Chicken cartilage and cold noodles at a Yangjae grill: Yanggyegok

I stopped by Yanggyegok, one of the well-known spots near Yangjae Station and Dogok-dong in Gangnam. I'm pretty fond of dakgalbi (grilled chicken) in general, but places that grill it over charcoal are surprisingly rare. When I heard I could get charcoal-grilled dakgalbi here, I had to go check it out!

Where is Yanggyegok and what are its hours?

• 🤍Location: 1F, 2615 Nambusunhwan-ro, Gangnam-gu
• 🤍Hours: 11:00 - 22:00
• 🤍Parking available

There's a menu board set up right outside the restaurant, so you can browse before heading in haha.

What does Yanggyegok look like inside?

The retro vibe was pretty striking for a Yangjae Station restaurant! It's slightly dim overall, which makes it feel perfect for a drink in the evening, don't you think? Since there are a lot of offices near Yangjae Station, I noticed a fair number of people here for after-work dinners.

The tin-can aesthetic really suited the place.

Yanggyegok menu and prices

[Meal menu] Chicken kalguksu, stir-fried pork ₩10,000 / Whole chicken small ₩29,000 medium ₩43,000 large ₩56,000 / Dakdoritang small ₩31,000 medium ₩45,000 large ₩58,000

[Grilled menu] Salt ₩15,000 / Soy sauce ₩16,000 / Gochujang ₩16,000 / Chicken cartilage ₩13,500 / Seasoned deodeok ₩13,000 / Assorted plate ₩4,000 / Yanggyegok platter ₩55,000

[Sides] Warm gyegukssu ₩11,000 / Cold gyegukssu ₩11,000 / Spicy chicken ramyeon ₩7,000 / Stir-fried chicken ₩15,000 / Flying fish roe cheese fried rice ₩10,000 / Flying fish roe rice ball ₩5,000

There was even a note off to the side about how to enjoy dakgalbi the tastiest way.

Chicken gomtang served as a complimentary side

They serve chicken gomtang (chicken soup) as a basic side dish, and it was genuinely delicious...! Not too salty, with a clean, mild flavor that kept me coming back for more.

They also brought out gochu-ji (pickled peppers) and a variety of sauces.

Ordering seasoned dakgalbi, grilled deodeok, and chicken cartilage

I ordered the seasoned dakgalbi, grilled deodeok, and chicken cartilage! Turns out this is a restaurant with deep history — third generation, tracing back to 1970 when the grandmother ran a gukbap (rice soup) place in Pungyang traditional market in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province. They say they use domestic fresh chicken, slaughtered fresh each day.

The subtle charcoal aroma was already soaking in. Honestly, this Yangjae Station restaurant smelled amazing even before the food was fully cooked.

How crunchy is the chicken cartilage?

You could tell the meat was fresh — none of that dry, chalky feeling at all. I ordered the chicken cartilage, a specialty part, because of its uniquely crunchy texture, and it really was appealing! Nutty and clean-flavored — that's what chicken cartilage is all about. It offers a totally different kind of textural fun compared to regular meat, so it's worth ordering.

Seasoned dakgalbi over charcoal

This is the signature dish of this Yangjae Station restaurant — seasoned dakgalbi. The harmony between the natural tenderness of the chicken and the savory depth of the seasoning was really good. It's not overwhelmingly spicy — more of a mild, well-balanced heat with a subtle smoky note, so it should suit most palates! The tender texture with every bite was so satisfying.

Seasoned grilled deodeok root

The golden-grilled deodeok is one of Yanggyegok's specialties! It's soaked in a special seasoning, giving off a subtly spicy-sweet aroma that offers a different kind of appeal from the meat. Grilled just right over charcoal, the outside turns slightly crisp while the inside stays moist. The harmony between deodeok's faint bitterness and the sweet seasoning was really nice!

Wrapping it in perilla leaf with pickled radish and flying fish roe made it extra nutty and delicious.

Finishing with cold buckwheat noodles and cheese fried rice

I also tried the mul-makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth), which pairs really well with the spicy grilled meat! It's loaded with cool slushy ice, making it a perfect side dish.

Highly recommend ordering the cheese fried rice to finish off the meal! They pile a generous amount of mozzarella cheese on top of nicely stir-fried dakgalbi rice. This place is honestly a fried rice restaurant in disguise...

Is Yanggyegok good for a work dinner near Yangjae Station?

If you're looking for a refined Korean-style charcoal-grilled dakgalbi near Yangjae Station, Yanggyegok is an excellent choice! Beyond the seasoned dakgalbi, other specialty dishes like the grilled deodeok and chicken cartilage were also impressively well-executed. It's a solid option if you're deciding on a spot for a gathering or work dinner near Yangjae. Recommending this as a great restaurant near Yangjae Station!