Hanwoo 1++ sirloin vs lower sirloin at Yongin butcher BBQ: Dongbaek

Dongbaek's go-to meat restaurant: Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill Butcher Restaurant in Yongin

I'm Jjeopjjeop Doctor, a food blogger. Today I visited Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill Butcher Restaurant, a great spot in Dongbaek, Yongin, whenever you're craving good meat.

Dongbaek Hanokjip runs as a butcher restaurant, meaning you pick your own meat in the shop and grill it yourself over charcoal. I picked hanwoo (Korean beef) 1++ grade sirloin and lower sirloin, both with striking marbling, and grilled them up deliciously.

Let me walk you through everything from the delicious meat to the clean side dishes.

Location and hours

• Address: 221 Eodong-ro, 1st floor, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (162m from Eojeong Station Exit 1)
• Hours: Daily 11:30–21:30
• Closed: Every Monday

Where do you park?

Parking is free, with the restaurant's own lot behind the building. It's spacious too, so you can drive over without worrying about finding a spot.

Picking meat at the butcher counter

Unlike a typical BBQ restaurant, Dongbaek Hanokjip operates as a butcher restaurant. Walk inside and you'll find a butcher counter set up to one side, where you pick exactly the meat you want to eat.

They sell everything from domestic Korean pork to 1++ grade hanwoo.

The pork options include mineral belly, pork neck, and mixed cuts, while the hanwoo lineup covers sirloin, marbled sirloin, tenderloin cap, short rib meat, and more — plenty of choice depending on what you're in the mood for.

After choosing your meat, just tell the staff at the counter. You can also buy the meat alone or take it home instead of grilling on site. It's a fun place for meat lovers who enjoy picking their own cuts and grilling them over charcoal.

Interior and group seating

Walking inside, the space feels clean and pleasant. The comfortable, friendly atmosphere makes it good for family meals and for eating meat with friends too.

The tables are set up generously wide, and there are also long bench seats for a relaxed meal. Group reservations for up to 140 people are possible, so it's worth recommending for company dinners, family gatherings, and all kinds of group meetups.

What's at the self-serve bar

There's a self-serve bar set up toward the back of the restaurant. It has wrap vegetables, salad, kimchi, bean sprouts, and pickled green onion, along with garlic, ssamjang (thick dipping paste), and tableware.

The basic side dishes are set on the table for you, and if you need more, you just help yourself at the self-serve bar. It's convenient when you run out of vegetables or side dishes mid-meal — you can grab more right away.

The side dishes

While I was picking out meat, a staff member laid out the side dishes ahead of time.

From pickled bean sprouts and green onion to scallions, shishito peppers, ssamjang, wasabi, pickled onion, pickled radish, macaroni salad, cabbage salad, and white kimchi — all good pairings for the meat.

Each side dish came out clean and well-prepared, making them great to enjoy alongside the meat.

How's the hanwoo 1++ sirloin?

Today I picked hanwoo 1++ sirloin and hanwoo 1++ lower sirloin.

The cuts were sizable, and just looking at the vivid marbling told me the meat quality was good.

I put the hanwoo 1++ sirloin on first. As it sizzled over the charcoal, a rich, savory aroma rose up — a mouthwatering sight just to look at.

Grilled golden on the outside and moist inside, the first bite released juices all through my mouth along with the savory flavor of 1++ grade hanwoo.

The more I chewed, the deeper the meaty aroma and umami became, with the subtle richness from the marbling blending nicely with the clean flavor of the lean meat.

How does the hanwoo 1++ lower sirloin taste?

Next up was the hanwoo 1++ lower sirloin. I picked this one wanting something a bit lighter, and with its red flesh threaded with just the right amount of marbling, it looked light and tender even before grilling.

Grilled and tasted, it was lighter than the sirloin, with a subtle savory aroma coming through — delicious.

True to 1++ grade hanwoo, the texture was tender, and the deeper flavor came through the more I chewed — personally, this was the cut I enjoyed most.

You can enjoy the meat's natural flavor as is, or add a touch of wasabi, pickled onion, or pickled green onion to make the flavor even richer.

Final thoughts

Looking for a good meat restaurant in Dongbaek, Yongin? I'd recommend Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill Butcher Restaurant.