Monday after-work Korean BBQ near Jonggak: ₩64,000 galbi set, Yukrab

Where is Yukrab Jongno near Jonggak Station?

Yukrab Jongno (육랩 종로점) is a beef BBQ restaurant a 5-minute walk from Jonggak Station. Head up to the 3rd floor of the building and you'll see "Yukrab Meat Laboratory Jongno." This is my visit report on a beef-healing get-together at this Jonggak Station BBQ spot.

Yukrab Jongno menu and prices

À la carte at Yukrab Jongno includes jingalbisal (thick-cut marbled beef rib meat) for ₩28,000 and chateaubriand for ₩45,000, but the set menu with doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and cheese is the better value. So, how's the menu and pricing? Let's take a look!

• Jingalbisal ₩28,000
• Sirloin ₩25,000
• Tenderloin ₩39,900
• Toshisal (chuck flap) ₩25,000
• Chateaubriand ₩45,000
• Lamb chops ₩25,000

The set menu is great value. You get three kinds of meat plus doenjang stew and cheese at a seriously good discount. There are also plenty of drinks, plus yukhoe (beef tartare), chadol jjamppong (spicy beef brisket noodle soup), kimchi fried rice, stews and naengmyeon (cold noodles) to try~~

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Yukrab Jongno?

Yukrab Jongno has lots of rooms where you can dine privately, and the seats other than the window ones have partitions, which looked great for conversation. I was startled by how classy it felt right from the entrance, and the inside was even better.

Some people were dining solo, some were out for drinks with coworkers after work, and it looked perfect for all kinds of gatherings. That's Yukrab Jongno, a beef spot for sure.

What's in the ₩64,000 galbi set for 2?

We ordered the 2-person galbi set at Yukrab Jongno! It's ₩64,000 and includes 120g of jingalbisal, 230g of lamb chops and 120g of marinated galbi, at a whopping ₩18,900 discount. It comes with rice cake, tomato, garlic stems, mushrooms and zucchini to grill gently alongside on the charcoal, and there are plenty of side dishes too~~!

The 8 sauces and side dishes at Yukrab Jongno

The sides and sauces at Yukrab Jongno are huge. There are 8 sauces in total: whole-grain mustard, wasabi, ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), garlic sauce, salt, curry, lamb skewer sauce and a sesame-style sauce. The sides are kimchi, cabbage salad, pickled garlic, sweet pumpkin salad, myeongi namul (pickled wild greens) and lettuce salad. You could get full on these alone, haha

The doenjang stew is packed with mushrooms and tofu. Its rich, spicy flavor pairs well with the savory beef. It was just the right amount, filling and satisfying for two.

You can tell the freshness and quality from the pink color of the beef alone. We'll grill in this order: jingalbi, lamb chops, then garlic galbi!

How to grill jingalbisal (boneless beef rib meat)

The 120g of jingalbisal at Yukrab Jongno was best grilled quickly to medium rare and dipped in salt and wasabi. The marbling was alive and it was really fresh, so I grilled it to a nice medium rare!!

It was much thicker than I expected, so the texture was great, and the juices really build up over the charcoal. Jingalbisal has a stronger beefy aroma than other cuts, and its tender, savory flavor is outstanding. This is a must-order at Yukrab Jongno.

It's delicious even without sauce, and the juices filling your mouth make you smile on their own. Grilling it fast so it doesn't toughen, then dipping it in salt and wasabi, let me taste the meat at its truest. It's clean rather than greasy, yet savory, and the quality of this jingalbisal gives you a dopamine rush.

Juicy liquid comes out, yet it vanishes quickly in your mouth. I recommend cooking just the surface lightly for the softest bite. Yukrab Jongno is a perfect healing spot especially for hard-working office workers. It's great for a drink and a chat after work, and the meat quality will satisfy everyone, so I can recommend it with confidence.

Do the lamb chops at Yukrab Jongno taste gamey?

The 230g of lamb chops at Yukrab Jongno had no gamey or fishy smell and tasted clean, so even first-time lamb eaters can enjoy it without worry. The thick meat on the bone looks great, there's more than I expected, and grilled with vegetables the flavor goes up!

The balance of fat and protein is right. I like beef ribs too, but I especially love the deep flavor of lamb, so I was even more excited while grilling!!

Cut out the long bone first, then once the remaining meat is grilled just enough that the juices don't escape, slice it into bite-size pieces. It was so tender that even cutting off the bone was satisfying. The fat-to-protein balance was spot on, it was really soft, and the meaty aroma was the best of all. If I come back, I want to eat these lamb chops again!!! Savory lamb goes great with alcohol too.

I'll grill the bones a bit longer and gnaw on them at the end. You know the meat on the bone has the best savory depth, right?? I cooked the lamb a little longer than beef ribs and tried a bite with salt first. I really missed this rich flavor. A nutty taste that heals you instantly!!

I also grilled tomato, sweet pumpkin and zucchini gently around the edge and ate them with the lamb. Beef and lamb have totally different charms, but I can't give up lamb chops~~~ They're so tender and meaty, beyond comparison with ordinary lamb skewers. They went especially well with the doenjang stew.

Dipping it in a spicy sauce like this is nicely balanced, and a little wasabi on top also suits it by bringing out the meat's own savory taste. Yukrab Jongno is a BBQ spot I want to come back to.

What is the grilling cheese in the galbi set like?

The grilling cheese in the Yukrab Jongno galbi set comes as 3 pieces, so we grilled it on the grill together. It melted almost the moment it hit the grill, and in under 10 seconds it went straight into my mouth. It was really savory and salty, and put on grilled sweet pumpkin it was a real treat. It tastes just like good mozzarella. Kids would love it too.

Look at that glossy shine!!! You really have to eat beef regularly to keep your energy up. I visited after work on Monday evening, and I feel like I can get through the rest of the week with more pep.

Doenjang stew worth adding to an à la carte order

Bubbling doenjang stew~~~ I remember its savory, spicy flavor. It's generously packed with mushrooms along with tofu and zucchini, so the texture is great and it goes well with beef. Even if I order à la carte next time, I'd add it again. If you come in a group, naengmyeon or yukhoe would be good too.

Garlic galbi, the last cut, needs no sauce

The set finishes with 120g of garlic galbi, well marinated in sweet garlic sauce, so it was well seasoned and tender!! You can eat it without dipping in any sauce, and the garlic flavor goes nicely with the meat. I think younger people would like it even more.

If you're having dinner at a Jonggak Station BBQ spot, I recommend Yukrab Jongno for good-quality beef after work!!

I hope you enjoy a hearty meal at Yukrab Jongno, the Jonggak Station BBQ spot where juices and meaty aroma capture your mouth, and have a happy week :)