Team dinner Korean BBQ at Mapo Station, spicy beef gukbap: Usijang

I was looking for a place near Mapo Station where I could eat meat and have a filling meal, so I stopped by Usijang Hoegwan (우시장회관). I ordered the 3-person set, which lets you enjoy a beef platter, yukhoe (beef tartare) and a meal dish together. The charcoal-grilled beef was great, but the spicy beef gukbap (rice soup) is what stuck with me that day. Having visited in person, I found it a good place to eat with a group.

What are the exterior and atmosphere of Usijang Hoegwan like?

Usijang Hoegwan is a gukbap and beef restaurant with a red and blue neon sign, tucked into an alley near Mapo Station. The sign caught my eye as I turned into the alley, and the "Usijang Gukbap" lettering already gave off a gukbap specialist vibe. At the entrance, a variety of dishes were posted, including beef gukbap, yuksashimi (raw beef slices) and mixed suyuk (boiled sliced meat). It looked like a good place to come not just for BBQ but also for gukbap or yuksashimi.

Inside, it was homey yet neat and tidy. The menu board above the kitchen listed clear gukbap, spicy gukbap, offal soup, kkurit-sal yuksashimi and more, and each table had a tablet, so ordering was easy. There was also a self-bar on one side, where you can take as much lettuce, perilla leaves, chili peppers, garlic and ssamjang (dipping paste) as you need, which was convenient.

Seasoned lettuce as a side dish

The seasoned lettuce that came as a basic side dish was crunchy lettuce and radish sprouts tossed in a dressing. It was sweet, tangy and a little spicy, and it got my appetite going. It's nice to nibble on before grilling, and it also went well with the grilled beef.

What's in the Usijang Hoegwan 3-person set?

What I ordered that day was the Usijang Hoegwan 3-person set. You get a beef platter, yukhoe or yuksashimi, and one meal dish of your choice, so it's a great way to try several things at once.

The beef platter came with nicely marbled raw beef, marinated LA galbi, king oyster mushrooms and scallions. I liked that I could alternate between the raw and the marinated meat.

Yukhoe with a sweet, salty seasoning

While waiting for the meat to cook, I tried the yukhoe first. It was topped with an egg yolk, radish sprouts and sesame seeds. I broke the yolk and mixed everything together, and the sweet and salty seasoning came together nicely. I also loved the chewy texture that yukhoe is known for. It pairs well with charcoal BBQ, so I was happy it's included in the set.

Charcoal-grilled beef and marinated LA galbi

I put the beef on the charcoal grill. At first I only dipped it lightly in salt, which was a great way to taste the rich beefy aroma and juicy texture.

Eating it without sauce let me enjoy the taste of the meat itself, and the tender texture was satisfying too.

The marinated LA galbi tasted different from the raw beef. Grilling over charcoal added a subtle smoky flavor, and the sweet, salty marinade went well with the meat. Being able to taste both the clean-flavored raw beef and the marinated galbi made the set worthwhile. It's also a great dish for grilling together with several people.

How was the spicy beef gukbap at Usijang Hoegwan?

For the meal dish included in the 3-person set, I chose the spicy beef gukbap, and it was the most memorable dish of the day. It was generously topped with sliced scallions, and the soup was packed with beef. The portion was plenty to share as a closing meal after the BBQ.

The first spoonful was spicy yet had the deep flavor of beef broth. It wasn't just fiery; the hearty broth plus the fresh coolness of the scallions kept my spoon going. Personally, the spicy beef gukbap was my favorite of everything I ate that day. I also liked that you can finish off grilled beef with a filling bowl of gukbap.

Is Usijang Hoegwan a good Mapo Station spot for a company dinner?

I could see other groups having company dinners there on the day I visited, so Usijang Hoegwan seems a fine Mapo Station choice for that. Having looked around and eaten there, I thought it would work well for coworkers. A big plus is that the set includes a beef platter, yukhoe and a meal dish, so you don't need to order each separately. Being able to wrap up with gukbap after the meat seems well suited to company dinners and group gatherings.

Note the ₩1,500 per-person table fee

Note that Usijang Hoegwan charges a separate table fee of ₩1,500 per person when you order meat. It's best to factor that in when ordering, right? Considering the set that lets you try many dishes together and the hearty meal dish, it's still worth a look for anyone searching for a company dinner spot near Mapo Station.

Dining solo? Try the gukbap and kkurit-sal yuksashimi set for one

While paying, I looked over the Usijang Hoegwan menu and spotted something: a set for one that combines gukbap and kkurit-sal yuksashimi. You get to eat gukbap and taste yuksashimi too, so it looks good for solo dining. This time I had the beef platter set, but next time I'd like to try this gukbap set for one.

If you want beef and gukbap together near Mapo Station

At Usijang Hoegwan I could enjoy the beef platter, yukhoe and spicy beef gukbap all in one go. I liked that it's not just meat and done; you can finish with a filling meal. If you go with a group, the set is great for sharing a variety of dishes, and since I saw real company dinners happening, it's worth keeping in mind for that too. If you're looking for meat and gukbap near Mapo Station, or deciding where to eat with coworkers, I recommend Usijang Hoegwan~~

Usijang Hoegwan store information

• Name: Usijang Hoegwan (우시장회관)
• Location: Near Mapo Station, Seoul (15-10 Samgae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor)
• Ordered: 3-person set
• Set contents: Beef platter + yukhoe + one meal dish of your choice
• Table fee: ₩1,500 per person on meat orders; the basic table fee applies per head for grilled beef and set menus
• Lunch single meals (gukbap, haejangguk, etc.) can be ordered with no separate table fee
• ※ Menu and prices are as of the visit, so please check the latest information before going.