Two-person charcoal dakgalbi set in Chuncheon: Hwagye Dakgalbi
In short
Hwagye Dakgalbi is a charcoal and griddle dakgalbi (grilled chicken) restaurant on the dakgalbi street along Sinsaembat-ro in Sinbuk-eup, Chuncheon. The two-person charcoal set at Hwagye Dakgalbi pairs salt dakgalbi and soy dakgalbi with grilled deodeok (bellflower root) and makguksu (chilled buckwheat noodles), and we added a ureong doenjang jjigae (river snail soybean paste stew). The salt version tasted clean and mild while the soy version was sweet and savory, so neither got tiring, and the doenjang jjigae ordered on a whim ended up the most memorable dish.
Good to know
- Address
- 721 Sinsaembat-ro, Sinbuk-eup, Chuncheon, Gangwon State
- Hours
- 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM
- Last order
- 8:30 PM
- Parking
- Available (fairly spacious)
- Charcoal dakgalbi flavors
- Three kinds: salt, soy, and spicy gochujang marinade
- Two-person charcoal set includes
- Salt dakgalbi + soy dakgalbi + grilled deodeok + makguksu
- Extra order
- Ureong doenjang jjigae (river snail soybean paste stew)
as written by the visitor on Sep 13, 2026
Since we were in Chuncheon, we had to eat dakgalbi, so we headed to Hwagye Dakgalbi. Chuncheon usually brings griddle dakgalbi to mind first, but this time we were craving the kind you grill yourself over charcoal. They have a two-person set where you get both salt and soy flavors at once, which seemed like a good option for a first visit.
Where is Hwagye Dakgalbi in Chuncheon, and what to know before going
Hwagye Dakgalbi is located in Sinbuk-eup, Chuncheon, right on the famous dakgalbi street.
- Address: 강원특별자치도 춘천시 신북읍 신샘밭로 721
- Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM
- Last order: 8:30 PM
- Parking: Available
The place turned out to be bigger than I expected. There's a section for griddle dakgalbi and a section for charcoal dakgalbi, so you can choose whichever style you want. (Griddle dakgalbi on the left side of the building, charcoal dakgalbi on the right.)
The parking lot was also fairly spacious, so bringing a car wasn't a hassle. A lot of Chuncheon trips involve driving, and it was nice not to have to worry much about parking.
We came for charcoal dakgalbi, so we were seated in the charcoal section. The interior was spacious with generous space between tables, giving the whole place a comfortable feel. It looked like a good spot for families or larger groups to eat without feeling cramped.
What comes in the two-person charcoal dakgalbi set?
This is the menu at Hwagye Dakgalbi. Charcoal dakgalbi comes in three flavors: salt, soy, and spicy gochujang! We ordered the two-person charcoal dakgalbi set. It comes with salt dakgalbi + soy dakgalbi + grilled deodeok + makguksu. You get to compare two flavors of dakgalbi, and the sides come out all together, so the set felt pretty substantial. If ordering a bunch of separate dishes feels like a hassle, the set is a convenient way to go.
Meat tastes best grilled over charcoal! The basic side dishes included yeolmu kimchi (young radish greens kimchi), gungchae jeolim (pickled aster stems), soy-pickled onion, lettuce, and dongchimi (watery radish kimchi). All great to eat alongside the dakgalbi!
Soy dakgalbi & salt dakgalbi
The deodeok for grilling also came out.
Here's the whole spread! Time to start grilling~
How does the salt charcoal dakgalbi taste?
We put the salt dakgalbi on the charcoal first, along with the deodeok, haha.
The seasoning wasn't strong, so you could really taste the chicken itself, and the faint smoky flavor from the charcoal grilling was great.
Check the video for the full charcoal dakgalbi spread~
It was clean and light, which personally made it perfect as the first bite. If you prefer the taste of the meat itself over a strongly seasoned dakgalbi, you'll probably like the salt version more.
Personally, I'm team salt. Eating it with the pickled onion was so good, and I also liked the grilled deodeok that came with the set. Eating only dakgalbi can get a little heavy after a while, but the distinctive aroma and slight bitterness of the deodeok reset your palate in between bites. Grilling it alongside the dakgalbi over charcoal brought out even more of its flavor, and it went surprisingly well with the dakgalbi.
Soy dakgalbi vs salt dakgalbi: what's the difference?
Time to grill the soy dakgalbi~ The soy version definitely had a stronger seasoned flavor than the salt one. The sweet, salty soy sauce combined with the charcoal aroma made it hard to stop reaching for more. The bits that got slightly charred on the grill were even tastier. Alternating between salt and soy dakgalbi meant the flavors kept changing, so it never got tiring.
Makguksu and ureong doenjang jjigae: the best pairing at Hwagye Dakgalbi
Dakgalbi calls for makguksu! Once we'd eaten a good amount of dakgalbi, we dug into the makguksu too.
It was cool and tangy, pairing well with the charcoal dakgalbi, especially the more seasoned soy version. I'd also recommend eating a piece of dakgalbi together with a bite of the makguksu.
And then the doenjang jjigae we ordered on the side. Honestly I didn't expect much, but it turned out to be genuinely delicious. It was a ureong doenjang jjigae, made with river snails.
It was savory with a rich, deep broth, and having a hot spoonful after all the charcoal dakgalbi felt just right. It wasn't too salty or sharp — the roasted soybean paste flavor really came through, making you want a bowl of rice. Personally, out of all the side dishes, this one stuck with me the most. If you feel like dakgalbi alone isn't quite enough, I'd recommend ordering the doenjang jjigae too.
Final verdict on Hwagye Dakgalbi
Getting to try both salt and soy charcoal dakgalbi in one sitting, plus the deodeok and makguksu, made for a satisfying set. The doenjang jjigae we added on ended up being better than expected, which made the meal even more memorable. If you're craving charcoal-grilled dakgalbi in Chuncheon, this Sinbuk restaurant is worth a stop.
