Pet-friendly dakgalbi restaurant in Gapyeong: Hanok Dakgalbi

I was looking for a good dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) place that allows dogs, and the reviews looked great, so I decided to have lunch at Hanok Dakgalbi (한옥닭갈비).

Hanok Dakgalbi right in front of the Nami Island ferry terminal

I had been looking for somewhere to eat near Nami Island, and this was a great lunch stop because everything from parking to bringing a dog along was so easy.

Above all, there is a very large customer-only parking lot, and diners can park for free. They said it was fine to come for a meal after sightseeing at Nami Island, so it is convenient to stop by before or after exploring.

Hanok Dakgalbi is right across the crosswalk from the Nami Island ferry terminal. There is also an easy route up for strollers and wheelchairs, so it looked like a good option for families too.

A hanok atmosphere from the entrance

True to its name, it felt a little different from a typical dakgalbi restaurant. There was a large waterfall mural by the entrance, and paintings inside depicting old rural scenery and cows, making it feel as if I had stepped into an old hanok (traditional Korean house) restaurant. The hanok-inspired interior gave the whole place a warm, welcoming feel.

I also heard that Hanok Dakgalbi has continued its charitable giving for 10 years, which made it feel like a place with good intentions as well as good food.

A spacious, comfortable dining hall

We arrived a little before the lunchtime rush. Thanks to that, I could take interior photos comfortably before it got busy, and the dining hall was much more spacious than I expected.

Reserved tables had already been set, and shortly afterward tourists started pouring in. Since it is right in front of Nami Island and has a reputation as a good restaurant, it definitely seemed popular with visitors.

Ordering Chuncheon dakgalbi and makguksu

The menu had iron-plate Chuncheon dakgalbi and soy-sauce dakgalbi, and we chose the Chuncheon dakgalbi. Of the three spice levels, we went with spicy, then ordered one makguksu (buckwheat noodles) too.

The makguksu is also offered free through a review event, so that is worth keeping in mind.

They served water in bottled form. It was my first time trying spring water from Cheorwon, Gangwon-do, and it tasted good.

Thoughtful care for dogs too

Maybe because it is a dog-friendly restaurant, the atmosphere was very welcoming toward dogs too. A staff member first asked whether my dog needed separate water, and even said they would provide a paper cup just for the dog. That felt very thoughtful. When you look for restaurants with a pet, these little gestures are really appreciated.

Before long, the dakgalbi and side dishes were quickly set on the table.

Waiting for dakgalbi with a ferry-terminal view

Because the restaurant is right in front of the Nami Island ferry terminal, I could catch a glimpse of the terminal through the window. The staff cooked the food themselves, so we could just relax and wait for it to cook.

The dakgalbi was done. We had come a long way and were hungry, so we ate quickly.

Chuncheon dakgalbi that felt a little hotter than Shin Ramyun

I tried the nicely cooked dakgalbi first. The chicken was tender but still had a pleasant bite, and the seasoning was quite spicy—more than I expected.

Personally, it felt a little hotter than Shin Ramyun. The sweet-spicy sauce went very well with the meat, though, and it was really delicious. The dakgalbi sauce had a bold, moreish flavor, so people who enjoy spicy food would probably be very satisfied.

Sauce-soaked rice cakes and generous vegetables

There were plenty of rice cakes in the dakgalbi too. In particular, the rice cakes had holes through the middle, so the sauce seeped all the way inside and every bite delivered a strong spicy flavor.

There were sweet potatoes as well, plus a very generous amount of vegetables. Having the vegetables and sweet potatoes alongside the meat and rice cakes added different textures and made the meal feel even more filling.

Side dishes that pair well with dakgalbi

The ssammu (pickled radish wraps), lettuce, and pickled onions served as side dishes all paired nicely with the dakgalbi. Wrapping the spicy dakgalbi in lettuce with ssammu made it feel much fresher,

and adding crisp pickled onions brought a tangy note that made it even tastier.

You can refill the side dishes as much as you want at the self-serve bar, so we could eat comfortably without running short.

Makguksu full of slushy ice

As we were eating the dakgalbi, the makguksu we ordered arrived too. Unusually, they brought a whole tube of mustard so you could add as much as you liked. Since I like spicy food, I added a pretty generous amount.

It was somewhere between mul makguksu (broth-style buckwheat noodles) and bibim makguksu (mixed spicy buckwheat noodles), rather than fully either one, and it was packed with slushy ice, making it wonderfully refreshing.

Finishing with flying-fish-roe cheese fried rice

After eating a good amount of dakgalbi, I could not skip fried rice, of course, so we ordered the flying-fish-roe cheese fried rice too. The staff quickly stir-fried this one as well, so we could enjoy it easily.

The flying fish roe popped in each bite, while the shredded radish kimchi added crunch and the cheese brought savory richness—so good.

I was already very full after the dakgalbi and makguksu, but it was so delicious that it was hard to put my spoon down. I even wrapped the fried rice in lettuce and finished everything neatly.

Enjoying Hanok Dakgalbi as takeout too

Hanok Dakgalbi also sells takeout, not just dine-in meals. They said takeout orders include an extra 150 g compared with eating at the restaurant, so it seems like a great way to enjoy a generous serving at home too.

Hanok Dakgalbi is directly in front of the Nami Island ferry terminal, making it easy to reach, and free parking for diners makes it a convenient meal stop before or after sightseeing. Above all, it is dog-friendly and even provides separate water for dogs, which felt especially thoughtful when visiting with a pet. If you are looking for a generous dakgalbi meal before or after touring Nami Island, this is a good place to eat.