Korean restaurant in Yongin: spicy beef and minari kalguksu

At Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch (장원갑칼국수 용인기흥점), I had spicy chadol-minari ssam shabu kalguksu. The meal moved from wrapping thin-sliced beef brisket in minari to cooking kalguksu noodles in the same pot, then finishing with perilla-oil kkakdugi fried rice. I also ordered whole shrimp seafood pajeon.

What are the parking and family dining facilities like?

The restaurant was on the first floor at 90 Gomae-ro in Giheung-gu, with a large parking lot. The hours listed in the original post were daily from 10:30 to 21:00, with a break from 16:00 to 17:00 and last orders at 15:00 and 20:00.

Inside, I noticed trophies and store information. The interior was spacious, and high chairs were available, so it looked suitable for family meals or group dining.

At the self-service bar, I could take as much broth, kimchi, wasabi, chili seasoning, and tableware as needed. There was also an area to pack up leftover pajeon myself, with disposable aprons beside it.

What did I order, and how much was it?

The menu was posted on each table, making it easy to check. I chose the spicy version of the signature chadol-minari ssam shabu kalguksu, then ordered whole shrimp seafood pajeon, extra ssam minari, and drinks.

Small dishes, paper cups, katsuobushi soy sauce, and water were set on the table.

• Spicy chadol-minari ssam shabu kalguksu for two: ₩31,000
• Whole shrimp seafood pajeon: ₩13,500
• Extra ssam minari: ₩3,500
• Drinks: ₩2,000

The extra ssam minari came in a generous portion. It was mostly leaves rather than stems, so it was not tough and worked well eaten raw with the meat.

Once the food arrived, I turned on the induction burner and waited for the broth to boil. Meanwhile, I poured katsuobushi soy sauce into a small dish and added wasabi.

Was the whole shrimp seafood pajeon worth ordering?

The whole shrimp seafood pajeon arrived while the broth was coming to a boil. I did not expect much for the price, but I was surprised by its size and the amount of shrimp and squid.

The whole shrimp and squid had a pleasant bite, and the pajeon was crisp. Its subtle spiciness kept it from becoming tiring to eat.

In what order did I eat the chadol-minari ssam shabu kalguksu?

How did I pair the beef brisket and minari?

First, I cooked the thin-sliced beef brisket in the boiling broth. Eating the cooked meat with ssam minari brought the herb's fragrance to the meat and worked well together.

I mixed the salt in the small dish of sesame oil, then dipped the beef brisket and ssam minari with galchi sokjeot, a salted hairtail seafood sauce. The nutty sesame oil, fragrant minari, and chewy meat came through together.

How long did I cook the kalguksu noodles, and what were they like?

After eating some of the meat, I added the kalguksu noodles. The restaurant said it calls them “cheese noodles” because of their stretchy, chewy texture, like mozzarella. I was told not to pick up the noodles with tongs but to pour them straight from their container into the pot.

I timed the noodles with an hourglass. After cooking them for six minutes, I found them chewy. Dipping them in the sesame-oil sauce added a nutty note to their texture.

I also ate the kalguksu with ssam minari.

I had it with kimchi that was described as using Uiseong garlic, and the kimchi had a good savory depth.

How do you eat the free perilla-oil kkakdugi fried rice?

After the kalguksu, I requested fried rice. A staff member removed some broth from the pot and added the fried rice, and I then stir-fried it myself.

I was already full, but the aroma of perilla oil rose as I cooked it. The kkakdugi, seaweed flakes, and perilla oil all came through, so I ate it to the end.

How did I use the dessert corner after the meal?

There was a dessert corner by the exit. It had ppeongtwigi (puffed grain snacks), other snacks, misutgaru slush, and coffee.

A notice said desserts could not be eaten inside the restaurant, so I put only what I wanted to eat into a disposable cup to take away.

At the time of my visit, writing a receipt review earned one free bag of either ppeongtwigi or snacks. I participated and took home ppeongtwigi.