Ansan Korean BBQ for charcoal-grilled beef ribs: Yangsimso

After going back and forth forever over what to have for dinner with my boyfriend, the place that immediately caught our eye was Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch, a popular meat spot in Gojan-dong! Its signatures are aged beef ribs and flower-cut ribs, and it was a place where we could enjoy high-quality beef to our hearts’ content at great-value prices (*ฅ́˘ฅ̀*)

Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch: location and parking

✔️ Location: Unit 119, 1F, 33 Danggok-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea ✔️ Hours: Daily 11:00–22:30 (open year-round) ✔️ Parking: Two hours validated when using the building’s B1 parking lot (B2 and B3 are residents-only, so only B1 is available.) 📍 The public parking lot in front of the building is paid on weekdays and Saturdays, and free on Sundays and public holidays.

When I stepped inside Yangsimso, I was surprised by how much bigger it was than expected. With high ceilings and an exhaust pipe over every table, it seemed like we would not have to worry about the meat smell clinging to us! Even on a weekday evening, there were quite a few diners, so I could see why it has a reputation as a Gojan-dong favorite 🤭

Fresh beef ribs grilled over charcoal

✔️ Fresh beef ribs ₩19,000 The beef ribs finally arrived! (๑•̀∀•́ฅ ✧ The dense marbling alone made them look as if they would be packed with juice. They came out raw, so the freshness seemed totally trustworthy!

Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch does not play around with its banchan (Korean side dishes), either. There were so many options—seasoned bean sprouts, green-onion kimchi, cabbage kimchi, shiitake mushrooms with wasabi—that I felt like I could be full before the meat even came out lol. There was also a great variety of sauces to pair with the meat, so I could keep eating without getting tired of it!

The moment they hit the charcoal, the sizzling sound and savory meat aroma already made me feel halfway through the meal 🤭 Maybe because the charcoal heat was so well controlled, they cooked evenly without a single burnt spot.

I picked up a piece and looked at the cross-section—the juices were completely intact! One bite in, and the texture was so tender while the meat’s natural flavor came through beautifully 👍🏻 A light dip in the salt sauce was plenty, but it was also amazing with the green-onion kimchi.

Brisket doenjang-jjigae and stone-pot ramen

✔️ Brisket doenjang-jjigae ₩5,000 Partway through the meat, the doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) from our set arrived. It was loaded with tofu and meat, making it perfect for refreshing my palate between bites! It was just made for mixing with rice, so I ended up ordering an extra bowl 🥹

✔️ Stone-pot ramen ₩5,000 I am a ramen lover, so I could not resist ordering it! But get this—it was not ordinary Shin Ramyun or Jin Ramen; it came made with Jin Jjambbong!! This ramen was so exactly my taste 🥹 And it was cooked so well, too..

There was even a whole soft-set egg in it, and the noodles were cooked exactly right. Getting emotional over ramen at a meat restaurant, that is me ჱ̒⸝⸝•̀֊•́⸝⸝)‪ ̖́– The ramen was as good as the meat, so I really recommend trying it lol!

Yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) also came as a tasting portion in the set. As you would expect from a popular meat restaurant in Gojan-dong, it was incredibly fresh, and even its color stood out. It was not greasy, with a subtle, nutty aroma of sesame oil that really whetted my appetite!

Sweet-savory aged marinated beef ribs

✔️ Aged marinated beef ribs ₩19,000 Next up were the marinated beef ribs! The seasoning had soaked in evenly, and they looked full of savory flavor just sitting there.

As soon as they went onto the grill, the scent of the seasoning cooking spread everywhere, and mixed with the charcoal aroma, it was a combination that made it impossible to stop reaching for more 😋 The seasoning had soaked in much more deeply than on the fresh ribs, so they were perfect with rice! Fresh ribs for the meat’s natural flavor, then marinated ribs for that sweet-savory finish—perfect meal, complete!

The marinated ribs were best paired with the pickled onions! Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch had lots of side dishes for the price and great-quality meat, so I think I will come back with my boyfriend when we are craving a Gojan-dong meat restaurant again 🩵