Paju Unjeong Chinese pub with spicy clam stir-fry: Sannaemaeul

Craving lamb skewers in Unjeong, so I went to Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao (산내마을양꼬치앤칭따오)!

This isn't a place that only does lamb skewers — they have a pretty wide range of Chinese dishes too, so it was great for ordering a bunch of things and having a drink. We properly went for it with lamb skewers, a stir-fry dish, spicy clam stir-fry, and even corn noodle soup haha.

The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of World Tower 3 in Sannae Village, Unjeong, Paju. Current posted hours are Tuesday–Sunday 15:30 to 1:00 the next day, closed Mondays. Parking is available in the building, and it was convenient to order through the tablet at the table.

What comes before the skewers: banchan at Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao

The basic banchan (side dishes) included radish salad, pickled radish, and peanuts, and the table came with various seasonings for dipping the lamb skewers. If you like cumin, you can mix and match to your taste haha. Extra side dishes are available from the self-serve bar.

The stir-fried bean sprouts in the photo were a free service item! Crunchy bean sprouts with chili made for a slightly spicy, savory flavor that was great to pick at between skewers. It also cut through the richness of the lamb, so my hand kept reaching for it.

Charcoal lamb skewers on an auto-rotating grill

The lamb skewers at Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao come with generously cut meat threaded on the skewer, with a good balance of lean meat and fat. Once the charcoal is loaded, the skewers automatically rotate and grill themselves! No need to flip each one by hand — they cook evenly, which is nice.

The skewers turn a nice golden brown and are great as is, but dipping them heavily in cumin is still the way to go haha. The lamb's distinct smell wasn't too strong, so it was easy to eat without hesitation, and with the charcoal aroma added, it paired really well with soju.

Spicy clam stir-fry, the best dish to drink with

Personally, I'd recommend ordering a dish like this instead of just eating lamb skewers the whole time! The spicy clam stir-fry comes loaded with clams stir-fried together with onion, chili, and other vegetables. The spicy, rich sauce soaks into the clams, so once you start picking them apart, you can't stop. The restaurant itself lists this as a spicy clam stir-fry dish meant to go with drinks.

We also had Chum-Churum soju that day haha, and the combo of a bite of lamb skewer → soju → a bite of spicy clam stir-fry was really good.

How big is the mini yangjangpi?

The mini yangjangpi (starch noodle salad with meat and vegetables) we also ordered was loaded with seafood and various vegetables, making for a pretty generous portion. With onion, carrot, bell pepper, cucumber, and more mixed in, the textures were varied, and the glossy, rich sauce coated everything well.

Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao has a wide range of Chinese dishes beyond guobaorou, including gyeongjangyukseul, yuxiang pork, jisamseon, and mala xiang guo, so it seemed like a great spot for a group to order a few dishes and share.

Ending with spicy corn noodle soup

And you can't skip the corn noodle soup at a lamb skewer place! It came in a large brass bowl with plenty of broth and a solid amount of noodles. The noodles are a bit different from regular thin noodles — soft but with a distinctive chewiness, and the broth, made with kimchi and vegetables, was spicy and refreshing.

Even after eating so much lamb skewer and stir-fried dishes beforehand, the hot broth still went down easily haha. It was especially fitting as a closing dish for a night of drinking.

Is Sannaemaeul worth it for lamb skewers and drinks in Unjeong?

Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao isn't just a specialist lamb skewer spot — it's a place where you can enjoy lamb skewers plus a variety of Chinese dishes together, which made it great for a group visit. Grill lamb skewers over charcoal, add on spicy clam stir-fry or another dish, and finish with corn noodle soup — that's the full course haha.

Even the stir-fried bean sprouts we got as a free service item went well with the lamb skewers, so we left satisfied. If you're looking for dinner or a place for drinks in Sannae Village, Unjeong, and you like lamb skewers, it's worth a visit :)