Korean BBQ team dinner near Mapo Station with tripe soup: Usijang

After a long while, three of us from work got together and headed to Usijang Hoegwan (우시장회관), which is apparently a hot spot near Mapo Station.

How to walk to Usijang Hoegwan from Mapo Station Exit 3

Usijang Hoegwan is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Mapo Station. We'd decided to grab drinks together after work to blow off some steam, and since the place turned out to be so close, none of us had any trouble finding it even though it was our first visit.

The location is so convenient it seems perfect for office dinners or any kind of group gathering. As we approached, the flashy, retro-styled sign caught our eyes from far away.

The sign was big and full of personality, and it already gave off serious "good restaurant" energy before we even walked in. At the entrance, a friendly standee introduced signature dishes like beef and rice soup, assorted boiled meat, and raw beef sashimi, which got our expectations up even before we stepped inside.

Inside Usijang Hoegwan: the room and the staff's welcome

The inside of Usijang Hoegwan was really spacious and full of a cozy vibe. It had that nostalgic feel of an old-school tavern or a market-alley restaurant, buzzing with energy.

What I especially liked was the staff's high-energy service. The moment we walked in, a staff member greeted us with such a loud, hearty voice — and he was good-looking and super friendly on top of that — that all of us felt genuinely welcomed before we'd even eaten anything.

Once we sat down, the staff member came right over and gave us a detailed rundown of the menu along with lively, thoughtful tips on how to enjoy Usijang Hoegwan's beef at its best.

What comes with the 3-person set?

On the staff member's excellent recommendation, we ordered the 3-person set, which lets you try a generous variety of the restaurant's popular dishes. After ordering, neat little side dishes and cold soju were the first things placed on the table.

Knocking back a shot of cold soju, it felt like an entire day's worth of work stress just melted away.

Yukhoe (raw beef) topped with egg yolk

First up was a vividly colored plate of yukhoe (raw beef).

A big plate was piled with glossy, sticky-looking red raw beef, with a fresh egg yolk sitting neatly and prettily right in the center — the visual alone was perfect.

After popping the yolk and mixing it into the beef, one bite in and the chewy, springy texture was pure art. It had none of that fishy or tough quality — the more we chewed, the more savoriness and rich juiciness filled our mouths. My coworkers kept exclaiming that the meat quality was incredible, chopsticks never stopping.

Beef for grilling and marinated ribs

Next up was the main event: grilled beef.

A huge tray arrived loaded with fresh beef showing off vivid red marbling, ribs marinated in a sweet sauce, plus king oyster mushrooms and fresh green onion to grill alongside. The freshness and quality of the meat were obvious just by looking — the surface had a real sheen to it.

We started grilling the beef, mushrooms, and green onion on the hot grill plate.

The sight and smell of the beef turning golden brown while soaking up charcoal aroma was almost impossible to resist. Dipping a well-cooked piece in just a bit of salt and popping it in my mouth, rich juices burst out and melted right away.

Mapo Station is famously packed with Korean BBQ places, but the beef at Usijang Hoegwan had a depth of savoriness that made it stand apart from the rest.

The marinated ribs weren't too sweet or salty either — a subtle savory flavor was soaked right into the meat, so we kept reaching for more without ever getting sick of it. The beef had this soft, chewy texture, almost like it had been topped with good cheese — genuinely moving.

Spicy tripe soup at Usijang Hoegwan

Alongside all this, we also had a hot, spicy tripe soup.

A large metal pot was generously packed with tripe and meat. One spoonful of the broth was spicy yet deep and rich, clearing everything right down to my chest.

Taking sips of the spicy, savory broth between bites of grilled meat cut through any greasiness perfectly — there couldn't be a better pairing for drinks.

Is Usijang Hoegwan worth it for a Mapo Station office dinner?

Even as we were leaving after the meal, the staff member walked us all the way to the door and thanked us in that same booming, cheerful voice.

The nostalgic charm of the Mapo Station restaurant alley, the top-tier kindness we were shown the whole time we were there, and the varied, upscale flavors of the 3-person set that felt a cut above other Korean BBQ places in Mapo — everything exceeded expectations for the evening. We ate until we were absolutely stuffed and finished our drinking session in a genuinely happy mood.

If you're looking for a fun evening near Mapo Station with reliably good beef and delicious tripe soup as your drinking companion, I'd strongly recommend Usijang Hoegwan.