Yangju galbi restaurant with an 11-party dinner wait: Manpo Garden

I really love pork galbi, so I've saved a bunch of pork restaurants on my map, and today I'm back with another absolutely amazing find. It's a galbi restaurant that gives you free naengmyeon (cold noodles) — Manpo Garden, a Yangju must-visit!

Where Manpo Garden is and what to know before you go

Manpo Garden is located at 28-37 Godeok-ro 355beon-gil, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, right next to the Yangju Livestock Cooperative Meat Plaza. The building is big and eye-catching, so it's easy to spot from a distance. It's open daily from 11:00 to 22:00.

★★★Tip before you go: I really recommend making a reservation before heading over!! When I arrived just before 6pm, there were already 11 parties waiting ahead of me!! Naver reservations are available, so definitely book ahead.

Parking and the building from outside

I've arrived at Manpo Garden! Whenever I drive out from Gyeonggi-do somewhere, parking is always a worry. But Manpo Garden has a large parking lot, so I didn't have to stress about it at all — such a relief!

When I first saw it, I was surprised by how big the building's interior design felt! The exterior was so grand that I got curious about the inside too. Right by the entrance there was a sign about the 'principles of proper galbi.' You could feel the owner's conviction, which built trust even before eating! Mentioning the importance of charcoal fire — this owner clearly knows their stuff!

Inside Manpo Garden: seating and menu

Once inside, I found seating from 4-person tables up to large group tables! The tables were spaced well apart, so there were plenty of families and groups dining comfortably. Private rooms were also available, which looked great for company dinners or family meals with parents.

Manpo Garden also sells beef gift sets separately! With Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving) coming up, quite a few people seemed to be buying them.

For meat, they serve beef (tenderloin, sirloin, flat iron), pork (pork jowl, pork belly, handmade galbi), yukhoe (raw beef tartare), yukjeon (pan-fried beef), and naengmyeon!

• Manpo Garden gives one free handmade naengmyeon per person! Don't forget to order it!
• They also serve a galbitang (short rib soup) limited to 100 servings a day — highly recommend trying it!
• On weekday lunches there's a handmade galbi set, which would be great for office workers' lunch!

Self-serve bar, side dishes and the yukhoe and yukjeon tasters

The self-serve bar had all sorts of side dishes! If you ran out, you could grab more yourself. Since a lot of families come with kids, they had kids' utensils ready too. The owner's thoughtfulness in catering to both adults and kids really stood out!

The banchan (side dishes) included seasoned radish strips, doraji muchim (bellflower root salad), jangajji (pickled vegetables), and baek-kimchi (white kimchi), among others! The jangajji came in three types — gungchae, garlic scapes, and radish — each with a different texture, perfect alongside the galbi! The potato mousse topped with peanuts was also wonderfully nutty and delicious!

I also loved that they served a taste of yukhoe and yukjeon as a side dish! The yukjeon was quite light, and the yukhoe was so savory that I kept reaching for more. I almost got full on side dishes before the galbi even arrived!

Handmade pork galbi and the best way to grill it

We ordered the handmade galbi! It came out with the bone still attached. The meat looked really fresh and was cut nice and thick. I later found out that Manpo Garden actually makes their galbi marinade with real fruit! The seasoned galbi had a light, subtly sweet marinade flavor that I really loved!

Dipping it in the special onion sauce made it even more delicious! Wrapping it in lettuce with various jangajji and garlic and chili made for a wonderfully layered flavor all at once. I highly recommend eating it wrapped in ssam!👍👍👍

How to order the free house-made naengmyeon on the tablet

For a meal dish, we had the handmade naengmyeon (spicy mixed and water-based), and the doenjang sulbap looked so tasty that we ordered that too! It really is true that galbi restaurants make the best naengmyeon. Sipping the cold broth of the water naengmyeon completely chased away the heat! The mixed naengmyeon had a nutty aroma that paired perfectly with the seasoning. I loved how well-balanced the seasoning was!

The doenjang sulbap's savory soybean paste flavor went so well with the rice that I couldn't put my spoon down!

*You must order the free naengmyeon through the tablet!

Dessert: puffed rice cracker ice cream and iced coffee

Right as we were about to leave, I noticed a fridge! Looking closer, there was a freezer with ice cubes ready for iced coffee! I hadn't noticed it on the way in, but looking to the left on the way out, there was puffed rice cracker ice cream and coffee all set up!

We were stuffed from eating so much, but there's always room for dessert... so we happily finished off the puffed rice cracker ice cream and coffee too! Right to the very end, I could feel the owner's philosophy of creating 'a space that leaves you with happy memories.'

On the way out, the sparkling Manpo Garden looked so pretty that I took a photo! From start to finish, Manpo Garden was a feast for both the eyes and the mouth! I'd love to bring my parents here next time they visit Gyeonggi-do!

What stood out at Manpo Garden

A waiting list that proves the food, plus wide parking

This is a proven favorite with a line forming even before weekend evening peak hours, and the biggest worry on a Gyeonggi drive — parking — was completely solved thanks to the large dedicated lot, making for a stress-free visit.

Comfortable, private dining with kids taken care of

The wide table spacing kept things comfortable, and private rooms make it perfect for family gatherings or company dinners. Even kids' utensils were thoughtfully provided at the self-serve bar, showing real care for families with children.

An upscale table setting with complimentary yukhoe and yukjeon

Along with the neat three types of jangajji and potato mousse as basic banchan, they even served a taste of yukhoe and yukjeon, making the meal feel generous and special right from before the main meat arrived.

100% handmade fruit-marinated galbi and free house-made naengmyeon

Since the marinade is made with real fruit, the handmade galbi wasn't overly sweet and had excellent light, juicy quality. On top of that, the free handmade naengmyeon (water or mixed), one per person, had a deep meaty flavor and chewy texture that felt too good to be free.

The dessert corner: ice cups and puffed rice cracker ice cream

From the freezer stocked with ice cups for iced coffee to the nostalgic puffed rice cracker ice cream, everything was ready so there was no need to head to a café afterward — a clean and enjoyable way to wrap up the meal.

With its 100% handmade galbi marinated generously in real fruit paired with freshly made-to-order free naengmyeon, plus a generous spread including yukhoe and yukjeon, kids' utensils, puffed rice cracker ice cream, and iced coffee for dessert, Manpo Garden's attentive service makes it a strong recommendation for family gatherings or company dinners.👍👍