Ansan Korean restaurant for fully cooked pork ribs: Suamgol

An outdoor pork rib spot within walking distance of Hanyang University at Ansan Station

After a workout, I went to Suamgol Jjokgalbi Maeul Ansan Hanyang University Station Branch to tear into some pork ribs for protein, haha. It is a five-minute walk from Exit 2 of Hanyang University at Ansan Station, so it was easy to find.

The interior was spacious. With more than 10 tables, it is a great place for company dinners or group gatherings too. There is also outdoor seating, which is just perfect in this weather. I sat out on the deck, where the gentle cool breeze took care of the atmosphere too, haha.

Pork rib flavors and side dishes

The signature dish is, of course, pork ribs! They offer salt ribs, garlic ribs, spicy ribs, barbecue ribs, and even extra-spicy Crazy ribs. There are pork-skin dishes too, along with a varied side menu including kimchi noodle soup, nostalgic lunch boxes, tuna-mayo rice balls, and doenjang sulbap (soybean-paste rice soup).

You order at the kiosk. We got salt ribs for ₩17,000; garlic ribs and spicy ribs for ₩18,000 each; extra cheese for ₩5,000; tuna-mayo rice balls for ₩6,000; and Cass beer for ₩5,000.

Banchan and soft tofu stew

The banchan (Korean side dishes) to have with the ribs arrived neatly prepared. There were wet wipes on the table too, which were handy for cleaning my hands as we ate.

If you need more side dishes while eating, use the self-service bar. It also has white kimchi and shredded garlic scapes that do not come with the basic spread, so make sure to grab some.

For those of us who need soup with a meal, this complimentary dish was impossible to pass up. They serve soft tofu stew with a pleasantly spicy broth and big pieces of tofu. The menu said an extra order costs ₩4,000, but a stew of this quality? I was impressed!

Before the meat arrived, we tried the tuna-mayo rice balls first! I usually think of dishes like this as safely average, but these were packed generously with tuna and mayonnaise. They were moist and nutty, without even a hint of dryness.

Fully cooked pork ribs, ready to warm and eat

The spicy, garlic, and salt ribs arrived! We ordered three portions because I worried two would leave us just sucking on bones, but the meat was so plump that I thought we might burst. The great thing about Suamgol Jjokgalbi Maeul in Ansan is that these are not par-cooked ribs. They arrive fully cooked, so there is no waiting for them to cook and no need for someone to stand there grilling with tongs, haha.

You simply put them on the grill to warm through and eat. The extra cheese also comes in a ttukbaegi (earthenware bowl), and its slightly sweet flavor goes brilliantly with not only the spicy ribs but all the other flavors too!

My boyfriend usually does not like pork ribs because he says there is nothing to eat on them, but these ribs at Suamgol Jjokgalbi Maeul had so much meat that he said we absolutely had to come back, haha. Very satisfied; 100% willing to revisit.

The garlic ribs had a gentle garlic fragrance, so they did not leave an overpowering garlic smell in your mouth—just right. The salt ribs were clean-tasting and amazing dipped in salt! The spicy ribs were sweet and spicy without being harsh, with exactly the right red heat, haha. Whichever flavor you choose will satisfy, so I think you can simply go with your usual favorite style!

Combinations that made the ribs even better

I dipped them in cheese, rolled them up in green-onion kimchi, dipped them in ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), and put them on the rice balls too. So many combinations that you could never get tired of!! Then a spoonful of soft tofu stew now and then resets your palate, and you can keep going. Add a glass of somaek (soju-and-beer mix), and what more is there to say? Haha.

With the receipt-review event, you can receive honeycomb pork skin or steamed egg. The pork skin arrives almost cooked, so you only need to grill it briefly. But do not cut it before grilling, because it can pop and jump around—warm it slightly first, then cut it!

The nicely browned pork skin was savory and pleasantly chewy without any off smell, making it perfect with drinks.

Thoughtful amenities and ice cream after the meal

When I looked toward the counter to pay after our meal, I noticed they had thoughtfully set out hygiene and convenience items such as hair ties, floss, and cotton swabs. Such great attention to detail—it lets you focus completely on your meal while eating and afterward!

When you think of dessert ice cream at a barbecue restaurant, you usually picture the three-flavor kind, right? But this place has actual store-bought ice cream. They offer products such as Screw Bar, Candy Bar, Yo-Mom-Ttae, and Wild Body for free, so you can pick whichever one you want to finish your meal. We got Yo-Mom-Ttae and Wild Body~

I strongly recommend Suamgol Jjokgalbi Maeul to anyone looking for a proper meat restaurant near Hanyang University at Ansan Station, or for a company dinner or group-meeting venue in Ansan! I fell for the thoughtful touches, from the meaty ribs and satisfying sides to the dessert ice cream, and I am already planning to return soon to enjoy the outdoor seating before it gets cold, haha.