Lamb skewers in Gangseo, Seoul: Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok

How far is it from Balsan Station, and is parking convenient?

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok (화로담양꼬치 마곡) is on the second floor of the Queens Park 10 building. It is about a five-minute walk from Balsan Station and about 10 minutes from Magok Station.

I drove there. The building’s underground parking garage was spacious, and the four-hour parking support meant I did not have to worry about time while eating.

When the original post was written, hours were 11:30–22:50 on weekdays and 14:00–22:50 on Saturdays; it was regularly closed on Sundays. Naver reservations were also available.

Is there seating for dates or group gatherings?

When I entered, the charcoal grill and lamb being aged immediately caught my eye.

The interior felt cozy. When I visited, it was not loud or hectic, so I thought it would work well for a date meal too.

There were partitioned seats suitable for four people and private seats for five to six. There was also a group room for seven to 22 people, making it worth considering for a family gathering or company dinner.

What did I order, and what was the table setting like?

For lamb chops, there were shoulder rack and French rack options, as well as fresh lamb loin, lamb flower ribs, intercostal meat, and lamb skewers. Sides included kkwabarow (crispy sweet-and-sour pork), mango cream shrimp, morning glory, and fried eggplant.

I ordered using the pad at the table. It also had a call function for when I needed to ask staff for something, such as refills of the side dishes.

I ordered two shoulder rack lamb chops, one lamb loin skewer, and one fried eggplant.

The basic table setting came with three house sauces, gungchae (pickled stem lettuce), baek kimchi, and shredded scallions.

The sauces were lamb seasoning, a spicy house soy sauce, and a chive-flower sauce. The chive-flower sauce in particular was a flavor I had not tried before, and it paired well with the lamb chops.

How were the texture and grilling of the shoulder rack lamb chops?

The staff grilled the lamb chops, which had been aged, seasoned, and pre-grilled, so I could eat comfortably. I did not notice any gaminess, and they were tender with a pleasant chew.

Although I was eating in front of the grill, it still felt comfortable.

The lamb chops were thick and had plenty of juices.

Cooked to a moderate level, they were tender and moist; when grilled a little crisper, the lamb’s meaty aroma came through more strongly.

Alternating the sauces and side dishes kept the meal from feeling rich through to the end.

What did the fried eggplant taste like?

The fried eggplant arrived while I was eating the lamb chops. I did not like eggplant side dishes as a child, but I enjoyed this dish.

It tasted a little like tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour fried meat) with eggplant flavor. The sauce was sweet and tangy, while the coating was crisp outside and moist inside.

It did not feel heavy to my taste, so I kept reaching for it and ended up finishing the whole plate.

How were the lamb loin skewers in flavor and portion size?

I was curious about the lamb skewers too, so I ordered the lamb loin skewers. The lamb chops were more generous than I expected, and with the fried eggplant I was already full, so I first grilled only a little of the skewers. The meat on them was plump and plentiful.

It was my first time trying lamb loin skewers, and I liked their pleasantly chewy, clean texture.

The meat was thick and juicy, so it felt like eating charcoal-grilled lamb.

I finished the meal with crisply grilled skewers. Since I was full, I packed up the remaining lamb skewers, and they packed them neatly.

What was I most satisfied with during this meal?

I could have tender lamb chops and pleasantly chewy lamb loin skewers in one meal, and the portions were generous. The cozy atmosphere and ample parking support were convenient too. With partitioned seating and a group room, I felt it was worth considering both for a meal for two and for a larger gathering.