Korean BBQ in Paju Garam-maeul: briquette pork galbi for two, Tannae

What kind of BBQ restaurant is Tannae Paju Main Branch?

Tannae Paju Main Branch (탄내 파주본점) is a briquette-grilled pork restaurant in Garam-maeul, Paju, where you don't have to grill anything yourself: the owner grills the meat over briquette fire and brings it to you. There's one meat spot I think of every time I go to Paju, and it's Tannae, the Garam-maeul favorite.

We stop by now and then whenever we have a reason to be in Paju, and we're always happy with it because the meat itself is tasty and fresh. Best of all, you don't have to grill it yourself, since it comes already grilled over the briquettes! At a BBQ place there's often one person stuck grilling nonstop, but at Tannae you can sit back and eat comfortably, so I think it works for dates and for family meals alike.

I found it while looking for somewhere to eat meat around Garam-maeul in Paju, and after the first visit we've kept coming back. It isn't a flashy or fancy BBQ place; it's a relaxed spot where you can drop in and eat good meat. The owner is also very kind, so we always leave feeling good, haha.

What's on the Tannae menu, and what did two people order?

Two of us ordered 2 servings of marinated pork galbi (seasoned pork ribs) and 1 serving of selected pork belly. According to the menu, the marinated pork galbi is ₩17,900 for 300g and the selected pork belly is ₩16,500 for 180g.

The menu is mostly pork, and the prices feel fairly reasonable given what BBQ costs these days. Rather than eating just one thing as a pair, we ordered pork galbi and pork belly together, and personally I thought it was a good combination.

How does the briquette grilling work?

There's a briquette fire built into the table, but customers don't keep grilling; the owner grills the meat nicely over the briquettes and brings it over. Just the name Tannae (meaning "burnt smell") makes you think of smoky flavor, right? haha

Grilling your own meat can be fun, but when you're eating out with family or want to chat comfortably, a place that brings it already grilled is definitely easier. The smell clinging to your clothes also bothers you a bit less.

How was the marinated pork galbi?

The marinated pork galbi at Tannae had a good balance of meat and seasoning, with a gentle smoky flavor added by the briquettes. The galbi was the first thing we ate, and marinated galbi can sometimes go wrong by being too sweet or tasting only of sauce.

Above all, because it comes out grilled over briquettes, the galbi's signature sweetness picks up a gentle smoky note, and it was really delicious. It goes well with rice and is great wrapped in lettuce too. The meat wasn't dry but tender, so we kept reaching for more.

One of the things I liked most about Tannae is that the meat is fresh. Even marinated, the meat kept its texture and had no gamey smell, which I appreciated. If you love smoky flavor in particular, I think it feels a bit different from galbi grilled on a regular grill.

Is the selected pork belly worth ordering too?

The selected pork belly at Tannae was golden outside and still juicy inside, tasty with just a little salt or ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste). The galbi was so good that I had high hopes for the pork belly we added, and it didn't disappoint.

The pork belly also carries a gentle briquette smoke, giving it a different charm from pork belly at ordinary BBQ places. If you want marinated and unseasoned meat together, I recommend the marinated pork galbi + pork belly combination.

Side dishes

The side dishes at Tannae weren't overly numerous but focused on things that go well with meat, so the meal felt clean and neat. And since the meat is so good, we were satisfied without eating lots of sides.

Does Tannae serve a free stew?

At Tannae Paju Main Branch, ordering meat comes with a free stew, and you can choose between doenjang (soybean paste) stew and kimchi stew. This was another thing I liked about Tannae!

When you're eating meat, you always end up wanting something warm and brothy, right? I like that you can pick doenjang or kimchi stew to suit your taste, and it's perfect with rice after the meat. Many places make you order stew separately, so getting it free felt like good value too.

Meat plus stew feels like a proper full meal. Tannae's prices are relatively easy on the wallet, the meat is in good condition, and the owner even grills it over briquettes, so overall I'm very satisfied. Especially for a family meal with several people, it's definitely comfortable that nobody has to keep grilling.

Why I recommend Tannae for a family meal in Paju

Paju has a lot of BBQ restaurants, but personally Tannae Paju Main Branch is one I want to visit again. The meat matters, but I really like that the owner is kind and grills the meat so well that you can eat comfortably. Considering the points below, the value is pretty good too.

• Fresh meat
• The distinctive smoky flavor of briquettes
• The convenience of having it grilled for you
• Prices that aren't a burden
• Free doenjang or kimchi stew

If you're looking for a good meat restaurant in Garam-maeul, Paju, or a place for a family meal in Paju with your parents, Tannae is worth a visit. We'll probably stop by again the next time we're in Paju and craving meat :)