Magok lamb chop restaurant with chili and celtuce pickles: Hwarodam

How were the lamb chops and skewers at Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok?

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok is a Magok spot where everything from the lamb chops to the lamb skewers satisfied me. I really love lamb skewers, and at Hwarodam I couldn't smell that typical gamey funk at all, and the juiciness and flavor of the lamb were great.

Where is Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok, and is there parking?

Hwarodam is on the 2nd floor of Queens Park, within walking distance of Balsan Station. There are escalators and elevators, and the underground parking is well organized, so it was easy to get to.

When you get off on the 2nd floor, there's a sign pointing left, so I found Hwarodam easily without getting lost.

This is the menu board at the entrance. It runs in order from grilled dishes to skewers, cooked dishes, then drinks and beverages.

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Hwarodam?

A clean, comfortable place for a relaxed meal

The first thing I noticed walking into Hwarodam was how clean it felt overall. The spacing between tables was just right for talking, and the ventilation is good, so the smell doesn't cling to you much even after grilling meat. I liked that.

The staff were friendly too, so even on my first visit I could settle in and start eating comfortably. There were groups having company dinners and plenty of couples, so it suits all kinds of gatherings. The spaces are separated for privacy, which made conversation really nice. It felt much more upscale and comfortable than a typical lamb skewer place.

Which sauces and side dishes come with lamb at Hwarodam?

For dipping, Hwarodam serves cumin (zira), pickled chili and chive sauce. The basic sides to eat with the meat were neatly prepared too. The pickled chili in the middle was sweet and spicy, just right for my taste. The sides that cut through the richness let me enjoy the meal to the end, and they went really well with the meat.

The basic sides are gungchae pickles (pickled stem lettuce), scallion salad and white kimchi. The gungchae was wonderfully crunchy, with a tingly mala (numbing spice) aroma that woke up my appetite. Eating charcoal-grilled meat with these sides, I kept reaching for more.

What we ordered at Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok

I ordered guobaorou (crispy sweet-and-sour pork), lamb chops and 2 servings of lamb skewers.

Why were Hwarodam's fresh lamb chops the most memorable dish?

The raw lamb chops came pre-seared, and just look at them: they look so fresh and delicious at a glance!

Why the lamb chops at Hwarodam won me over

The most memorable dish of this visit was the lamb chops. They come thick, and they looked appetizing just sitting there.

Cooked just right, the first bite flooded my mouth with juices and it was so tender. Not tough at all, and the nutty savoriness kept coming the more I chewed, so I immediately understood why so many people recommend lamb chops.

The subtle charcoal aroma especially seemed to bring out the meat's flavor even more. If the lamb skewers are the clean, light option, the lamb chops give you richer juices and deeper flavor. If it's hard to pick just one, I'd recommend ordering skewers and chops together like I did.

How does Hwarodam's guobaorou taste?

Hwarodam's guobaorou is really good too. It was crispy and sweet, and I kept reaching for it. It came fresh from the fryer, so crunchy you could hear it, and the moment I bit in, the crisp outside and chewy inside were so appealing.

The sweet-and-sour balance was neither too sweet nor too sour, so I never got tired of it even eating it with the meat. I was also impressed that the batter soaked up the sauce without getting soggy and stayed crispy to the end.

Are Hwarodam's lamb skewers free of gamey smell?

The lamb skewers looked so fresh when they arrived, and you could sense the freshness from the color of the meat.

Grilled slowly over charcoal, they turned golden on the outside while staying moist inside.

The first thing I noticed on the first bite was that there was almost no gamey smell. Even people trying lamb for the first time could eat it without worry, and the juices were alive, so the nutty flavor filled my mouth the more I chewed.

Dipping it lightly in the seasoning that comes with it added a spice aroma that made it even tastier.

Hwarodam's warm noodles that cut the richness

To soothe a mouth made greasy by the lamb and guobaorou, I ordered Hwarodam's warm noodles (onmyeon). The taste sits between a slightly spicy jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and plain noodles, and it cut the richness just right.

Is Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok worth a return visit?

Watching customers keep coming in during our meal, I could really feel that Hwarodam is already a famous spot in Magok. The lamb skewers were clean, light and tender with no gamey smell, and the lamb chops, with their excellent juices and flavor, were personally the most impressive dish. Together with the atmosphere and friendly service, I finished the meal happy. If you're looking for tasty lamb in Magok, I recommend Hwarodam.