Magok lamb skewer date night with two chive salad refills: Hwarodam

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi is the Magok lamb skewer restaurant that made me think, 'this might be the best lamb skewers of my life.'

I'd heard this was a newly opened lamb skewer spot in Magok, so my husband and I went together, and it exceeded expectations. The upscale atmosphere made it great for a date, but it also felt refined enough for formal gatherings or group meetups — this is my review of the premium lamb skewer specialist Hwarodam Yang Kkochi.

Where is Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok, and is there parking?

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi is just a 3-minute walk from Balsan Station, so it's easy to reach on foot, and if you park at the Queens Park 10 building lot you get up to 4 hours free. Not having to worry about parking was already a plus for this Magok lamb skewer restaurant.

Coming up to the 2nd floor and arriving at the storefront, it already looked pretty upscale from outside, and I thought, good pick for a date spot. We arrived around 7:30pm on a weekday Monday and it was nearly full, so I'd really recommend reserving ahead.

Inside Hwarodam: partitioned tables, private rooms and a big charcoal grill

The place was much bigger inside than it looked from outside. Low, soft lighting gave it an upscale feel, and every seat was either partitioned or in a private room, so we could eat comfortably and privately. The sofa seats were comfortable even for a long sit, and the tables were spaced generously, making conversation easy. Overall it had a premium restaurant vibe that would suit formal occasions too, like a wedding invitation gathering or a business dinner.

What especially caught my eye was the huge charcoal grill. The owner was pre-grilling the lamb skewers by hand, which made me even more excited about the taste.

Hwarodam menu and drinks: Chinese liquor and corkage-free

The menu at Hwarodam Yang Kkochi includes skewers like lamb sirloin skewers, grilled items like lamb chops (French rack/shoulder rack) and fresh raw lamb sirloin, plus a variety of cooked dishes.

For drinks, there was a wide selection of gaoliang and other Chinese liquors that pair well with lamb skewers, and since it's corkage-free, you can also bring your own drinks. There's also a 3+1 draft beer event running, great for a proper evening date.

Lamb sirloin skewers for two: the best lamb skewers we have eaten

The lamb skewers come pre-grilled, so at the table you just need to finish cooking them a little more. Once we ordered, the charcoal was set up and the basic side dishes arrived: chive special sauce, soy sauce with chili, cumin, gungchae (a pickled vegetable side), and chive salad. Compared to other lamb skewer places, the wider variety of basic sides let us enjoy the meat in different combinations, which I really liked.

The first thing we ordered was the signature lamb sirloin skewers, two servings (250g x 2 / ₩23,000 x 2). The lamb sirloin, both juicy and firm-textured, dripped juices onto the charcoal as it grilled — it looked so good my mouth was watering!

I generally like lamb skewers, but here there was no gamey smell at all, no toughness or dryness — just a firm bite with a savory lamb flavor that spread more the more you chewed. Both my husband and I agreed this was the best lamb skewers we've ever had.

Chive special sauce and pickled scallions: refilled twice

The sauces served alongside were especially impressive. Most lamb skewer places only give you cumin, but here even the cumin came paired with additional cumin seeds, giving it a deeper, more exotic aroma. The chive special sauce was a new pairing I'd never seen at another place, so it stood out even more. Eating the chive salad in between kept our palates fresh so we never got tired of it, and we ended up refilling it twice.

Mango cream shrimp, 19,000 won

I love cream shrimp, so we also ordered the mango cream shrimp (₩19,000), and I'd highly recommend it. The shrimp were big and fresh from the start, and the fried batter was delicious both crispy and after it softened — genuinely applause-worthy. The sweet mango and cream sauce combination worked so well together that we scraped up every last bit of sauce. Definitely order this alongside the main meat dishes.

Ending the meal with mapo fried rice, 9,000 won

The mapo fried rice (₩9,000) we ordered to finish the meal was fried dry and fluffy without excess moisture, and unlike the spicier, more punchy Korean-style versions, it was less greasy and cleaner-tasting, with a subtle smoky char that showed real Chinese cooking skill and technique. Between the lamb skewers, the accompanying sauces, and the other dishes, I concluded this is one of the best lamb skewer restaurants in Magok.

Verdict: a Magok lamb skewer restaurant for dates and work dinners alike

What impressed me most about Hwarodam Yang Kkochi was the taste of the gamey-smell-free premium lamb and the variety of special sauces you don't easily find elsewhere. Combined with the upscale, comfortable atmosphere, this became a lamb skewer restaurant we'd like to make our regular date course. It's corkage-free and has private group rooms for up to 22 people, so I'd also recommend it for work dinners or group gatherings!