Corkage-free Korean BBQ group dinner in Dongjak, Seoul: Hwaseol Isu

This time I went with a friend and her husband to Hwaseol Isu Branch, a well-known Korean BBQ spot near Isu Station. Great atmosphere, and corkage-free too, which makes it perfect for a group dinner! Here's my review after trying both the beef and the pork.

Where is Hwaseol Isu Branch, and where do you park?

Hwaseol Isu Branch is just a 5-minute walk from Isu Station Exits 11 and 12! It's right on the main restaurant street near Isu Station, so it's easy to find and very accessible. And parking is available too! You can park in the mechanical parking garage at the Hollys building across the street (Naver info still lists it as the Angel-in-us building, but it's since changed to Hollys). Parking is a reasonable ₩2,000 an hour. *Be sure to get your ticket stamped at the counter before you leave.

Two floors, private rooms and group seating for a company dinner

This is the interior of Hwaseol Isu Branch. It's a spacious restaurant spanning two floors — about 50 pyeong — so it easily handles large group dinners, and you can reserve a table in advance through Naver.

Every table has its own kiosk for easy ordering. We had reserved ahead, so the table was already set up when we arrived.

There's a staircase leading up to the second floor — on the day I visited, the second floor wasn't in use, so the lights were off. The restroom is on the second floor, so I got to take a peek while I was up there — there are private rooms and group seating too, which would make this a great spot for a company dinner!

The restroom at Hwaseol Isu Branch is also inside the restaurant and split by gender, so it was easy and comfortable to use.

One wall was covered in celebrity autographs! With its US-mountain-lodge concept, it's great for a date, and a good spot for a special occasion too ❤️

Hwaseol Isu Branch menu and prices

Here's the menu. It ranges from pork to beef, and while you can order by cut, I liked that they also have set menus! First up, Hwaseol's signature dish — the black beef! The Hwaseol 1% black beef set comes with a stew too. It's 400g total, made up of flank, sirloin, and short rib. If you've got a bigger group, there's also the Hwaseol 1% black beef croissant roll set for 4 (700g) at ₩199,000.

• Hwaseol flower sirloin Hanwoo 1++ (120g) ₩49,000
• Hwaseol 1% black beef flank (120g) ₩35,000
• Hwaseol 1% wagyu sirloin (120g) ₩34,000
• Beef short rib flank (120g) ₩21,000
• Pork set (550g) ₩69,000
• Snowflake pork neck 300g ₩34,000
• Pork belly rib cut 150g ₩17,000
• Whole skirt meat 150g ₩19,000

Besides that, there were plenty of side menu options too — Hanwoo beef tartare, yukhoe (raw beef), Hanwoo boiled beef salad, doenjang jjigae, doenjang bokkeumbap, naengmyeon (spicy or plain), yukhoe bibimbap, chadol samgyeop-samyeon, and spicy kimchi jjigae.

What comes with the meal: the banchan table setting

First, the basic table setting. Per person, we got pickled onion sauce, baek-kimchi (white kimchi), seaweed, sweet pumpkin salad, pickled onions, four kinds of sauce (wasabi, salt, salted squid, and basil sauce), and mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad). The banchan spread was generous and varied right from the start, great to pair with the meat.

Hwaseol Isu Branch also serves a black sesame salad, and the vegetables were all fresh and tasty. If you ask for ssamjang (soybean dipping sauce) with the pork, they'll bring it right over.

The pickled onions... genuinely delicious!

What four of us ordered, and how corkage-free wine works

• Hwaseol 1% black beef set (2-person)
• Pork set 550g
• Draft beer x2
• Corkage (free)
• Naengmyeon x3

This is what the four of us ordered, and we were seriously stuffed by the end...!!

We brought our own wine and asked for corkage, and it was so easy! The wine glasses were lovely, and they gave us a chilling basket so we could keep it cool.

The draft beer came out first..! The foam was so smooth, it melted right in your mouth. Really cold, perfect for whetting the appetite before the meat started.

If you order a set menu, doenjang jjigae comes included! We ordered both the beef and pork sets, so we got two bowls of stew! It's genuinely delicious ....♥ If you're ordering à la carte, definitely add the stew.... you won't regret it...

Hwaseol 1% black beef set for two: flank, sirloin and short rib

First they prepared the black beef set. It's a mix of flank, sirloin, and short rib, and they grilled sweet pumpkin, kkwari peppers, and king oyster mushrooms alongside it.

They grilled it in order — flank, then sirloin, then short rib — starting with the flank! At this Isu Station BBQ spot, the staff grill everything for you, so you can just relax and eat!

The marbling on the flank was incredible...♥ Just the right amount of fat, melted right in the mouth. Definitely beef..! Being black beef, it seemed to have an even deeper flavor!

The beef was grilled to a perfect medium, and once it was done, they moved it to the side of the grill so we could just dig in and enjoy it..hahaha

I tried it with wasabi, basil sauce, salt, and more, but honestly the pickled onion sauce was my favorite! If you need more banchan, just ask and they'll bring extras.

The sirloin was the best..! It was nice and thick with amazing juiciness, and there was more of it than I expected — plenty for the four of us to dig into together.

The sirloin just melts in your mouth... If you visit this Isu Station BBQ spot, you have to order the sirloin!!

Dipped in wasabi it was delicious, and a light touch of salt was seriously good too...

Last was the short rib flank! It was tender and delicious, with great umami and a nice bite to it.

The kkwari pepper and king oyster mushroom combo was excellent too! From now on I'm going straight to Hwaseol for beef...! Great price, generous portions — I definitely want to come back.

The 550g pork set: neck, belly and skirt meat

After finishing the beef, the pork set arrived! The pork set had pork belly, pork neck, and skirt meat. I'd only ever had skirt meat pre-marinated before, so I was extra excited to try it raw! It came with grilled garlic too.

The pork was also grilled for us by the staff, so eating was effortless. The pork neck looked amazing right from the start...! Really thick and generous portions. The pork neck was mild and nutty ....♥ I asked for extra ssamjang separately and they brought it over.

I also added a little of the salted squid from the basic sauces — it was slightly spicy and cut through the richness perfectly. Eating it with the doenjang jjigae in between bites was the best combo....

The pork belly and skirt meat were also amazing. Being Korean domestic pork, the juiciness and flavor were top-notch! The ratio of lean meat to fat was just right, so the pork held its own against the beef.

Finishing with mul-naengmyeon (cold noodle soup)

For dessert, naengmyeon! There were two types — bibim (spicy mixed) and mul (cold broth) — and we all went with mul-naengmyeon. They bring the mustard and vinegar separately. The portion was generous, and it was a perfect way to finish the meal...

Topped with half an egg, radish, and cucumber, it was refreshing and sweet haha. Naengmyeon really is the best way to end a BBQ meal,,,,

After eating until we were completely full, we finished off with saffron mouth care to wipe away the grilled meat smell~~~ The food was genuinely delicious and the atmosphere was great at this Isu Station BBQ spot, Hwaseol!! Highly recommend it for family gatherings, group meetups, or a company dinner!!!