Balsan Station lamb restaurant: plain vs special sauce, Hwarodam

I heard a great lamb restaurant had opened near Magok Station, so today I went to check out Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok (화로담양꼬치 마곡).

Reviews said the lamb was incredibly tender and even the cooked dishes were delicious, so I went in with high expectations.

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok: the verdict first

The lamb chops had such a soft texture that it really felt like eating a good steak. The fried eggplant had a slightly crisp bite on the outside and stayed moist inside, so the texture was fun and tasty too.

Address and opening hours

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok is at 66 Magokjungang 6-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 2F 207~209. Hours are Mon–Sat 14:00–23:00 (last order 22:10), closed Sundays.

What the restaurant looks like inside and out

"Exterior" — the outside had such an upscale look, totally different from the lamb places I usually go to. It got me even more excited walking in.

"Interior" — right as you step in, the owner is there hard at work pre-searing the lamb. Even though it was super hot out, he didn't miss a beat.

They also sell great beers like pilsner and IPA, though sadly I didn't get to try them this time. Of course they also had Tsingtao, which pairs so well with lamb skewers.

You can tell right away the inner seats are spacious and the whole place is huge, right? Seems like a great spot to bring guests.

Once we sat down, the table was so clean and roomy — I think it would feel comfortable and satisfying for family visits, work dinners, or gatherings.

What we ordered and what it cost

• Lamb chop French rack ₩36,000
• Lamb chop shoulder rack ₩28,000
• Fragrant fried eggplant ₩20,000

We ordered two kinds of lamb chops and, for a cooked dish, the fragrant fried eggplant. First, one serving each of the French rack and shoulder rack came out pre-seared. The visuals were amazing too, right? The taste was just as good — so tender, and you could tell right away they were using good-quality lamb.

A staff member carefully grills the pre-seared lamb for you right at the table. No worries about it burning — you get to enjoy soft, juicy lamb the whole time.

Lamb chops plain vs with the special sauce

First, I tried it plain, with no sauce at all.

Then I tried it with the special sauce on top. (It's so clean-tasting and delicious.)

The shoulder rack pieces are pretty big too, don't they look delicious?

Having it grilled for you makes it taste even better, I think :) The charcoal here is really bright red too, so I feel like they're using better-quality charcoal (it seems to lift the flavor of the meat even more).

What comes with the meal: the basic table setting

First, spices are set out on the table. You order through a kiosk.

You get three types of sauces that go well with the lamb. Each one is tasty on its own and seems to bring out the flavor of the meat even more.

The scallion salad was refreshing and had great flavor too.

I kept picking at the white kimchi too, haha.

Even the pickled mustard stem gave a clean, appetite-boosting touch.

Who is Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok good for?

If you want to enjoy great lamb and great beer with friends, a partner, or family near Magok or Balsan Station, I recommend Hwarodam Yang Kkochi in Magok!