Gangnam Station Korean BBQ with Korean decor and booths: Deo Bareun

Why Deo Bareun for an evening gathering near Gangnam Station

I had an important dinner gathering in Gangnam recently, so I went to the well-known hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch (더바른정육식당 강남신논현역본점).

The meat quality was great and the atmosphere was perfect too, so I was really happy. And of course, it turned out to be a Blue Ribbon-selected restaurant.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for beef BBQ near Gangnam Station or a place for a group dinner in Gangnam.

Deo Bareun Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch: hours and location

• Name: Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch (더바른정육식당 강남신논현역본점)
• Address: 482 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–23:00 (break 14:30–16:30) / Sat 12:00–22:00 / closed every Sunday
• Highlights: Blue Ribbon certified, top-grade 1++ hanwoo, group rooms and booth seats, grilling service

Do the interiors and seating suit a group dinner or hosting guests?

The interior is decorated in a very Korean style, traditional yet upscale. From the moment I opened the door, I couldn't help but say wow.

It's a perfect fit for an important business meeting, for hosting guests, or for bringing your parents.

What I especially liked was the layout and how comfortable it was. Every seat is partitioned like its own booth, so you can eat in private. The tables are huge, so even with the whole spread laid out, it never felt cramped and was easy to eat at.

What side dishes does Deo Bareun serve?

The side dishes include black sesame cabbage salad, myeongi-namul (pickled wild garlic-chive leaves), pickled radish, white kimchi, green onion kimchi and seasoned lettuce, all neat and varied enough to rival a hanjeongsik (Korean set-course meal) restaurant. The personal plate set at your seat is also huge and looks like fine ceramic, so you really feel looked after.

They are generous with sesame oil in the seasoning, so a nutty aroma fills the whole table.

Jeju geun-gogi and the grilling service

The Jeju geun-gogi (thick-cut pork) I'd been waiting for arrived, and the marbling and rosy color were honestly a work of art.

The scoring on the surface of the meat was really fine and plentiful, which made the meat look even more tender. So you can focus on conversation, Deo Bareun has a skilled staff member grill the meat for you.

Over strong charcoal, the staff member grilled it perfectly with an expert's touch, locking in the juices without burning. Watching the charcoal aroma soak deep into the scored cuts as the meat turned golden, my mouth was watering.

The finished meat was moved to the edge of the grill so it wouldn't burn, and then my mukbang (eating show) began.

What should you dip the geun-gogi in?

I ate the first piece with no dipping at all, and the rich marbling melted in my mouth.

Next I dipped it deep into the meljeot (salted fermented anchovy sauce) bubbling on the grill, and its deep savory flavor lifted the meat even more.

A simple dip in salt alone is good, and a little sharp wasabi on top is clean and refreshing too.

Pair it with well-fermented green onion kimchi, white kimchi or myeongi-namul and you never get tired of it. The meat itself is so good that trying different combinations was a lot of fun.

How is the mul naengmyeon dessert noodle?

To finish the meal I ordered mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth). As a post-meal dessert noodle it's cheap, but the look and taste were as upscale as a standalone dish.

The noodles are very thin and slip down smoothly with a slurp, and the broth is full of slushy ice, so it cools you right down to your chest.

The broth has a faint deep dongchimi (radish water kimchi) note, and its sweet-sour, refreshing taste was excellent.

I wrapped a piece of the meat I'd saved in the thin noodles and gulped it down with the broth, and it was the perfect finish.

Overall verdict: Deo Bareun for a Gangnam evening group dinner

The grand, Korean-style interior, the wide and comfortable booth seats, and the top-tier hanwoo quality all satisfied me.

If you're planning a no-fail group dinner in Gangnam, or a meat dinner with someone special, do stop by Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch.