Magok Korean BBQ for team dinners: 600g set for two at Nokji Magok

If you asked me to pick just one beef and lamb place around Magok and Balsan, it's still Nokji for me. I've been more than five times now — it's my favorite Korean BBQ spot — and this time I went with a coworker on a Friday 5pm reservation.

Why I keep going back to Nokji Magok Main Branch

There are exactly three reasons I keep coming back to Nokji: the meat quality is good, you can have beef and lamb in one sitting, and corkage for wine or whiskey is allowed. If you're the kind of person who cares about the meat itself, and you want both beef and lamb in one meal, this place among Magok restaurants will really suit you.

For two people, I especially recommend the beef-and-lamb set for two. With 400g of dry-aged short rib, 100g of shoulder rack, and 100g of French rack — 600g total — it's not enough to make you burst, but it's always been plenty for two.

Location near Balsan Station, hours, reservations and seating

Nokji is at 247 Gonghang-daero, Queens Park Nine Building B, Unit 131, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. It's open weekdays 16:00-22:00 and weekends 11:00-22:00, and you can book through Naver Reservation or Catch Table. Parking is in the building's lot, and it's been relaxed enough that I've never stressed about parking there.

I really recommend booking ahead here. The place is smaller than you'd expect — the bar table seats around 8, and there are only about 3-4 tables for 4, so seating is limited.

This time too, we went at 5pm on a Friday and our meal was limited to 2 hours because there was a reservation after us. Assume a 2-hour limit if there's a waitlist or a later booking. Definitely reserve ahead if there are 3 or more of you! Up to 5 people can share one table.

Nokji's set menus and prices

There are sets that are beef-only, lamb-only, and a combined beef-and-lamb set.

• Beef & lamb set for 2 — ₩101,000 — dry-aged short rib 400g, shoulder rack 100g, French rack 100g
• Beef & lamb set for 3 — ₩171,000
• Beef set for 2-3 — ₩147,000
• Lamb set for 2-3 — ₩131,000

Besides the sets, you can also order à la carte — dry-aged short rib, sirloin cap, flap steak, shoulder rack, French rack, and fresh lamb loin among others.

For two people, I really, really recommend the beef-and-lamb set for two. Instead of eating beef the whole time, moving from beef to lamb changes up the flavor so much that you don't get tired of it. If you can't decide on just one type of meat when picking a Magok restaurant, I think this is one of Nokji's biggest strengths.

Dry-aged short rib: the staff grill every piece for you

Of the three cuts, the dry-aged short rib is still my number one. The meat itself is really tender, and the staff grills everything to just the right doneness for you, so honestly you just get to sit back and eat haha. They even rest it partway through grilling, which I think is why the outside cooks perfectly while the inside stays moist — even cut into thick pieces, it never felt chewy.

It's delicious with just a light dip in salt, and I also love the soy sauce and cheongyang chili pepper sauce combo. As for the meat quality — well, this is the number one reason I've been back more than five times, so I don't think it needs much explaining haha.

Shoulder rack, French rack and grilled vegetables

After the short rib, they grill the shoulder rack and French rack next.

Potato purée and basil sauce come out to eat with the lamb, and they really do change the flavor — good for switching things up as you go.

And something I quietly love here is the vegetables. They grill fragrant greens like minari (water dropwort) alongside the meat, which really helps if you're starting to feel a little tired of eating just meat.

They give you an egg-soy sauce for dipping the grilled vegetables, and it's genuinely delicious. Of course, no one's going to stop you from dipping meat in it too haha — eat it however you like.

Corkage rules: one bottle free, 20,000 won per extra bottle

Nokji actually has a pretty wide drinks menu too — everything from traditional distilled liquor to wine, whiskey, highballs, and beer, so you have plenty of options even if you just order from them. But I'd strongly recommend the corkage here. One bottle is free regardless of type or volume, an extra bottle is ₩20,000, and they set you up with wine glasses and a chilling bucket at no extra charge.

This time I brought a 1895 Sauvignon Blanc from a neighborhood convenience store — I'd actually meant to buy a Cabernet Sauvignon and grabbed the wrong one haha. Still, it paired better with the meat than I expected. I've also brought whiskey before, and that combo with the meat was great too. If you're going with people who like to drink, I'd recommend bringing something along!

Is 600g enough for two people?

The beef-and-lamb set for two comes to 600g total, and for two people it's always been enough for me. Not so much that you'll burst, but satisfying enough that you don't need to add another dish. That said, if you don't have a reservation after you and have time to spare, ordering a yukhoe (beef tartare) or mentaiko rice bowl on the side isn't a bad idea. This time we had a reservation after us, so we kept it simple and just had the set for two.

Why Nokji is my top pick for a team dinner in Magok

Among Magok restaurants and Balsan Station spots, if you want beef and lamb together, Nokji is still the first place that comes to mind for me. The meat quality is good, the progression from beef to lamb keeps it from getting boring, and corkage makes it great to bring along if you're going with someone who likes to drink. It works for dates or a company dinner, and so far I've mostly gone for team dinners.

It's not a no-kids zone and I heard they have a high chair, so I'm thinking of bringing my kid next time. That said, seating isn't plentiful, so especially with 3 or more people, I really recommend booking ahead. Even after going more than five times, I still want to go back. Among Korean BBQ places near Magok and Balsan, this is still my top pick haha.