Hwaseong Korean BBQ for marinated beef ribs: Jipbul Taebaek

Over the weekend, I was looking for somewhere to eat around Dongtan's 11ja shopping street and decided to visit Jipbul Taebaek Dongtan Flagship Branch.

Jipbul Taebaek Dongtan Flagship Branch: the basics

True to its name, Jipbul Taebaek's signature is straw-fire grilling using rice straw and charcoal. This distinctive meat has spread by word of mouth among locals, and it has become one of the representative places to eat in Dongtan's Yeongcheon-dong. The meat is initially seared over high heat to lock in its juices and add that distinctive straw-fire aroma, while the well-prepared table setting makes for a satisfying meal.

• Address: 11-8 Jisan 2-gil, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: 12:00–22:50
• Break time: None
• Days off: None

How do reservations and parking work?

Can I reserve Jipbul Taebaek Dongtan Flagship Branch?

Yes, reservations are available through Naver Place. It is often full on weekday evenings and weekends, so I recommend reserving before you visit.

Is parking available at Jipbul Taebaek Dongtan Flagship Branch?

There is room for around three to four cars in front of the restaurant, and Yeongcheon public street parking can be used free for 1 hour 30 minutes. They also provide a two-hour parking voucher per table if you use the paid Deokhoe P Tower parking lot, so parking is relatively convenient even if you bring a car.

A wood-toned space and pre-smoking room

As soon as you enter, a purple flowering tree and soft lighting catch your eye. It is decorated with an atmosphere a little different from a typical Korean barbecue restaurant, so it already felt distinctive before the meal began.

There is also a separate pre-smoking room by the entrance. Overall, the wood-toned interior, lighting, and decorative touches give the space a warm feel.

The tables were spaced generously, making it easy to chat comfortably over a meal, and the greenery visible by the windows kept the room from feeling closed in. Decorations and plants were placed throughout, giving the whole place a relaxed atmosphere.

The straw-fire aroma of marinated premium beef ribs

The main dish I ordered that day was marinated premium beef ribs. It uses flower ribs from the sixth through eighth ribs, said to be especially tasty cuts of beef short rib, then pre-sears the marinated ribs over straw fire before serving them.

Once I was shown to my table, the spread was prepared right away. In particular, the kimchi is made with highland cabbage grown in Taebaek, Gangwon-do, and its crisp texture and freshness really stood out.

When you order, you can also watch the meat being smoked with straw fire in the pre-smoking room.

The pre-seared marinated premium beef ribs arrived with the marinade looking wonderfully glossy on the surface, and the subtle charring from the straw fire made them look quite delicious, too.

The staff grill the meat for you. As they placed the pre-seared ribs on the grill, they sizzled away and the straw-fire aroma rose up again.

When I tried it, the marinade did not hit too strongly; instead, it blended with the nutty flavor of the flower ribs. Behind the savory-sweet marinade came the distinctive straw-fire aroma, and it seemed to grow richer with every piece.

It paired well with wasabi or black sesame salt, and there were plenty of sauces and side dishes to enjoy according to your taste. Personally, the Neungi mushroom pesto suited my palate best.

The cool kimchi alongside it felt like it neatly refreshed the rich flavor of the meat.

I also liked the bracken fern and mushrooms cooking beneath the grill. They absorbed the fat from the meat, becoming moist and more savory, so they were great to eat between bites of beef.

Finishing with Taebaek kimchi fried rice

To finish the meal, I ordered the Taebaek kimchi fried rice. The meat and green onion were first placed on the grill and stir-fried in the rendered fat, giving it a rich, nutty flavor, and the occasional chewy pieces of meat were nice, too.

It was a very satisfying final dish after the meat.

Final thoughts

Jipbul Taebaek Dongtan Flagship Branch stands out in Dongtan's Yeongcheon-dong not only for the beef ribs themselves, but also for its initial sear with rice straw and charcoal, Taebaek kimchi, and staff grilling service. If you want to try meat with something a little more special about it, I recommend visiting at least once.