Charcoal-grilled ribs in Yangyang: Yeoyejeong

I was in Yangyang for my husband’s weekend tennis match and stopped by Yeoyejeong on a local’s recommendation. We grilled fresh ribs and had them with stone-pot rice and doenjang-jjigae, making for a filling meal from the meat through to the scorched rice.

Where is Yeoyejeong, and is parking convenient?

Yeoyejeong is at 49 Ssangsolbaegi-gil, Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. It sits in a quiet neighborhood rather than near the center of the tourist area, so the surroundings felt peaceful. Its wooden exterior suited the landscape, and the broad gravel area in front made parking easy.

The posted hours at the time of my visit were 11:30 AM to 9 PM, with an ingredient-prep break from 2 PM to 5 PM. We arrived just after the prep break ended. There was also a Yangyang-gun exemplary restaurant sign at the entrance.

Is it suitable for a family meal or group gathering?

There were quite a few tables inside, each fitted with ventilation. It was quiet at first, but families kept arriving after we had settled in.

I also saw a table set aside for a pre-booked family gathering. The restaurant felt spacious, so it seemed like a reasonable place for a family meal or group gathering. Notices said high chairs and Wi-Fi were available, along with takeout and Naver reservations.

How much are the meat and lunch specials?

The wall menu listed both pork and beef. At the time of my visit, the pork prices were as follows.

• Marinated ribs: ₩18,000
• Fresh ribs: ₩17,000
• Pork tail: ₩11,000
• Pork jowl: ₩18,000
• Pork belly: ₩15,000

For beef, boneless rib meat was ₩29,000 and chuck flap was ₩26,000. There were lunch specials as well, offering stone-pot rice or naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) in addition to grilled-meat meals.

• Meat stone-pot rice: ₩13,000
• Meat naengmyeon: ₩13,000
• Stone-pot rice kimchi-jjigae: ₩13,000
• Stone-pot rice galbitang: ₩15,000

What were the fresh ribs and side dishes like for two?

We ordered two portions of fresh ribs at ₩17,000 per portion, along with two stone-pot rice servings and one doenjang-jjigae (soybean-paste stew). With the meat, rice, and stew, it was a satisfying meal for the two of us.

Before the meat arrived, the table was set with kimchi, seasoned cucumber, a mushroom side dish, salad, seasoned chives, and raw garlic. The lettuce leaves were large and crisp, making them good for wrapping the grilled meat. Wasabi, ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), and salt were also served, so we could season it as we liked.

My husband grilled the ribs over charcoal. As the meat browned, a savory aroma rose up, and we put king oyster mushrooms on the grill to cook alongside it.

The well-cooked ribs were slightly crisp on the outside and moist inside. They retained their juices and tasted nutty even on their own, while wrapping them in crisp lettuce worked well too.

What is it like to have stone-pot rice and doenjang-jjigae with the ribs?

The stone-pot rice and doenjang-jjigae arrived while we were eating the meat. When I opened the stone pot, it was full of glossy rice. I served the rice into a bowl to eat with the ribs, then poured water into the pot to finish with nurungji (scorched rice).

The doenjang-jjigae arrived bubbling in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot). It had plenty of ingredients, including zucchini and mushrooms, and its savory, slightly spicy taste seemed to cut through the richness of the meat. Alternating a piece of rib, a spoonful of stew, and warm rice was my favorite combination.

What stood out inside the restaurant?

While my husband grilled the meat, I looked around and noticed drawings and short notes covering one wall. With so many children’s drawings and marks left by diners, it felt like a place many people had visited.

There was also a prize-draw event at the time of my visit. The displayed prizes included a ₩50,000 dining gift certificate, NongHyup gift certificates, marinated ribs, pork tail, beverages, and alcohol, so I took a look. Baek-kimchi (white kimchi) was also for sale, with a notice saying it was made in-house.

What stayed with me after eating there?

The convenient parking and relatively spacious dining room were what I remembered first. Seeing families and a reserved gathering table made me feel it would work well for a meal with several people.

For the meal itself, I especially liked the combination of charcoal-grilled ribs and crisp lettuce. With stone-pot rice and slightly spicy doenjang-jjigae, then nurungji, my husband and I finished a filling meal together.