Korean restaurant near Lotte Outlets Icheon: Neul Gogi Jip lunch set

A few days ago I was looking for good restaurants near Lotte Premium Outlets Icheon and ended up going with my husband on a little date to Neul Gogi Jip :) It's also famous as a barbecue spot, so we thought about grilling some ribs, but their lunch special looked so well put together that we tried that instead! The space was huge and nicely arranged, so it'd be perfect for a family gathering too. The food was amazing — squeal — so let me share the full review.

How to get to Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch, and its opening hours

Search 2541 Gyeongchung-daero or the restaurant name and you'll find it along with a spacious parking lot. It's open from 11 AM to 9:30 PM, with a break time only on weekdays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, so keep that in mind when you visit!

We visited on a weekend for lunch, and since the parking lot was so well set up, we parked with no trouble at all. A place with good free parking is the best :)

Korean Cuisine Master Chef and Blue Ribbon: why this Icheon restaurant stands out

As we walked in, the signs for 'Korean Master Chef' and 'Blue Ribbon' caught our eyes. My husband, who really knows his food, got excited the moment he saw them, saying not many places actually receive the Korean Master Chef title. I got swept up in the anticipation too — heart pounding!

The waiting lounge at Neul Gogi Jip

We arrived a bit after peak time (around 1:30), and there were two parties ahead of us waiting for a table to be cleared. In the meantime, we could use the lounge area inside the restaurant, which was well equipped for resting. I especially loved that it was nice and cool.

Inside Neul Gogi Jip: the dining room and the private room

There were a lot of customers, so I didn't take detailed photos, but you can tell at a glance how pleasant it is :) There's also a private room on one side, so if you're coming for a family gathering, reserving that would be perfect!!! Good stuff. We came just the two of us for a date, but the tables were all so large that it felt comfortable anyway.

Neul Gogi Jip menu and lunch special prices

You order through the kiosk at your table, and there's also a paper menu that's easy for anyone to read. Since it's known as an Icheon meat restaurant, they have marinated pork galbi, beef galbi, and samgyeopsal (pork belly). Lots of people were grilling meat for weekend lunch too. But the lunch special was really well done! We picked the crab-pork set (₩24,900 per person), and it was the best choice — heh.

The crab-pork set, starting with the side dishes

The side dishes and beef tendon doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) came out first, and as you can see, the table was already packed... heh heh heh

A visual that fills up your heart too.

Every single side dish was worth eating, no exceptions ㅠㅠ! The doraji (bellflower root) was the best I've ever had, and the eggplant namul, along with several kinds of kimchi, weren't too salty and suited my taste perfectly. It made me think this would be a great Icheon restaurant to bring my parents to next time. (Noting that down, Neul Gogi Jip...)

Soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang): not too salty, melts away

After a short wait, today's main dishes arrived — soy crab and stir-fried pork. This is Neul Gogi Jip's lunch special, only available daily from 11 AM to 2:30 PM.

The gorgeous look of the soy crab made my heart skip a beat. It's known as a meat restaurant in Icheon, but seeing the note that this soy crab was made with the skill of a fermentation master with 30 years of tradition, I thought it couldn't possibly taste bad... and I was right.

If you like soy crab that isn't too salty and melts in your mouth... please, you have to try this one. I didn't even need to drink water afterward. We just kept saying it was delicious and ate it happily.

Stir-fried pork (jeyuk bokkeum) and the self-serve wrap vegetables

The stir-fried pork had both spiciness and a clean flavor — it was fantastic too!!! The portion was bigger than I expected, so even though both my husband and I were hungry, instead of feeling like it wasn't enough, we actually felt it was a lot.

In the middle of the restaurant there's a self-serve wrap vegetable station, and the freshness was top-notch..! Wrapping it up with the pork was the best combo.

Beef tendon doenjang stew (soegogi suji doenjang jjigae)

The beef tendon doenjang stew was a style I'd never tasted anywhere else. It had tendon in it along with a spicy kick, so I guess you could say it didn't get boring even as you kept eating. The soy crab alone was already enough for a whole bowl of rice, and then the tendon stew added even more to that... heh heh heh

Even the finish was perfect. Squeal.

Free ice cream and coffee for dessert

In the lounge area we used briefly while waiting, you can enjoy free ice cream and coffee :) I was so full that I asked my husband to make me just a small soft-serve, and the result came out looking pretty funny haha.

Spacious tables, a pleasant interior and atmosphere, and delicious food — everything was perfect at this Icheon restaurant 'Neul Gogi Jip'! I hope you all give the lunch special a try, especially for a family gathering — hehe.