They brought the ribs first, so we waited for the pasta before eating, haha. The round table was completely full... just looking at it made me smile. But isn't the name so cute?? It's "ppoppo" (a kiss) + "jjok" (smooch sound) galbi, get it? hahaha. Yes.. anyway, let me continue with my review of the ribs and the kisses.

Soy sauce pork ribs

These are the soy ribs, Champpoppo's pride, aged in a special soy sauce.

They come already pre-grilled, so you only flip them for about a minute to warm them up and pick up that charcoal flavor! With the weather this hot, I loved not having to grill the meat the hard way. The air conditioning was blasting too.

Ribs can be juicy too..! The soy sauce isn't salty, the seasoning is just right, and the savory depth is amazing. There's plenty of lean meat on the bones and it's cut so it's easy to eat, so you just grab it and tear. So tasty, haha.

Spicy pork ribs

These are the spicy ribs. They look delicious just from the color..

There's a really hot level too... but I was worried I'd sweat through my clothes, so I ordered a moderate spice level, haha. It has a slight kick but isn't that hot! Elementary schoolers could eat it, I'd say? The marinade soaked in really well so I enjoyed it a lot.. And the ribs are really big too.

Spicy ribs dipped in cream pasta sauce

I couldn't decide between the tear gas set (chiletan set) and the pasta set, but this was my first time seeing cream pasta at a rib place, so I ordered it for the novelty.

The portion is really big.. and the plating is pretty, like you've come to a fancy restaurant... and it's loaded with sauce...

It's so creamy and delicious, haha. Especially with the spicy ribs, the soft flavor and the spicy marinade neutralize each other and it's twice as good, wow. How to put it, it's an unusual but perfect pairing, so I devoured it.. One set for two people is just the right amount. Actually.. I was stuffed, hahaha.

Final verdict on Champpoppo Hapjeong

I finished with a nice cold beer. It came out icy cold, and gulping it down and "kissing" the ribs felt like heaven.

With its friendly retro-style interior and ribs aged in a special soy sauce that are juicy and perfectly seasoned, this is a great Hapjeong pork rib place. Even the free sides are generous.. chicken porridge, pork skin.. grilling potatoes and even corn, so it's perfect for drinking and a good date spot! Recommended~!!