Balsan Station Korean BBQ after class: screen-ordered sides, Ihwajeong

A Balsan Station BBQ spot for when class lets out and you're starving

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a galbi (marinated rib) restaurant I headed to as a Balsan Station meat spot. After my class near Yangcheon Hyanggyo, I was so hungry. And when you're hungry, meat is the answer! I decided on a hearty meal today and went to Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch. The walk there, clutching my stomach, felt so long, haha

What are the entrance and atmosphere of Ihwajeong like?

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch has a hanok-style (traditional Korean house) entrance with a tiled roof, a huge wooden gate and a signboard reading Ihwajeong (梨花亭). I was startled the moment I stood in front of it. The entrance alone is so grand that I thought, "Good call coming today!" You might picture a BBQ place as noisy and rowdy, but Ihwajeong felt calm and dignified even before I stepped in.

Is parking available?

Right next to Ihwajeong is a 4-story parking building bearing the Ihwajeong name. The restaurant's introduction says up to 77 cars can park comfortably and for free, so drivers needn't worry. Finding a parking spot in Magok can be hard, so this was a really welcome point.

Inside the restaurant and the private rooms

Inside, Ihwajeong is a wide hall with big windows and generously spaced tables. The path in from the entrance was wide and airy too. The big windows make it bright and there's room between tables, so "large Magok BBQ restaurant" fits perfectly. The ceiling is high, so it doesn't feel stuffy. I thought it would be a good place for a family gathering in Magok with your parents. I hear there are private rooms too, which should help anyone looking for a quiet room-style restaurant in Magok.

They say the meat is cross-aged for 144 hours and even patented ^^ Wow, 144 hours! It made me even more curious about the taste. A place that puts this much care in seems trustworthy.

Ihwajeong menu and prices

The marinated pork grill at Ihwajeong is ₩23,000 for 300g, and there are also hanwoo dishes, sets and meal items. The variety made choosing fun.

• À la carte: hanwoo skirt steak ₩66,000 (150g), hanwoo fresh galbi ₩55,000 (200g), marinated beef king galbi ₩45,000 (310g), marinated beef galbi meat ₩35,000 (150g), marinated pork grill ₩23,000 (300g)
• Sets: Myeongga Set ₩165,000, Ihwajeong Set ₩135,000
• Meals: premium restorative galbi-tang ₩19,000, mul naengmyeon or bibim naengmyeon ₩8,000, doenjang stew ₩8,000, rice ₩1,000

Marinated pork neck galbi for two: is it enough for two people?

At Ihwajeong I ordered 2 servings of marinated pork neck galbi, 1 bowl of rice and doenjang stew. I was drawn in by the reputation as a Balsan Station pork galbi favorite. Before long, the table was packed with side dishes like salad, scallion salad, white kimchi, jangajji (pickled vegetables) and geotjeori (fresh kimchi). My eyes were happy before the meat even arrived. Every side was so neat and tidy that my chopsticks kept going back.

The 2 servings of marinated pork neck galbi were really generous. Even after eating it between the two of us, we were so full that we split a single bowl of rice in half. The side dish seasoning is sweet and sour but not harsh, and the galbi tastes refined, so I never got tired of it no matter how much I ate. They also swapped the grill plate once more, so we ate cleanly to the very end. I felt relaxed and happy the whole time I was grilling. That made me want to sit there even longer.

Order side dish refills on the screen

At Ihwajeong you can order extra side dishes on a screen. They were so good that I ordered more too. A staff member kindly explained how to eat everything, step by step, so I could enjoy it comfortably. The whole place is clean and spacious, so it feels relaxed and cozy.. even first-time visitors should feel at ease. If you're uncomfortable, the food and the atmosphere don't matter at all, right?

At the next table they were eating galbi-tang (short rib soup), and maybe because the weather was getting cool, I kept thinking about the broth. It looked so good.. Next time I come to Ihwajeong, I definitely want to try the galbi-tang. Hot broth together with meat would warm me right through.

Pear sorbet for dessert and a review-event omija ade

The finish at Ihwajeong is a sorbet made with organic pears. It was sweet and cold and cleaned up my mouth nicely. Even when I was stuffed, this went down easily.

There was a Naver review event, so I told the staff and wrote a review. Five stars, just as I felt, hehe. Then they brought out a chilled Mungyeong omija ade (schisandra berry drink). Rosemary and omija berries sat on top of the ice, which was a treat for the eyes too. It was sweet, sour and fizzy, so my mouth felt refreshed after the meat.

Who should go to Ihwajeong?

Ihwajeong seems great with friends, with parents, or when treating guests. The meat, the atmosphere, the large rooms and the service were all satisfying, so it's a place I want to come back to.

Ta-da, and get this: parties of 4 or more adults get a hanwoo yukhoe coupon. There were only two of us, haha, so maybe next time... What a shame! Kongsuni (the writer's nickname) is definitely going back, haha. Today too, Kongsuni had a happy meal 🍖

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch: 42 Gangseo-ro 54-gil, 1st floor, Unit 1, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (near Balsan Station, Naver reservations available)