Soha-dong Korean BBQ family dinner near Gwangmyeong Cave: Sodam Galbi

Today I want to introduce Sodam Galbi Gwangmyeong Soha Branch, a pork galbi place in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong. Sodam Galbi has actually been our family's go-to spot for eating out for years, and this time I got to visit through a good opportunity! It's also super accessible, right near Gwangmyeong Cave.

It had been a while since my last visit, and Sodam Galbi Gwangmyeong Soha Branch was as good as ever! Here's my review.

Sodam Galbi Gwangmyeong Soha Branch: hours and parking

• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 22:00
• Break time: 15:30 - 16:30
• Also: parking, reservations, groups, and takeout available

You can park right in the building's basement lot! I drive even for short distances, so whenever I visit a place with good parking, it just puts me in a good mood haha.

Take the elevator up to the 2nd floor and walk to the far left to enter Sodam Galbi — inside you'll find a neat, clean dining room.

Why Sodam Galbi's big dining room suits family meals and group dinners

Sodam Galbi Gwangmyeong Soha Branch has a big dining room with generous table spacing and comfortable walkways, so I never felt cramped the whole meal and could fully focus on eating! It's the perfect spot for family outings, staff dinners, or any kind of gathering hahaha.

What meat goes into the signature hand-marinated galbi?

As soon as I sat down, I ordered Sodam Galbi's signature hand-marinated galbi (marinated pork ribs)!

Sodam Galbi uses top-grade domestic Korean pork ribs and pork shoulder, and takes pride in a light-colored, healthy marinade with savory depth added from fruits and vegetables. They say no harmful ingredients are ever used, so you can eat with peace of mind haha.

Basic side dishes that pair well with the galbi were set out too

Sodam Galbi's self-bar: organic lettuce and tteokbokki

Another big draw of this place is the neatly arranged self-bar tucked in one corner of the restaurant! Usually a self-bar just has some basic vegetables and sauces, but Sodam Galbi's self-bar impressed me both in variety and cleanliness.

It was stocked full of home-grown, fresh organic lettuce, so I could grab as much as I wanted without feeling self-conscious while eating the meat — and there was even tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes), my favorite!

You might not expect much from tteokbokki at a self-bar in a BBQ restaurant, but the chewy rice cakes were soaked in a sweet-spicy sauce that held up to any dedicated tteokbokki restaurant!

How does the charcoal-grilled marinated galbi taste?

While enjoying the tteokbokki and side dishes from the self-bar, today's star — the galbi — arrived.

The moment the meat hit the grill, a gentle charcoal aroma and sweet marinade smell spread out, and it was just so good 🥩🤎 The marinade wasn't over-soaked into the meat, just the right amount, so the texture of the meat itself really came through

With strong charcoal heat, the outside turned golden brown while the inside stayed full of juice, cooking quickly and deliciously!

I tried a well-cooked piece of galbi plain, with no dipping sauce, and the moment it hit my mouth it was tender, with the juices and marinade harmonizing perfectly and filling my whole mouth. It wasn't too sweet or too salty, just the right savory balance, so it never got tiring and I kept reaching for more. I think I've been coming to Sodam Galbi for over 10 years now, and it's still just as good, no matter how much time passes ㅠㅠ!!! 🤎

A glass of beer with well-cooked pork galbi~~~ 🍺

Wrapping fresh organic lettuce around the meat with a bit of garlic deepened the galbi's flavor even more. Nom nom, my favorite combination haha.

Finishing with doenjang jjigae and mul naengmyeon

After eating a bit more meat, I ordered doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup). The doenjang jjigae came out bubbling in a stone pot, and the broth was savory with a nice spicy kick — top notch! It was packed with tofu, zucchini, and other ingredients, so even though I was pretty full already, I still finished a whole bowl of rice with it hahahaha.

For the refreshing mul naengmyeon, I tried the broth first, and it left my whole mouth feeling clean and refreshed!

Wrapping a leftover piece of galbi in the chewy noodles and eating them together never disappoints either — it's always amazing. The broth itself was deep and clean, so I could enjoy it refreshingly all the way to the end without getting tired of it.

Where to eat after a day at Gwangmyeong Cave

If you're looking for a place in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong with a comfortable, spacious dining room, a great self-bar, and solid charcoal galbi and side dishes all in one, I highly recommend Sodam Galbi Gwangmyeong Soha Branch! Thanks to the roomy space, it's also a great place to take your parents or bring kids along. It's perfect for stopping by for a meal after visiting nearby Gwangmyeong Cave.

Using top-grade domestic Korean pork ribs and shoulder, Sodam Galbi's marinade isn't just deep in color for show — it's mild and gentle enough that even kids can eat it with ease, making it a pork galbi restaurant you can trust. This Chuseok holiday, I'd recommend visiting Gwangmyeong Cave with your family and then enjoying a happy meal of delicious charcoal-grilled galbi at Sodam Galbi. 🤎