Pork galbi in Jongno, Daegu: fresh vs marinated half plates, Jangjak

I was looking for a place to really enjoy good fresh galbi (pork ribs) and found Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch (벽돌 생갈비 종로점) in Jongno, Daegu. Plenty of reviews said they were happy with the staff grilling the meat, the clean atmosphere and the wide range of meal dishes, so I went in with high hopes 😊

Is Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch the same place as Ubok Geumsaeng Galbi?

Yes. Ubok Geumsaeng Galbi (우복금생갈비) in Jongno, Daegu has only changed its name, to Wonjo Brick Saenggalbi Jongno Branch. The name is different, but they say the ingredients and taste are kept as before, so you can still enjoy the old flavor.

• Opening hours: 17:00-01:00
• Address: 38-1 Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea (floors 1, 2, 3)

Interior and seating

The space is wide and comfortable, with chandelier lighting, so the mood is different from an ordinary BBQ restaurant. The big open room was the first thing I noticed when I walked in, and the soft chandelier light and stylish interior worked together to give it a different feel.

There is seating on the 2nd floor too. Tables are spaced generously, so I could eat leisurely without feeling cramped. It seemed good for family meals, company dinners and all kinds of gatherings.

They say the restaurant learned the secrets of Wolga Galbi, long loved in Bukchang-dong, Seoul, firsthand, then added the know-how of Wonjo Brick Saenggalbi to build a premium fresh galbi specialist. Their philosophy is that a BBQ place is ultimately about 'good meat', so they focus on fresh meat and honest flavor rather than flashy concepts or show.

How do you order?

Every table has a tablet, so you order right from your seat. I could browse the menu slowly and pick what I wanted, and not having to call a staff member was even more convenient. The ordering is simple, so I could focus on the meal.

Side dishes and cypress steamer

The basic table setting is neatly prepared, mostly side dishes that go well with meat. They came out tidy, and each had a good balance of flavor that brought out the taste of the fresh galbi. Only the needed items, but plenty of them, which made for a satisfying start to the meal.

The cypress steamer (편백찜) that followed let the faint scent of cypress soak into the meat, so it tasted even lighter. The moist texture and clean flavor left an impression.

Ordering half plates of fresh and marinated galbi

At Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch you can order fresh galbi and marinated galbi as half plates (250g) each, so you can try both. This is how today's main dish arrived.

• Brick-cut fresh galbi, half plate (250g)
• Brick-cut marinated galbi, half plate (250g)

The portions were easy to finish, and just right for enjoying the light taste of fresh galbi together with the sweet flavor of marinated galbi.

Fresh galbi grilled by staff over charcoal

Once the charcoal came in, a staff member carefully grilled the fresh galbi first. They grill it at the tastiest moment, so all we had to do was sit back and eat 👍

The sizzle and the savory smell of meat spread, and my anticipation grew all on its own.

Fresh galbi with salt, dipping sauce and jaeraegi

Even just dipped lightly in salt, the fresh galbi had a clean, rich meat flavor, and with the special dipping sauce the savory depth went up another notch. Eating it with crunchy jaeraegi (재래기, a fresh vegetable side) meant it never felt greasy and I enjoyed it to the end~ As you'd expect from galbi carefully finished from aging to seasoning to the moment of grilling, juice spread richly with the first bite, and the deep flavor filled my mouth the more I chewed.

Marinated galbi: a sweet-salty balance

The marinated galbi had a really good balance of sweet and salty. It wasn't sweet or salty to the point of being harsh, so it was easy to enjoy, and with the seasoning soaked in subtly, I kept reaching for more. With its tender texture and rich juices, it has a different charm from the fresh galbi.

Tasting the golden-grilled galbi, a cold beer naturally came to mind 🍺 A sip of cold beer with charcoal-scented galbi cut the richness and made the flavor pop, a really satisfying combo~ haha

Finishing with doenjang-jjigae

For the closing meal I chose doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). The savory broth with tofu and vegetables made a hearty finish.

Is Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch worth going back to?

From the flavor of the meat itself to the attentive service, I was satisfied. If you want to properly enjoy good fresh and marinated galbi, I recommend visiting Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch. It's a place I'd want to come back to the next time I crave good galbi 😊🙌