Hoengseong butcher shop for Hanwoo cuts and yukhoe to take home

When you think of Hoengseong, you have to think of Hoengseong Hanwoo, right? 🥩 We couldn't just pass it by on our Hoengseong trip, so this time we decided to choose and buy Hanwoo ourselves. The place we visited was Hoengseong Hanu Jeongyukjeom.

Hoengseong Hanu Jeongyukjeom basics and parking

It is at 10 Munhwacheyuk-ro, Hoengseong-eup, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon, and is open daily from 07:00 to 20:00. You can park briefly in front of the shop or near the nearby tennis court.

A shop exterior with history since 1979

Apparently, this place has been run by the second generation since as far back as 1979. Since it was such an old shop, I expected it to feel a little rustic, but when we arrived, it was completely different from what I had imagined.

Neatly kept Hanwoo display

The first things that caught my eye upon entering were the neatly arranged shop and the meat. When you think of a butcher shop, it's easy to picture a strong meat smell and a slightly rough atmosphere, but this place felt like it was kept exceptionally clean.

Everything was so clean and orderly that it actually felt like being at a department-store meat counter. 😊 Above all, the Hanwoo on display looked to be in great condition, so my eyes naturally went straight to the meat.

The meat was arranged by grade and cut, so we could take our time looking around and choose the cuts we wanted.

Today's Hanwoo prices and what to buy

You can check today's Hanwoo prices too

One side of the shop had an area where you could check that day's Hanwoo prices. When choosing meat at a butcher shop, you naturally wonder roughly what the price is that day, so I liked being able to check it like this.

Along with Hanwoo, they also sold Hanwoo gomtang (beef soup) and beef bones, so it was nice to browse a few things rather than just buy meat.

They also had Hanwoo gift sets ready, so I thought it would be a nice place to browse for those looking for a present for parents or family during a trip to Hoengseong. 🎁

Cut recommendations while choosing 1++ Hanwoo

Eye-catching 1++ Hanwoo

As we looked through all the meat, the 1++ Hanwoo was of course what caught my eye most. The marbling was seriously... practically a work of art, haha. Looking at all that densely packed fat, it already seemed like it would be tender just from the look of it.

Grade 1 and Grade 2 Hanwoo were sold as aged beef, and those looked to be in great condition too, so I debated for quite a while. Everything looked so delicious that I couldn't decide what to choose, and the owner explained the traits of each cut and helped with recommendations.

We were taking so long to decide that the owner even gave us corn, saying, “Have some corn and take your time looking~” haha. 🌽 That little gesture showed how kind the owner was, and it made choosing the meat feel even nicer.

Sauce and wasabi in one stop

They also had sauce and wasabi ready to eat with the meat, which I liked because we could finish all our Hanwoo shopping in one go without having to pick up extra things separately.

Insulated packing for the trip afterward

When you buy meat, they carefully pack it in an insulated bag with ice packs. If you buy Hanwoo during a trip to Hoengseong, you may worry about travel time, but this insulated packing with ice packs made me less concerned about the meat spoiling while we were on the move. 🧊🥩 I think travelers can take it along without too much worry.

From grilled brisket to yukhoe: tasting each cut

1++ brisket for grilling

I had only ever eaten brisket in soup, but I heard there is a separate cut for grilling, so this was my first try! Grilled thinly, it had a pleasant chew while still tasting nutty and clean. It was much more delicious than I expected, and it's a cut I want to have again next time.

Striploin

The striploin was tender and wonderfully juicy, so of course it was delicious! With just a little salt, I could fully taste Hanwoo's distinctive nutty flavor. Recommended if you like a clean, straightforward Hanwoo flavor! 👍

Salchisal

Salchisal had standout marbling from the start ✨ As soon as it went on the grill, the fat melted away and a nutty aroma rose up. One bite was so tender and moist that the rich flavor filled my mouth. If you love marbling, salchisal is the one ❤️

Dwitgogi

Dwitgogi was slightly chewier than the other cuts, with a nice bite! The more I chewed it, the more nutty flavor came through, so it was even better eaten alternately with the tender cuts.

Yukhoe

For the yukhoe (seasoned raw beef), they included both seasoning and pear, so all we had to do at home was mix it together! The nutty, clean Hanwoo was delicious with the sweet, crisp pear. Having yukhoe between the grilled cuts made for just the right combination too.

We ended up clearing nearly 1kg

We were told that 230–300g per person would be enough, but we bought nearly 1kg, so at first I wondered if it would be too much. But as we grilled small amounts of each cut and ate the yukhoe too, before we knew it we had finished every last bit, haha.

We even made kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) with the soup meat!! Rather than eating just one cut, choosing several meant we could enjoy each one's different flavor and texture, which was even better. If you want to choose and buy Hanwoo yourself in Hoengseong, I recommend shopping for Hanwoo at Hoengseong Hanu Jeongyukjeom, where you can see the meat's condition for yourself and get recommendations from the owner!!