Texas BBQ date in Sangsu, Seoul: homemade chipotle sauce, Locos BBQ

Don't you agonize a bit when you're picking a date spot in Sangsu? The mood has to be good, the food has to be tasty and filling, and you'd like it not to be too obvious. Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch (로코스비비큐 상수점), where I went this time, was totally perfect on all of those counts.

Why is Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch a good date spot in Sangsu?

At Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch the Texas barbecue comes out already smoked on a platter, so you don't grill anything yourself and can just chat and eat. Even though it's a meat place, it doesn't feel chaotic or messy like an ordinary grill restaurant. It's much hipper and more relaxed.

Besides, a place where you're busy grilling meat on a date can feel a bit stressful, right? At Locos BBQ the smell doesn't cling to you, and it was easy to eat while talking. It also felt like a good fit for a Sangsu get-together or dinner with friends, hehe.

Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch location, hours and parking

• Address: 25 Dongmak-ro 14-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Hours: Tue–Sun 11:30–23:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00 (none on Sat and Sun)
• Last order: 22:00
• Closed every Monday

Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch is very close to Exit 4 of Sangsu Station, so the location was really convenient. Come out of the exit, turn left and head into the alley, and you're there in no time. For anyone looking for a restaurant near Sangsu Station, that easy access is a pretty big plus.

Parking, however, isn't available, so if you're driving, check the nearby Turu Parking Sangsu-dong lot or the Hapjeong public parking lot. For a date, getting around by public transport seemed easier.

What's the atmosphere like? A hip, comfortable Texas BBQ vibe

The 1st floor of Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch is the waiting area, and you climb the stairs to the 2nd floor for the dining space. The interior definitely has that Sangsu sensibility: clean and comfortable, yet hip.

The barbecue-joint mood, reminiscent of firewood and smokers, came through nicely too. It's not too dark or too loud, so I think it works well for a date in Sangsu.

I heard it has also appeared on Sung Si-kyung's "Mukeulttendeyo" (먹을텐데) and "Tasty Guys" (맛있는 녀석들), which raised my expectations. Dogs are allowed, and group seating and private rental are available, so I think it would also be fine as a venue for a Sangsu gathering.

Locos BBQ 3-person sampler: contents, price and unlimited nachos

Ta-da! At Locos BBQ, nachos came out first as an appetizer. Maybe because they're fried in-house, they were much crunchier and tastier than store-bought nachos.

Once you finish them, you can get unlimited refills at the self-serve bar!

What I ordered that day was the Locos BBQ 3-person sampler. It costs ₩69,900 and comes with brisket, pulled pork, pork belly and spare ribs, plus 6 sides.

• Meats: brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, spare ribs
• Sides: french fries, grilled corn, smashed potatoes, tortillas, morning rolls, baked beans
• Pickles

Even the pickles come on the same platter, so it looked generous from the very first glance. Totally recommended for anyone looking for BBQ in Sangsu!

From brisket to spare ribs: how did the 3-person sampler taste?

The french fries that came out first as a side of the 3-person sampler were super crispy and nicely fried, too.

And then, not long after, the sampler finally arrived! All the meat at Locos BBQ follows the traditional Texas "low and slow" method: aged for 24 hours, then smoked for a long time. Maybe that's why it's so good!!

Brisket, pulled pork and pork belly

The brisket, as befits the signature dish of Texas barbecue, had a rich meaty aroma and flavor. Perhaps because it's smoked over oak for a long time, it wasn't overly greasy and the smoke came through gently.

The pulled pork was tender and moist with the grain of the meat intact, and mild enough that it was great stuffed into a morning roll. The pork belly kept the juiciness you expect from a whole slab of belly, and the fat was rich and nutty. So darn good.

The most memorable: pulled pork and spare ribs

Personally, the pulled pork and spare ribs were the most memorable. The spare ribs were so tender that the meat came right off the bone. All the meats had almost no gamey smell, and the smoky aroma was naturally infused.

Mixing and matching the meat and sides you want in a tortilla or morning roll, I lost track of time. If you're hunting for a meat restaurant near Hongdae and want something a little more special, isn't Locos BBQ pretty good?

What sauces does Locos BBQ have? The homemade chipotle is my pick

What impressed me at Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch is that every table has the owner's homemade chipotle sauce, mustard barbecue sauce and sweet barbecue sauce. The chipotle was my favorite.

The chipotle sauce is slightly spicy and goes well with smoked meat, cutting through the richness. It had an addictive flavor you can't taste anywhere else.

Verdict: Locos BBQ works for both dates and group dinners in Sangsu

Overall, Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch was a satisfying date spot in Sangsu. It's close to the station, the atmosphere is good, and the barbecue sampler was generous. It's good for two, but the portions are ample, so I think it also suits a get-together with friends or a Sangsu group meal.

What especially appealed to me is that you can try brisket, pulled pork, pork belly and spare ribs, all smoked the authentic Texas way, in one go! I heard Locos BBQ's back ribs are really good too, so next time I'm going to try those as well!

If you want a date that's a little more special than an ordinary meal, why not enjoy Texas barbecue at Locos BBQ? If you're still deciding on a date spot in Sangsu, I sincerely, strongly recommend Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch.