Seoul Korean BBQ date after cherry blossoms in Yeouido: Yuk Lab

Spring has already crept up on us! Have you all seen the cherry blossoms out on the streets? After a quick flower-viewing taste test on the way home from work, I headed to Yuk Lab Yeouido (육랩 여의도점), a Korean BBQ spot near Yeouido Station, for a beef dinner, haha. I was so excited even before going, since it had been a while since I'd grilled meat somewhere with a nice atmosphere >< I found it while looking for a Korean BBQ place near Yeouido Station where I could grill meat and have a quiet drink after work, haha.

Where is Yuk Lab Yeouido and what are its hours?

Yuk Lab Yeouido is on the 2nd floor of the Yeouido Jonghap Sangga building, right in front of Exit 5 of Yeouido Station. Hours are weekdays (Mon–Fri) 16:00–23:00 and weekends 15:00–23:00!

The location is amazing! We get around on foot and public transport, so we like places close to a subway station, and this one is right in front of you as soon as you step out of the station. Great access. You can also eat at a relaxed pace late into the evening, which I loved, haha. Parking seemed to be free if you use the Jonghap Sangga building!

What are the private rooms at Yuk Lab Yeouido like?

Every seat at Yuk Lab Yeouido is a private room, so you can eat quietly even in Yeouido, which is full of office workers. The interior is black-toned with soft lighting, and each room has its own air conditioner.

Yeouido has so many office workers that a lot of restaurants are pretty noisy, right? But the moment I walked into Yuk Lab Yeouido, I felt a totally different mood! It's calm and classy overall, with a real fine-dining vibe. Korean BBQ places near Yeouido Station where everything is made up of individual rooms like this are really rare.

If you lift the seat cushion, there's plenty of space to stash your belongings or coat, so there's no worry at all about smelling like meat, haha. On top of that, each room has its own air conditioner, so even right in front of the charcoal grill we could eat comfortably and coolly!

What does the 2-person Yuk Lab set cost and include?

The 2-person Yuk Lab set at Yuk Lab Yeouido was ₩67,000. We also added two bowls of rice (₩1,500 each) and two cold drinks, haha.

I was shocked at how cheap it was for the quality of the beef!

The set comes with a mix of jingalbisal (galbi-style rib meat), lamb ribs and marinated galbi, plus grilling cheese and a bubbling stew, so the value was honestly the best! By the way, the lamb ribs can be swapped for tosisal (chuck flap) depending on your taste, so keep that in mind, haha. It's a great Korean BBQ place near Yeouido Station for when you want a budget-friendly beef feast!

How do the jingalbisal, cheese and marinated galbi actually taste?

Because I'd reserved, six side dishes were already set out, and the charcoal was strong, so the meat cooked fast. The jingalbisal melted in my mouth, and the marinated galbi wasn't sweet, so I never got tired of it.

Since I'd reserved ahead, six side dishes were neatly set on the table! Salad, kimchi and other sides that go perfectly with meat, so my chopsticks never got a break, haha.

Then the piping hot charcoal came in, and the fire was so good that the meat cooked really fast! Just look at the marbling color ㅜ The visuals are unreal!

Following the owner's instructions, I grilled the jingalbisal first and dipped it in salt, and the moment it hit my mouth it just melted away, melt-in-your-mouth in the truest sense ㅠㅠ When you grill the 10-second cheese that comes with it and wrap it up with the meat, it's so chewy and nutty it'll bring tears to your eyes! The marinated galbi at the end wasn't sweet in an overpowering way, just subtle, so I never got sick of it and cleaned the plate, haha.

It was nice grilling a little at a time and sharing it out!!

Tips before visiting Yuk Lab Yeouido

Yuk Lab Yeouido is popular and may be full, so I absolutely recommend booking through Naver Reservation in advance. I hear you can also get a discount or a service perk by joining their Naver review event, so definitely pick up that kind of tip and eat smart, haha.

One thing that struck me while grilling: the smoke gets quietly sucked in through the gaps around the grill, so I could focus fully on our conversation without worrying about smoke. Loved it!

Is Yuk Lab Yeouido a good pick for a Yeouido date?

If you want quiet and good meat quality too, definitely go to Yuk Lab Yeouido, the Korean BBQ place near Yeouido Station! You can enjoy tasty beef at great value in a private space and walk out patting your full belly, so I'm planning to come back with my boyfriend soon, haha. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a date or gathering spot near Yeouido!