Balsan Station Korean BBQ, weekday 5:30pm dinner for two: Ihwajeong

A weekday 5:30pm dinner at a Balsan Station pork rib restaurant

I went to Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch, known as a great pork rib spot near Balsan Station.

I arrived a bit earlier than dinner rush, so the place wasn't crowded yet, which meant I could start the meal at a relaxed pace.

There were two of us that day, so we ordered pork ribs for two, soju, bibim naengmyeon and a bowl of rice. I debated whether rice with the pork ribs was enough, but ended up ordering the noodles too — and it turned out to be a dinner I enjoyed to the very last bite. haha

How big is Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch?

It wasn't hard to walk there from Balsan Station, and once I arrived, the place was bigger than I expected.

The exterior felt cleaner than a typical neighborhood BBQ joint, and once inside, there were plenty of tables.

It looked like a good spot for a family meal or a bigger group gathering, and there were separate private rooms too, which would be convenient for a meal with parents or for a company dinner.

3 hours of free parking for diners

If you're driving, parking is fairly convenient here.

Dining customers get up to 3 hours of free parking, so even taking our time through the meat and then the naengmyeon, we never felt rushed.

Parking can be a deciding factor when choosing a place in the Balsan or Magok area, and this felt generous enough to bring the whole family by car without much worry.

Inside Ihwajeong: clean, roomy and quiet before 6pm

Since it was a weekday at 5:30pm, before the real dinner crowd arrived, I could take a good look around the space.

The tables weren't packed too close together, so the meal never felt cramped, and everything was well kept overall.

Even though it's a BBQ restaurant, it felt more like a tidy dining room than a bustling grill house, which made it comfortable to sit and chat while eating.

What two people ordered: pork ribs, soju and bibim naengmyeon

Today's order was pork ribs for two, soju, bibim naengmyeon, and a bowl of rice.

The main dish, the pork ribs, came out thick, with the marinade evenly coating the whole piece of meat.

Since the marinade uses pear, the first taste wasn't overly sweet, leaving a subtle lingering sweetness instead. Personally, I tend to get tired of marinated ribs quickly if they're too sweet, but I didn't feel that here.

Pork ribs grilled over charcoal by the staff

The smell changed completely once the meat went on the charcoal grill.

As the marinade slightly caramelized, the savory smell mixed with the charcoal aroma, and naturally I found myself wanting a shot of soju.

Marinated ribs can burn quickly if you're not careful and need constant flipping, but a staff member kept an eye on it and grilled it for us.

This was more convenient than I expected. We didn't have to watch the grill the whole time, and once it was cooked just right, they cut it into bite-sized pieces for us — we basically just had to focus on eating.

The staff were also friendly, checking in on whether we needed anything and keeping an eye on the meat, which made the whole meal pleasant.

Well-grilled pork ribs had a subtle charcoal aroma on the outside while staying moist inside.

I worried the neck cut might be too dry, but it was more tender than expected, and the marinade wasn't overpowering either.

It's delicious on its own, but putting a piece on top of the rice confirmed that marinated ribs and rice are a combination that never fails.

The side dishes served with the pork ribs

The basic side dishes were also varied.

White kimchi, pickled vegetables, potato salad, and shredded green onion — the kinds of side dishes your chopsticks naturally reach for while eating meat — were all served together.

After a few bites of marinated ribs, the cool white kimchi was especially nice for cleansing the palate.

The pickled vegetables were salty enough to pair well with a piece of meat, and the potato salad was a nice easy bite to mix things up.

With so many side dishes to choose from, it never felt like we were just eating meat the whole time — we could switch things up.

It was also easy to ask for more of any side dish we ran low on.

Charcoal-grilled ribs that call for a shot of soju

We also ordered soju that day, and it paired quite well with the charcoal-scented pork ribs. The sweet-and-salty marinade made it perfect for a bite of meat followed by a sip, and with the rice on the side, it made for a satisfying dinner on its own.

It seemed like a great spot for a casual meal with a drink after work on a weekday.

Bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) eaten with the meat

At the end, we ordered bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles). Eating pork ribs naturally makes you crave naengmyeon, and that day I was more in the mood for the spicy mixed version than the cold noodle soup.

After mixing the sauce well and taking a bite, it had a spicy-sweet flavor that was great for resetting the palate after the meat.

Still, the best combination was topping the noodles with a piece of pork rib. The spiciness of the noodle sauce combined with the sweetness and charcoal aroma of the ribs tasted even better than eating either on its own.

Hours, parking and address for Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch

• Name: Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch
• Address: 42 Gangseo-ro 54-gil, 1st floor, unit 1, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 22:00
• Last order: 20:30
• Break time: None
• Regular holiday: None, open 365 days
• Parking: 3 hours free for dining customers

Is Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga worth a weekday dinner for two?

Looking for a good pork rib spot near Balsan Station led me to Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch, and the sweet marinade and subtle charcoal aroma of the pork ribs were what stuck with me most. Having the meat grilled for us made the meal easy and relaxed, and the friendly staff made the whole visit comfortable. The dessert was really good too. haha

With pork ribs, rice, soju, and bibim naengmyeon to finish, it felt like a proper dinner. With up to 3 hours of free parking and spacious interior and private rooms, it's a great place for a family meal or a gathering. haha