Family dinner near Mapo Station: 450g beef ribs at Mapo Mokjang

It's gotten a bit cooler lately, and the heat seems to be easing up, which makes going out a little less of a hassle. But this is exactly the season when your immune system tends to take a hit, so it's important to eat well. To boost my immune system with my family, I visited Mapo Mokjang, a beef restaurant near Mapo Station known for its great food. There's really nothing lacking about this place, so let me introduce it now.

Mapo Mokjang's hours and Chuseok holiday closure

• Mon–Sat: 5pm–10pm
• Closed on Sundays

September has the Chuseok holiday — the restaurant is open as usual on the 24th, but closed on the 25th and 26th.

Finding it from Exits 3 and 4 of Mapo Station

Get off at Exit 3 or 4 of Mapo Station and walk just a little, and you can spot the sign from far away. The cute cow character was a welcome sight.

There are three signs on the building, so I had no trouble finding the restaurant.

The standing banner shows an illustration of this place's signature dish, hwangje-galbisal (premium beef rib).

Inside at 6pm

I visited around 6pm and the place was nearly full. Luckily there was one table left and I just managed to sit down. Some people were there for a company dinner, others, like me, were there with family, and there were groups of friends too. I think it's because the location is great, and meat is always a good idea.

Menu and prices at Mapo Mokjang

Hwangje-galbisal is ₩63,000 for 600g, ₩50,000 for 450g, and ₩28,000 for 250g, and you can choose raw or marinated.

There's also a set that adds 200g of beef tartare.

For sides, there's naengmyeon (cold noodles, water or spicy mixed) at ₩6,000, the nostalgic lunchbox at ₩5,000, steamed egg at ₩5,000, doenjang stew at ₩3,000, and rice at ₩1,000.

Grilling the raw hwangje-galbisal 450g

I ordered the raw hwangje-galbisal 450g, the nostalgic lunchbox, and two bowls of rice.

The beef at Mapo Mokjang, this tasty Mapo Station restaurant, had incredible sheen from the start! The red color alone told me the quality was great.

This is how the table is set — salad, lettuce, ssamjang (dipping sauce), salt, garlic, onion sauce, shredded green onion, and more, plenty of everything.

They bring out the charcoal like this, and the heat was so strong the meat cooked really well! Even though the fire was hot, the AC inside was blasting so it didn't feel stuffy at all.

Since it cooks fast, it's best to add the meat little by little. I'd recommend not putting it all on at once, since it can burn — spread it out instead.

This shredded green onion was genuinely delicious. The combination was so good I kept reaching for it.

Starting with the salad first made my stomach feel comfortable.

How do you eat the nostalgic lunchbox?

The nostalgic lunchbox arrived — inside you'll find ham, egg, kimchi, and gochujang (red chili paste).

Close the lid and shake it up, and it all mixes together. If it needs a bit more mixing, just stir it with a spoon.

Before long, the meat cooks to just the right point. I tried to flip it as little as possible so the juices wouldn't escape.

The kimchi stew that comes alongside

This kimchi stew comes with the meal, and it was great to see it packed with actual ingredients.

Adding a bit of rice to it makes it taste amazing. The meat pieces in it were big too, which made the flavor even richer.

Once we finished the rice, they gave us red bean shaved ice on the house. Finishing off a filling meal with something cold and refreshing was just perfect!

Who should go here

Mapo Mokjang, this tasty beef restaurant near Mapo Station, is a place you can bring family, friends, or coworkers and feel comfortable. The food is delicious, of course, but the owner and staff were so kind that it really stuck with me. Having the nostalgic lunchbox again after a long time was memorable, and it made me happy that my kid loved the red bean shaved ice. If you work in Yeouido or have errands near Mapo Station, this place is definitely worth considering!