Bupyeong Korean BBQ at 5 PM: pork galbi, free crab refill, Nocheongol

Every weekend I start craving something delicious and end up eating out a lot. This time I was back in Bupyeong for a day out, got a craving for good galbi (marinated ribs), and headed to Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch (노천골 부평본점), a BBQ spot in Bupyeong.

It has kept going for 20 years, and you can tell: the meat quality is great, and the staff grill everything for you, which I loved. I'd recommend it for family gatherings or company dinners. In this review I'll go through the food, the atmosphere, and why Nocheongol is so popular.

Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch: location and parking

Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch is at 257-5 Buheung-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, about a 3-minute walk from Bupyeong Market Station. It's open 11:30–22:00 with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. You can reserve through Naver Reservation or Catch Table, and corkage is free.

• Location: 257-5 Buheung-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon (about a 3-minute walk from Bupyeong Market Station)
• Hours: 11:30–22:00 / break time 15:00–17:00
• Parking: difficult
• Reservations: Naver Reservation, Catch Table available
• Free corkage

There's no private parking lot, but you can use the public lot in front of the restaurant, and if it's full, the Camp Market temporary public lot. It's about a 5-minute walk, so it wasn't a big inconvenience.

A Bupyeong BBQ restaurant that's great for family gatherings

Inside, there are tables for four, group seating and private rooms, so it works well for a family gathering or company dinner in Bupyeong.

We reserved for 5 PM, right when the break time ends, and guests kept coming in and the place filled up quickly.

On weekends or in the evening you may have to wait, so I'd recommend booking through Naver first.

Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch menu and prices

Nocheongol is a Bupyeong BBQ restaurant where you can enjoy both Korean beef (Hanwoo) and Korean pork (HanDon), with plenty of grilled dishes and meal dishes. The signature items are seasoned pork galbi, raw galbi, beef short ribs and Hanwoo BBQ, and the fresh Hanwoo yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) is another popular order.

• Seasoned pork galbi, 250g × 2 servings: ₩44,000
• Signature Hanwoo yukhoe, 0.5 portion: ₩18,000
• Short rib doenjang risotto: ₩10,000
• Cold noodles (mul naengmyeon) to finish: ₩6,500

I ordered the signature seasoned pork galbi along with meal dishes, and the combination was really satisfying.

Side dishes, including a free refill of marinated crab

The side dishes (banchan) came out before the meat, and my expectations went up the moment I saw them.

The marinated crab (yangnyeom gejang), scallion salad, pickles, salad and radish water kimchi (dongchimi) are all made in-house, so they tasted clean rather than harsh.

The marinated crab in particular had no fishy smell and a great savory depth, so good that I got one free refill.

There's a nice variety of sides to go with the meat, so I never got tired of the meal right to the end.

Seasoned pork galbi grilled by the staff

The biggest reason I recommend Nocheongol is that the staff grill the meat for you from start to finish.

Galbi burns easily or turns tough if it's grilled badly, but they cut it into bite-size pieces at the best moment, so we could chat comfortably while eating.

The golden-brown galbi gave off a faint charcoal aroma, and from the first bite I got juicy, tender meat.

The marinade wasn't too sweet either, so the flavor of the meat really came through,

It's good on its own, and even better with scallion salad or in a lettuce wrap. I can see why it's so well known as a galbi place in Bupyeong.

Dishes worth ordering alongside

Signature Hanwoo yukhoe, 0.5 portion (100g)

The signature Hanwoo yukhoe was fresh with no gamey smell at all, and its nutty flavor went well with the galbi.

Short rib doenjang risotto

The short rib doenjang (fermented soybean paste) risotto was much more generous than I expected. It comes with big pieces of short rib, and the savory doenjang and rice blend well, so it works nicely as a meal.

Cold noodles to finish

For the finish I had mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth), Hamheung-style with house-made noodles. The noodles were chewy, and with the cold broth they were the perfect partner for the galbi.

How was it for a family gathering or company dinner in Bupyeong?

With the staff grilling for us, we could eat comfortably, and true to its 20 years, the meat quality and side dishes were all satisfying. If you're looking for a BBQ restaurant in Bupyeong, a good place near Bupyeong Market Station, or a spot for a family gathering or company dinner in Bupyeong, I recommend Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch.

Thanks to the delicious seasoned pork galbi and the tidy spread, this is a place I'd happily visit again.