Open-kitchen straw-fire Korean BBQ in Ogeum-dong: Baekhyang Jipbulgui

When a new hot spot opens in Ogeum-dong, I just can't walk past it, right? Korean food is especially easy to go to with kids, so it's what our family orders most often. This time we visited Baekhyang Jipbulgui (백향짚불구이), which has been getting a buzz as an Ogeum-dong restaurant recommendation.

It's a place for smoky straw-fire grilled meat, so my expectations were high, and to give you the result first: this is a place I want to go back to.

What's the atmosphere at Baekhyang Jipbulgui like?

The restaurant has just opened, so it was really clean from the outside to the inside. We went a bit late in the evening.

From outside, the signboard lighting is soft and pretty, and the exterior has that tidy, brand-new feel. Inside, it was clean throughout, as you'd expect from a new place.

The seats are spaced generously so it never felt cramped, and the mood was comfortable for a family meal. I think people who want to eat in a clean setting will be happy here too.

How do you order, and what did we get?

You order on the tablet set at each table. No need to keep calling over the staff, which was convenient. Here's the menu for reference,

We ordered the signature soy pork straw-fire grill, small size (₩32,000). First visit, so you have to try the star dish first!

You can watch the straw smoke being added in the open kitchen

Baekhyang Jipbulgui has an open kitchen, so you can watch the meat being given its straw-fire smoke right from your seat. While we waited after ordering, this open kitchen was what caught my eye most.

You can see the meat being cooked, even the step where the straw smoke goes on, so it's fun to watch. Seeing the cooking process made me trust the food more, and the anticipation kept building until it arrived.

Can you get refills on the side dishes?

The banchan (side dishes) at Baekhyang Jipbulgui come out neatly, and you can get refills if you run short. The banchan were set out first.

Everything came out neatly, and since refills are available, we could eat without holding back.

At a Korean restaurant the side dishes matter too, and I was happy that everything was clean and tidy.

There was no high chair, but they gave us cute kids' tableware, so it was still fine to visit with a little one.

How does the soy pork straw-fire grill taste?

With the first bite, the straw smoke hits you first, and the soy marinade is just right, neither sweet nor salty. And then, the star of the night! The soy pork straw-fire grill arrived.

It looked delicious from the start, and the first thing I noticed when I took a bite was the straw-fire smoke. A gentle charcoal aroma fills your mouth and brings out the savory depth of the meat.

The soy marinade wasn't too sweet or too salty, just right, so my chopsticks kept going back. I could see right away why it's the signature dish.

Wrap it in lettuce with the house-made ssamjang

The house-made ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) at Baekhyang Jipbulgui isn't salty or harsh, and it went well with the straw-fire flavor. The meat is good on its own, but of course you can't skip the ssam (lettuce wrap). I put meat on lettuce, added a little of the house ssamjang, took a bite, and it was really good.

The ssamjang especially left an impression. Not too salty, not too sharp, so it didn't overpower the meat and blended in nicely. If you usually love ssam, you'll probably like it even more.

With kids, definitely add the steamed egg

The steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) here is fluffy and perfect for kids. We ordered it too.

The fluffy steamed egg was just right for the kids. A piece of meat, a spoonful of steamed egg, a bite of rice.

The kids ate that combo really well. Best of all, it's Korean food, so there's no worry about bringing them.

Is it a good family dinner spot in Ogeum-dong?

With its clean interior, roomy seating, tasty meat and plenty of side dishes, Baekhyang Jipbulgui is a really good place for families. It's comfortable for eating with kids, and it seemed like a good fit for visiting with parents too.

Why I recommend Baekhyang Jipbulgui

There are lots of BBQ places these days, but ones where the straw-fire smoke really comes through, like at Baekhyang Jipbulgui, aren't common. The meat itself was tender and the seasoning not overdone, so it tasted good to the very end.

The house-made ssamjang was memorable, and the smoky flavor gives it a different charm from ordinary grilled pork. It's a new place so the facilities are clean and the staff were friendly, which made it a satisfying meal overall.

Overall

• A new hot spot in Ogeum-dong
• Clean, spacious restaurant
• Convenient tablet ordering
• Open kitchen, so you can trust the cooking process
• Soy pork straw-fire grill full of smoky flavor
• House-made ssamjang that's really good
• Steamed egg that's great for kids
• Recommended for family meals

If you're looking for good Korean food in Ogeum-dong, I confidently recommend Baekhyang Jipbulgui. The soy pork with its straw-fire smoke was great, and the clean restaurant and comfortable atmosphere were satisfying too. It's no burden to bring kids, and it suits gatherings with friends or family. Next time I definitely want to try other dishes. This was Baekhyang Jipbulgui in Ogeum-dong, a place I'll happily revisit!❤️