Beef BBQ dinner in Ansan: plain vs marinated LA galbi, Yangsimso

An Ansan beef BBQ spot where you get the nutty beef flavor of plain galbi and the sweet-savory flavor of marinated galbi in one meal?! That's Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch (양심소 안산고잔점). Aged LA galbi grilled over charcoal, plus yukhoe and doenjang jjigae, so let's take a look at the meal!

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch?

Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch is at 33 Danggok-ro, 1st floor, Danggok, Ansan. The big cow face and blue-lit sign stood out from far away even at night. The storefront is wide, so it wasn't hard to find, and you can see a bit of the inside from outside.

Inside, it was much bigger and tidier than I expected. Wood-tone tables and black seats made it calm and put-together, and every table has its own ventilation.

Partitioned window seats and a spacious private room

By the windows there are partitioned seats that looked comfortable for small groups. What impressed me most was the big private room! Even a larger group could eat fairly privately.

Among Ansan BBQ places, Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch seemed like a decent choice for family dinners or company get-togethers. Also, the restroom is in the shared building!

Side dishes and the charcoal grill setup

Once we sat down, side dishes that go well with meat arrived: scallion salad, kimchi, pickled onions and more.

There was ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste), wasabi, salt and garlic, so you can mix and match to your taste.

The charcoal under the grill was glowing a nice red, so I was excited before any meat even went on, haha. Spoons, chopsticks and tissues are beside the table!

What did we order at Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch?

You check the menu and order on a tablet at the table. Besides aged LA galbi, there were plenty of other beef options: kkotgalbi (flower-cut galbi), galbisal (rib meat), toshisal (chuck flap tail), yukhoe and more.

Today's pick was the aged LA galbi platter, 500g! It's normally a marinated item, but you can split it half plain, half marinated, so that's what I did. It also comes with 120g of yukhoe and doenjang jjigae, and I added a fluffy steamed egg.

How did the plain aged LA galbi taste?

I put the aged plain LA galbi on the charcoal first so I could taste the natural nuttiness of the meat.

White fat ran densely through the bright red meat, and the marbling looked great already. Once it cooked over the charcoal and the fat melted, that nutty aroma rose up and my appetite really kicked in.

With no marinade, the deep beefy flavor and the richness of the fat came through even more clearly.

The meat around the rib bone got more savory the more I chewed, with a nice springy bite. Just a light dip in salt was plenty delicious.

How is marinated LA galbi different from plain LA galbi?

The marinated LA galbi starts gently sweet, then follows with a salty-savory depth. If the plain galbi is all about the beef aroma, the marinated one is about the marinade and charcoal smoke coming together.

When the marinade hit the charcoal heat, the surface got a tempting glaze and a sweet grilled smell rose up. It's the kind of flavor that makes you think of rice, so I personally found the marinated galbi great as part of a full meal. I was glad I ordered half and half, haha.

120g of yukhoe (beef tartare) included with the platter

The 120g of yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) included in the platter was a welcome surprise. A generous pile of red beef came on lettuce, glossy and sprinkled with sesame seeds, so it looked fresh right away.

It melted softly in the mouth with a clean beef flavor. It was perfect to nibble on while waiting for the meat to cook.

Doenjang jjigae and steamed egg to finish the meal

The doenjang jjigae that came with the platter had a rich, savory broth with tofu and vegetables. A spoonful between bites of meat refreshed my mouth, and it went well with rice too.

The extra steamed egg passed on looks alone, puffed up above the earthenware pot! It split softly when the spoon went in, and being soft and moist, it was a nice break between the rich meat.

Final verdict on Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch

This visit to Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch was about more than the meat; the whole meal was well put together. Being able to enjoy aged LA galbi half plain, half marinated was what I liked best.

With a spacious, clean interior and room for group gatherings, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for BBQ near Jungang Station or beef BBQ in Ansan! The sugar-free candy and disposable mouthwash I found at the checkout counter were small but thoughtful finishing touches. If you're looking for a proper beef BBQ place in Ansan, how about Yangsimso Ansan Gojan Branch?