Raw pork ribs 200g on a cast-iron pan at a Busan BBQ: Gim Geumja

Back for another round at Gim Geumja Sutbul Galbi, my go-to pork rib spot for gatherings in Daeyeon-dong.

Today I went to Gim Geumja Sutbul Galbi Daeyeon Branch, a true charcoal rib gem in Daeyeon-dong. I was so satisfied — let me tell you all about it.

The vibe at Gim Geumja Sutbul Galbi

It's an indoor spot with old-school, old-timer rib joint vibes, and there's one private room too, which looked great for group bookings 👍 The ventilation system was also solid.

There's a self-serve bar off to one side, so you can refill any banchan (side dish) you need, anytime!

Menu and what we ordered

Here's the menu. We ordered 1 serving of raw ribs, 2 servings of marinated ribs, and for our meal, mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew)!

What's the self-serve banchan bar like?

First, the banchan (side dishes) came out, a whole table full. Let me show you each one!

Old-school jjondeugi (chewy candy) and salad. Grilling this jjondeugi over charcoal is honestly delicious, and it brought back memories — loved it.

A refreshing dongchimi (watery radish kimchi) broth — I had a sip as an appetizer and it was so good for summer.

Onions, chopped scallions, kimchi, and lettuce wraps to go with the meat. All the banchan were refillable at the self-serve bar, so we could eat as much as we wanted.

Raw ribs, 200g, salt-grilled on a cast-iron pan

The raw ribs came out first. One serving, 200 grams. The meat color looked great and fresh. These are raw ribs, not frozen ones 👍

This is the grill plate for raw ribs — a cast-iron pan that looked like it conducts heat really well. The coating was also nicely done!

Salt and salted seafood condiments came out to go with the raw ribs.

The ribs went onto the heated pan. The color of the ribs looked so good, I was already excited.

They cooked up golden brown and delicious-looking. The pan and the heat were both great, so a nice Maillard crust formed too!

My first bite was just dipped in salt, and wow — it was seriously amazing. Really savory, with great meaty flavor.

Dipping it deep into this salted seafood was also delicious haha

It also paired well with the scallion salad, radish pickle, and other side dishes!

The garlic grilled in sesame oil smelled amazing too.

And the shishito peppers and potatoes served as garnish — grilled together in the rib fat, they were so delicious!

Marinated ribs for 2, switched to a grate

Next up, the marinated ribs. The seasoning had soaked really well into the meat 👍

For the marinated ribs, they swapped the grill plate for this thin metal grate. The charcoal aroma soaked right into the ribs, and I knew it was going to grill up delicious.

Sure enough, it cooked up golden brown and gorgeous, with the rib marinade giving off a subtle aroma — delicious from the smell alone!!

Can you see the glossy sheen? Cooked so beautifully over the charcoal.

I dipped my first bite in the sauce, and the perfectly balanced sweet-and-salty marinade with the savory meat matched so well — an absolute champion!!! The ribs also felt like great value for the price.

Mul naengmyeon paired with the ribs

Eating the ribs made me instantly crave naengmyeon (cold noodles), so I ordered it right away haha

The noodles were delicious, and topping them with the ribs like this made an incredible pairing 🥰

Pairing the ribs especially with these side dishes balanced out the marinade flavor and the richness even better!

You know the meat right on the bone is the real gem, right? Gotta pick that clean too haha

Finishing the meal with doenjang jjigae and rice

We also ordered rice, and eating it alongside everything made for the best finish!

The doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) was a generous portion, plenty for two. It was deep and rich in flavor too.

Packed with meat and vegetables, it was so delicious. It felt like the textbook version of a BBQ restaurant's doenjang stew ☺️ If you're looking for a great rib restaurant in Daeyeon-dong, I highly recommend Gim Geumja Sutbul Galbi Daeyeon Branch. Taste, value, and atmosphere — all fully satisfying here.