Yangyang BBQ for marinated pork galbi and kimchi jjigae: Yeoyejeong

Yeoyejeong: the barbecue restaurant we found on a family trip to Yangyang

Yeoyejeong is a barbecue restaurant on Ssangsolbaegi-gil in Seomyeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon, where marinated pork galbi (short ribs) and salt-aged raw meat are grilled over charcoal. While on a family trip to Yangyang, we were looking for somewhere to eat with the kids and ended up at Yeoyejeong.

When I first saw it on the map, it was a standalone building without a proper restaurant row around it, so I wondered, "Will many people actually come here?" But once we arrived, I was a bit surprised to find enough customers that there was a wait.

Eating there, I could understand why so many families come. What mattered most to me when looking for a good barbecue restaurant in Yangyang was whether it was easy to eat with kids, and Yeoyejeong's marinated pork galbi, charcoal, and meal menu all worked well for a family dinner.

Marinated pork galbi the kids kept reaching for

Yeoyejeong's marinated pork galbi is made from ribs that are butterflied and marinated in-house, they say. Grilling it, the meat turned out quite tender.

What I especially liked was how easy it was for the kids to eat. As soon as the pork galbi hit the grill and was even close to ready, it kept going straight into the kids' mouths.

The marinade was sweet but not too strong, and with the charcoal aroma added, it was delicious even without rice, and the kids ate it as fast as it cooked. Seeing the kids eat well during a family meal really boosts how satisfying the whole meal feels.

What does Yeoyejeong's salt-aged fresh meat taste like?

Yeoyejeong prepares beef and pork as raw meat and ages it using a salt-aging method, they say. Salt-aging is said to bring out the meat's flavor and make the texture softer.

Eating it, the meat never felt tough, and the savory flavor grew the more I chewed. The marinated ribs were good, but if you want to enjoy the meat's natural flavor plainly, I'd recommend ordering the raw meat menu alongside it.

Why coffee-wood bijangtan charcoal made grilling with kids easier

One thing that stood out on this visit to Yeoyejeong was the charcoal. Yeoyejeong uses coffee-wood bijangtan charcoal, and what I liked was that the fire didn't weaken throughout the meal.

Even with continuous grilling, the fire's staying power was quite good, so there was almost no hassle of adding charcoal or reviving the fire midway. It's also said that, compared to regular charcoal, the flames don't flare up as much even when fat drips, and eating with the kids, this made a real difference.

Sometimes while grilling, the flames suddenly shoot up and startle the kids, so being able to worry less about that is a real advantage for a family meal out.

White kimchi and fresh vegetables on the side

Rather than storing meat for a long time, Yeoyejeong is said to prepare only enough for 3 days at a time. What stood out was that they pay attention not just to the meat but to the ingredients in the side dishes and meal menu too.

The lettuce leaves were noticeably large, and I learned the white kimchi is made in-house, with some vegetables grown directly in Yangyang. Whatever ingredients they lack are bought from local farms at Yangyang Market, which gave the meal a sense of tasting the region while traveling.

They also source vegetables from a smart farm run by the Yangyang Association for the Disabled, which felt good — a meal that's tasty while also supporting local farms and the local community in a small way.

Finishing with kimchi jjigae and a bowl of rice

Even after eating plenty of meat, we ordered Yeoyejeong's kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) to finish the meal. I was already quite full, but once the kimchi jjigae arrived, I found myself reaching for rice again.

After the sweet flavor of the meat, the spicy warm broth was a great way to finish the meal. In the end I cleaned a whole bowl of rice too. It made me think this place could hold its own as a kimchi jjigae restaurant, not just a barbecue restaurant in Yangyang.

Group room for 24 and pickup service at Yeoyejeong

Yeoyejeong has a separate room that can be used for group gatherings or family events, they say. With a space that can hold up to 24 people, it seemed like a good option to reserve for larger get-togethers or family gatherings.

The biggest strength of Yeoyejeong, to me, was how comfortable it is for families to eat together. The kids really ate up the marinated ribs, the charcoal stayed lit for a long time, and there was less worry about smoke and flare-ups. They also run a pickup service, so a group needing transport might want to inquire before visiting.

Was Yeoyejeong in Yangyang worth the visit?

At first I wondered whether people would really come to a place with no restaurant row nearby, but once we got there, there was enough of a wait to prove otherwise. It left the impression of a place many locals seek out.

The parking lot was spacious too, so there was no stress about driving there. More than anything, seeing the kids enjoy the marinated ribs so much made it a satisfying spot for a family meal out.

The marinade wasn't overpowering, the meat was tender, and the charcoal aroma was just right. Adding the kimchi jjigae on top made for a hearty finish to the meal.

If you're looking for a restaurant to eat at with kids during a trip to Yangyang, Yeoyejeong is worth checking out. For families searching for a good barbecue restaurant in Yangyang, it's a place worth remembering for trying marinated galbi with the kids.