Nonhyeon Station Korean BBQ: corkage-free wine, 3-cut set, Matbaegogi

Today I was looking for a place where I could enjoy meat with wine I'd brought along, and ended up at Matbaegogi (맛배고기) near Nonhyeon Station. Bringing your own wine can mean extra charges, so it caught my eye that Matbaegogi currently has a "(Event) Corkage Free" menu. I'd been hunting for somewhere around Nonhyeon Station to enjoy meat and wine together, so it fit this visit perfectly.

When I look into Korean BBQ near Nonhyeon Station, I check not just the meat lineup but also the atmosphere and how the meal is served. Matbaegogi had a clean exterior, an interior with private rooms, and staff who grill the meat for you. We ordered the Matbae Special Mixed Set for 2 (300g), made up of sirloin, scored top blade and rib meat, and enjoyed it with the wine we brought.

Where is Matbaegogi and what does it look like outside?

Matbaegogi is at 35 Hakdong-ro 2-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 1st and 2nd floors. Nonhyeon Station is nearby, so it wasn't hard to find, and the tidy exterior made it fairly easy to spot while walking around. When you think of a BBQ restaurant you tend to picture dark signs or flashy facades, but Matbaegogi was neatly done up in white tones.

The logo on the front isn't oversized or busy either; it's placed neatly. The vibe differs a little from the neighboring shops, so it stood out even on a first visit. If you like a calm mood at a Nonhyeon Station BBQ place even before you sit down, the exterior already gives a different impression. It was a neat first impression that suited the day we brought wine.

Inside Matbaegogi and the private rooms

The inside carried on the clean feel of the exterior. It didn't feel stuffy or closed in; it was arranged so you can focus on the meal, and the area around the table didn't look cluttered. Even though it's a grill restaurant, the overall mood was calm, so sipping wine and eating slowly felt comfortable.

There are private rooms too, which looked good for when you don't want to worry about the tables around you. It keeps that relaxed BBQ-joint comfort while the space is kept neat, so the meal felt a bit more put-together. It's a place I'd think of for a day when I want to chat over BBQ near Nonhyeon Station, or relax with drinks I've brought.

Is wine corkage free at Matbaegogi?

At the time of my visit, Matbaegogi had the "(Event) Corkage Free" menu, and that was the main reason I came. I wanted to bring my own wine to have with the meat, and being able to do so without a corkage fee took the pressure off from the moment I chose the menu. If you're visiting for the free corkage, it's worth checking that menu in the restaurant.

We had our wine with the meal, too. It wasn't a set with just one kind of meat; we got to eat sirloin, scored top blade and rib meat one after another, which made pairing with wine fun. Alternating between the textures of each cut while drinking wine kept the meal from getting monotonous. It matched exactly what I'd come for: enjoying meat and wine together with free corkage.

What banchan does Matbaegogi serve?

The banchan (side dishes) came neatly laid out on the table: white kimchi, pickles (jangajji), tofu, salad and more. The table didn't feel empty even before the meat arrived. Rather than everything crammed together, each item was served separately, which made for tidy eating.

Between bites of meat, the white kimchi and pickles cleansed my palate, while the tofu and salad were easy things to pick at before getting into the meat properly. I liked that the different kinds could be alternated to taste. When choosing a BBQ place near Nonhyeon Station, I care about the side dishes as much as the main meat, and I was impressed that Matbaegogi prepared even the banchan with care.

What's in the Matbae Special Mixed Set for 2 (300g), and how does it taste?

What we ordered was the Matbae Special Mixed Set for 2 (300g), which comes with sirloin, scored top blade and rib meat. It's a good order when two people want to try several cuts. Rather than eating one kind of meat straight through, you can alternate between cuts, which made choosing the menu fun too.

The staff grilled the meat with vegetables for us, so we didn't have to keep worrying about timing. They prepared each piece at just the right doneness and told us how to eat it, so we could carry on eating comfortably. The meat wasn't annoyingly chewy; the texture that melted softly in the mouth especially stayed with me. I'd wanted to be taken care of at a Nonhyeon Station BBQ place that day, so having it grilled for us was satisfying.

Does the set include doenjang stew and yukhoe bibim noodles?

The Matbae Special Mixed Set for 2 isn't just meat; it also came with doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and yukhoe bibim noodles (spicy mixed noodles with beef tartare). After eating plenty of meat, a warm stew changed the temperature of the meal and had me reaching for the spoon again. Having a soup dish follow the wine and meat made the meal more filling.

The yukhoe bibim noodles were a nice way to switch up the palate after the meat. Starting with the mixed cuts and moving on to doenjang stew and yukhoe bibim noodles meant we didn't have to think about ordering a separate meal dish. We took our time with the wine and the different cuts, then finished neatly with the included dishes. Next time I want wine and meat together with free corkage, I think I'll remember Matbaegogi.