Blue Ribbon dakgalbi restaurant in Gapyeong: half and half at Anbanji

Today I'm bringing you a review of the place anyone heading to Nami Island has probably searched at least once — Namiseom Anbanji Dakgalbi. It's near the pier, so it's easy to fit into a sightseeing or travel route, and it's a Blue Ribbon-listed restaurant in Gapyeong. The food was great and parking was easy too, so I left really satisfied.

It's the style where you grill it yourself over charcoal, so the moment I walked in, the delicious smell hit me right away. If you're looking for a place that grills over charcoal instead of stir-frying on a hot plate, I recommend Anbanji Dakgalbi.

Where is Namiseom Anbanji Dakgalbi?

Here's the location! The area near Nami Island pier basically deserves to be called a dakgalbi alley — there are so many restaurants. Besides Anbanji Dakgalbi, quite a few other places line up here, which honestly makes it harder to decide where to go. But if you're after an old, established place with a real charcoal-grilling style, the Anbanji Dakgalbi I'm introducing today is worth a visit.

It's well known as a Blue Ribbon restaurant in Gapyeong. Knowing it was selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey 2026 nationwide restaurant list made my expectations even higher. A place that's been run by the same family for three generations really does feel different. Inside, a big window gives a full view of the Bukhangang River, so there's no sense of being cramped at all. Looking out at the cool scenery while eating felt like a treat for the eyes and a real stress-reliever.

6 hours of free parking at Anbanji Dakgalbi

The parking lot was spacious enough to use comfortably. I parked across from the restaurant and was given a 6-hour free parking ticket. That's plenty of time to also go sightseeing on Nami Island, so the free parking was really appreciated.

Where you wait for a table

The waiting area was clean too. Since it's a Blue Ribbon restaurant in Gapyeong, there was a bit of a wait. You put your name down and they call you in order. There were plenty of chairs in the waiting room, so I sat comfortably while I waited, and my turn came up pretty quickly. If you'd rather not wait, visiting slightly off peak meal times should let you eat more comfortably.

Anbanji Dakgalbi menu and prices

The menu! A single portion is 230g, so it's a pretty generous serving. They say they only use 100% domestic chicken thigh meat. There are also side dishes to go with it — cheese fondue, mak guksu, cheonggukjang, and more.

What we ordered and how the dakgalbi tasted

The charcoal was set up first. Because it's charcoal-grilled, the meat cooks gently and picks up a smoky aroma — genuinely delicious.

These are the basic side dishes. There's dongchimi (watery radish kimchi), and extra sides you can grab yourself from the self-serve bar. Two dipping sauces came out too — a spicy one and a soy-based one.

I ordered half marinated and half salt-grilled dakgalbi. Maybe because the charcoal aroma soaked right in, my chopsticks kept reaching for more. The marinated grill had a good spicy-sweet savoriness, and the charcoal smokiness definitely made it even better. The salt-grilled version was mild and tender, so the kids ate it up. I was glad we ordered both so we could try everything.

We wrapped it up neatly in lettuce leaves. Since it's charcoal-grilled, the fat drips away below, leaving it light, and the meat was so tender and soft — really delicious.

And of course, the cheese fondue! Rolling the savory melted cheese around the meat and eating it together was genuinely great. Especially the combo of marinated dakgalbi with cheese — the perfect match. The spicy-salty marinade goes really well with the cheese.

We also ordered mak guksu (cold buckwheat noodles). The tangy-sweet sauce cut through the richness and paired really well with the dakgalbi. The seasoning wasn't too strong, so the kids enjoyed it a lot too. With toppings like roasted seaweed flakes, vegetables, and egg garnish spread evenly on top, it tasted even better. When you get a little tired of just eating meat, the spicy-tangy-sweet mak guksu was perfect for cleansing the palate.

Who Anbanji Dakgalbi is best for

There's also a receipt review event, so if you're interested, give it a try! It's a guaranteed-prize draw, so you can at least get one free drink.

• Anyone looking for a good restaurant to visit while traveling in Gapyeong
• Anyone looking for dakgalbi with a real charcoal aroma
• Anyone looking for a restaurant where they can dine with their pet

Today I shared my review of eating dakgalbi and unwinding at a Blue Ribbon restaurant in Gapyeong. There are lots of sights nearby too, so it makes for a great day-trip drive course. If you're heading to Gapyeong, be sure to enjoy some delicious dakgalbi and treat yourself!