Gangnam Korean BBQ set with cheese fried rice: Giun

Gangnam Station gets absolutely packed on weekday evenings, from office workers to people meeting up. Since so many companies are clustered here, lots of people come to Gangnam Station after work for company dinners or dinner with friends; on weekends, add people on dates or out shopping, and it is almost always bustling.

That means there are also so many restaurants around Gangnam Station. But places that are too hectic can be a little overwhelming.

For some reason, I have really been craving samgyeopsal (Korean pork belly) lately, so I looked into restaurants not too far from Gangnam Station where I could eat meat somewhere quiet. That is how I found Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch (기운 강남역 본점).

Even though I visited fairly late in the evening, there were still quite a few people there, quietly munching away on their meat.

When nicely thick-cut pork belly goes onto the grill and turns golden brown, with a little fat rendered out, it is hard not to be happy—whether you dip it in salt or ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), or wrap it in lettuce and perilla leaf with garlic and kimchi. So, let’s see why I recommend Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch.

Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch set menus and prices

One reason Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch is so good is that it has about three set menus, and the combinations are really solid. The A, B, and C sets differ a little, but they cost around ₩58,000 to ₩60,000, so they are not overly burdensome.

We ordered the ₩58,000 pork belly and mixed-meat set. They first set up the grill like this, then brought out appetizing-looking pork belly and other meats with vegetables. Minari (water dropwort), zucchini, and scallions came with it, and it looked great too.

The banchan (Korean side dishes) are well done too. The meat is delicious enough on its own, but it naturally gets even better with all the dipping sauces and pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi). If Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch has a signature strength, this generous variety of things to eat alongside the meat is it.

Meat and vegetables grilled by the staff

Once the meat is ready like this, the staff take care of grilling it all. They explain the meat as they go, then serve the first piece onto your small plate—it feels like you are being looked after. I think little touches like these ultimately lead to customer satisfaction and repeat visits.

They grill the vegetables too, and thoughtfully place the cooked meat on top of the vegetables so it will not burn. Since the staff grill everything, it is convenient for having a relaxed meal and chatting away with a friend or partner.

Every now and then, they put the grilled vegetables into the dipping sauce like this. It adds even more savory depth, making the meat extra delicious.

As I mentioned earlier, the strength of Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch is the number of side dishes to eat with the meat. It is fun to try them in different combinations, and each dipping sauce tastes different and delicious, so there is plenty to enjoy.

Fried rice with cheese included

At the end, I still wanted some rice, so I debated having stew but ordered fried rice instead. I considered adding cheese but did not, because it already comes with cheese, so there is probably no need to add more. That stretchy cheese gets a pass!!

It is basically delicious, with a flavor closer to risotto. It does not feel like Korean-style kimchi fried rice, but it was so good that I scraped the plate clean.

It is honestly amazing that even with fried rice, the total comes to under ₩70,000. This was the most satisfying Korean BBQ restaurant I have visited recently, and since I often meet friends and acquaintances around Gangnam Station, it made me think I should definitely come back and try the other meats too.