Gangmun Beach BBQ in Gangneung: Chodang Uga galbi and cold noodles

Chodang Uga in Gangmun-dong, Gangneung, is a charcoal-grilled hanwoo (Korean beef) and pork galbi (ribs) restaurant right next to St. John's Hotel. We visited on a day trip during our Gangwon-do travels, but when planning a Gangneung trip, food matters just as much as accommodation, right? Especially if you're staying near St. John's Hotel or Gangmun Beach, it can be tough deciding among all the restaurants nearby — so I recommend Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga, a Gangneung favorite with great accessibility right by St. John's Hotel, tidy side dishes, and quality meat.

How to walk to Chodang Uga from St. John's Hotel, and where to park

This St. John's Hotel favorite sits right next to the hotel, so you can drop your bags and stroll over easily, and afterward take a leisurely walk along the Gangmun Beach path to help digest — the location really can't be beat.

There's also a large private parking lot, so anyone driving in doesn't need to worry about parking. We registered our car after the meal, and since the lot is fairly spacious, it was easy to use!

Can you bring a dog? Chodang Uga's pet rules and interior

Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga is also known as a dog-friendly restaurant in Gangneung, and it seemed like a spot travelers bring their dogs to when visiting Gangneung. Only small to medium dogs under 10kg can enter, so keep that rule in mind :)

There's also a robot server inside — super convenient and pretty cute.

Walking in, the clean, upscale interior catches your eye right away. Tables are spaced generously apart so you can dine comfortably without other guests interfering, and there's plenty of seating for group gatherings or family visits. The whole place is kept spotless, so it feels like a pleasant dining environment the moment you step in!

Chodang Uga menu and prices

We're hungry, so let's check the Chodang Uga menu first! There's domestic hanwoo, pork/beef galbi, meal items, desserts, and alcohol.

We ordered pork galbi at ₩22,000 for 2 servings, then added an extra serving. The pork galbi is made with domestic Dodram Korean pork galbi, aged in-house in a special sauce — no wonder it was delicious!

There's also clear hanwoo gomtang for ₩13,000, chadol doenjang jjigae for ₩12,000, and handmade water/bibim naengmyeon for ₩10,000 on the meal menu. We ordered the dessert bibim naengmyeon for ₩5,000.

They also sell beer, from Guinness to Stella! Drinks were cheap at ₩2,000.

The drink fridge was impressive, but since it was a day trip, we saved the drinking for next time, ㅜ.

There was also a self-serve bar with fresh wrap veggies, salad, garlic, and peppers. Being self-serve made it even more convenient!

Charcoal-grilled seasoned pork galbi and Chodang sundubu banchan

The main dish we ordered at Chodang Uga that day was the seasoned galbi—

Right after ordering, the charcoal came out along with neatly arranged side dishes. Various pickles and salads that pair well with meat were set out cleanly, plenty to whet the appetite before the meat even started cooking.

True to the restaurant's name, they also served Chodang sundubu (soft tofu) as a side dish, which made it an even more memorable Gangneung restaurant! Tasting the neat side dishes before the meat arrived was a nice touch.

Chodang Uga's seasoned galbi wasn't overly sweet or salty — it was well-marinated in a delicious sauce that let the meat's natural savory flavor shine, with a glossy, striking look. The moment the meat hit the charcoal grill, a sweet, subtle smoky aroma spread and stirred up the appetite.

I wrapped and tried a piece of galbi grilled to a nice golden brown first — it practically melted in my mouth, soft and tender. The seasoning had soaked deep into the meat, so every bite brought together savory juices and sweet sauce beautifully.

Wrapping it together with the pickled onions served alongside kept it from getting repetitive, so you can enjoy it deliciously to the last bite.

The charcoal and seasoned galbi combo was so good we ordered more!

More seasoned pork galbi, please!

Dessert bibim naengmyeon for 5,000 won with the galbi

After adding more galbi at Chodang Uga, we also ordered the ₩5,000 dessert bibim naengmyeon, since fried rice or naengmyeon is a must at any Korean BBQ restaurant, right? The seasoned galbi plus bibim naengmyeon combo especially is so good. The bibim naengmyeon at this St. John's Hotel favorite, Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga, came with chewy yet soft noodles topped generously with a spicy-tangy, savory sauce. Cucumber, pickled radish, and egg garnish were arranged prettily on top of the sauce!

Mixing the sauce evenly and taking a big bite, it wasn't harsh at all — cleanly spicy with a tangy-sweet finish that cut through the richness of the meat perfectly. Wrapping a well-grilled piece of seasoned galbi with the bibim naengmyeon was the best combo! It really was a restaurant we enjoyed from start to finish. If you're looking for a great meat restaurant in Gangneung, I recommend the seasoned galbi and bibim naengmyeon at Chodang Uga~