Charcoal-grilled hanwoo restaurant in Anyang: Sipnyeon Hanwoo Silbijip

Weekday dinner, dad-and-son date. I was originally supposed to have dinner with my wife tonight, but a work dinner came up for her. Rather than eat alone awkwardly, I summoned my dad, whom I hadn't seen in a while.

My dad and I get along so well that before I got married we were together almost every day. But once I got married and moved out, our one-on-one time dropped way more than I expected. The one saving grace is that it's a quick drive away.

I heard there was a new meat restaurant in Induk-won, so I figured nothing to lose and went to check it out. It's called Sipnyeon Hanwoo Silbijip Induk-won Dongpyeon-maeul branch.

Normally our pick would've been either Eoulddeoul, the meat king of Gwacheon, or Jeju Donsadon, the best restaurant in Induk-won, but trying out a new place for once is kind of fun too. And honestly, at this price, there's no reason not to go. Two grown men ate hanwoo and walked out full for around ₩50,000 — would you believe that?

Sipnyeon Hanwoo Silbijip Induk-won Dongpyeon-maeul branch: hours, location and prices

It's located in Induk-won, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi (near Dongpyeon-maeul), open 11:00–23:00 with the same last order time. Prices: 10-Year Hanwoo 500g ₩49,500, 10-Year Special Hanwoo 600g ₩84,000, Owner Chef Collection 1.2kg ₩169,000.

• Parking: on-site parking, easy to park!
• Highlights: no table fee! Crazy prices! Free drink with Naver receipt review event

Before going in, I checked the price board and it's honestly a strange level of cheap... ₩50,000 for 500g should be plenty for two adults. Seems great for group work dinners and family gatherings too!

What the restaurant looks like, and why reservations are essential

A good meat restaurant needs to be spacious, and Sipnyeon Hanwoo Silbijip Dongpyeon-maeul branch had real size to it. Seemed great for group dinners too — in fact, when I called to reserve, they said everything from 6pm was already fully booked. Luckily we came a bit early, so we got to eat comfortably without too many people around.

There was confidence in the signage right from the entrance.

What does 'silbijip' mean? It means selling at the actual cost incurred, i.e. cheap.

Putting up a phrase like that in huge letters means they've got something to back it up.

The chalkboard visible in the distance was packed with a reservation list — really full. Booking ahead seems like a good idea.

Banchan and the self-serve bar: scoop your own scallion salad

The banchan (side dishes) were typical of silbijip and butcher-shop-style restaurants, but there was an unexpected pa-kimchi (scallion kimchi). Not sure if it's house-made, but it tasted good regardless. There were scallion strips at the self-serve bar, but they don't bring them to your table — make sure to scoop some yourself!

10-Year Hanwoo 500g for 49,500 won: marbling and cuts

Finally, the good-looking meat arrives! My dad and I went straight for the signature menu without hesitation — the 10-Year Hanwoo 500g, which they said is a random cut from that day's butchery work.

Honestly I wasn't expecting much. ₩50,000 for 500g is so cheap you can't really expect quality, but once I saw the visual, I thought, this might actually be good value! The marbling was gorgeous. There were even cuts rolled up like chadolbagi (thinly sliced beef brisket) mixed in. The sizzling sound on the charcoal grill alone felt unfair.

• My pick: tenderloin
• Dad's pick: sirloin

Comparing to Eoulddeoul — their beef prices are also very reasonable, but they charge a table fee per person. That adds up more than you'd think, and here there's none. If you want a comfortable restaurant vibe over the outdoor-seating feel, this place seems better.

This seems to be a machine that makes Sindongjin rice in a cauldron, but we didn't order it so I don't know how it comes out. Planning to try it next time.

Finishing with beef doenjang jjigae and rice

The banchan bar and the finishing doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). The self-serve bar was fully stocked with lettuce, pickled onions, pickled radish, bean sprouts, cheongyang chili, and kimchi — great for wrapping a variety of bites. They don't hand out scallion strips separately, so be sure to scoop some here!

Fried rice is usually the national dessert after Korean BBQ, but we finished with beef doenjang jjigae and rice instead. The hot broth settled our stomachs nicely after all that meat. A very satisfying meal.

Is Sipnyeon Hanwoo Silbijip worth it? Final verdict

It had been a while since I had dinner alone with my dad, and it was even better being able to eat comfortably without worrying about the bill. Next time I should bring my mom and wife too, making it four of us. If you're looking for affordable hanwoo near Induk-won, give this place a try!