Yangyang barbecue near Naksan Beach: binchotan ribs at Yeoyejeong

A local Yangyang barbecue restaurant that keeps filling up even on a weeknight. Visiting for dinner during a trip to Yangyang, Gangwon, we found Yeoyejeong packed within minutes even though it was a weeknight evening. Many of the guests looked like neighborhood regulars — clearly a spot locals love.

Where is Yeoyejeong, and how far is it from Naksan Beach?

Yeoyejeong is located at 49 Ssangsolbaegi-gil, Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, about 13 minutes by car from Naksan Beach, where we were staying. Hours are 11:30-21:00, closed Tuesdays, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00. There's a private parking lot.

Yeoyejeong, a Yangyang barbecue restaurant about 13 minutes by car from Naksan Beach, where we stayed.

There's a spacious parking lot right in front of the restaurant, making it convenient to visit by car.

After parking, we noticed one side of the yard was full of white chive flowers in bloom. Maybe that's why the chives served as a side dish were so fresh — they seemed to be homegrown.

Inside Yeoyejeong: seating, atmosphere and going with a child

The interior of Yeoyejeong was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of seating. Baby chairs were also available, making it a good option for visiting with children.

A spacious, comfortable interior with generous seating, used not just for family meals but for group gatherings and work dinners too. (There were so many guests! Truly a local Yangyang favorite.)

Baby chairs are also on hand, making Yeoyejeong a good Yangyang barbecue restaurant to visit with kids.

Yeoyejeong menu: marinated ribs 18,000 won, kimchi jjigae 5,000 won

At Yeoyejeong we ordered marinated ribs (₩18,000) for 3 people and kimchi jjigae (₩5,000). We came for dinner on a weeknight, craving meat during our Yangyang trip.

Yeoyejeong's menu board.

We came for dinner, but the lunch menu also looked generous and reasonably priced. (The kimchi jjigae was so good, I'd love to come back for the lunch special version if I get the chance.)

Side dishes and the coffee-tree binchotan charcoal grill

Yeoyejeong's side dishes were made from homemade banchan and homegrown vegetables, and the charcoal used is coffee-tree binchotan. It produced much less smoke than regular charcoal — clearly high-quality.

While waiting for the meat, the side dishes arrived. Neatly arranged banchan, likely made with homemade dishes and homegrown vegetables, tasted great from the very first bite.

The side dish made from homegrown chives paired perfectly with the marinated ribs.

Then the charcoal arrived. Even before the meat hit the grill, a subtle charcoal aroma rose up. Yeoyejeong, a Yangyang meat restaurant, uses coffee-tree binchotan — quality charcoal with much less smoke than usual.

How did three servings of Yeoyejeong's marinated ribs taste?

Yeoyejeong's marinated ribs are made with hand-butchered ribs marinated in a house-made sauce. The 3 servings disappeared quickly — that's how tender and sweet they were.

Yeoyejeong's signature marinated ribs — hand-butchered ribs marinated in a house-made sauce.

The marinated ribs sizzling away. Because the charcoal was so good, the meat grilled beautifully. The sweet marinade and charcoal smoke had us practically drooling.

Golden-brown, juicy marinated ribs. The meat was so-oo tender. Sweet, savory, and tender all at once — we ate and ate.

Paired with fresh chives, the fragrant greens complemented the marinated ribs perfectly, and eating the sweet ribs with warm rice emptied our rice bowls in no time.

And the spicy cucumber salad — totally my kind of side! It gave the palate a nice kick that matched the marinated ribs so well.

Good marinated ribs need lettuce wraps too. We kept working through Yeoyejeong's signature ribs, bite after bite.

Eating like this, the 3 servings of meat disappeared in no time.

Finishing with the 5,000 won aged kimchi jjigae

Yeoyejeong's kimchi jjigae costs ₩5,000 — a rich, tangy broth simmered with thick chunks of well-fermented aged kimchi. We debated between this and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) but landed on kimchi jjigae, and it was really, really good.

After good, quality meat, you have to finish with carbs.

My mom, who loves spicy food, was so happy with how good the kimchi jjigae was.

Mixing in the big pieces of meat, well-fermented kimchi, and broth for a big bite — so good! We immediately ordered another bowl of rice. Yeoyejeong offers a lunch special with kimchi jjigae and stone-pot rice, so if you love kimchi jjigae, definitely try it here. (You won't regret it.)

Is Yeoyejeong in Yangyang worth a visit?

Yeoyejeong, a Yangyang barbecue restaurant that kept filling up with guests even on a weeknight evening. We left full and satisfied, having enjoyed tender marinated ribs alongside a rich, spicy kimchi jjigae. If you're looking for a local favorite to enjoy with family while traveling in Yangyang, Yeoyejeong comes highly, highly recommended.