Beef BBQ in Bongdam, Hwaseong: 5-cut half cow & garlic rib at Hanmaeum

Where is Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam, and is there parking?

Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam (한마음정육식당 봉담점) is on the 2nd floor of a commercial building on Sangnijungsimsangga-gil in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong, and you can park in the building's underground garage. If you love meat you may have heard the name already, and after going myself I can see why it has a reputation in the neighborhood. I visited as a sponsored guest this time, so I got to try a wider range of dishes, and I'll tell you how it went just as it was.

The restaurant is on Sangnijungsimsangga-gil in Bongdam-eup. Because it's on the 2nd floor, first-timers might get a little confused, but the sign is big and easy to spot, so finding it wasn't hard. Parking is easy too, so drivers needn't worry. If you come by car, just go in through the parking entrance and park inside the building.

Go in through the 2nd-floor entrance of the building and you're right in the restaurant.

Inside Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam and its private rooms

The restaurant felt much bigger and more comfortable than I expected. The tables are spaced generously, so I could eat without worrying about the next table. There are also private rooms, so it's set up to handle family gatherings, company dinners and big groups easily. That's the main reason I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a group meal spot in Bongdam 2-jigu.

A BBQ restaurant with rooms for family gatherings and group dinners

What cuts come in the ₩39,000 half cow set?

The half cow set (소 반마리) at Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam is ₩39,000 and comes as 300g of prime short rib meat, short rib meat, bone-in short rib, chuck flap and beef belly. This set was what I ordered today.

After looking around the whole restaurant, I finally got to ordering. The set I received as a sponsored guest was the half cow (₩39,000), which comes as 300g of prime short rib meat, short rib meat, bone-in short rib, chuck flap and beef belly, so you can enjoy several cuts at once. It's an amount that would fill up even one person, so I thought it's a great setup for solo diners too.

Side dishes and unlimited doenjang stew

The side dishes are set out first, and the doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) stood out among them. I was really happy that it comes with free refills. I like having doenjang stew at a BBQ place, so unlimited refills meant I could enjoy it without holding back and feel properly full. This could be one of the reasons to come back to Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang.

Raw bone-in short rib and beef belly that vanished

Then I started grilling. Bone-in short rib is usually familiar as a marinated cut, so eating it unmarinated was definitely a fresh experience. The smoky flavor and juices were still intact, so I could really taste the cut itself. As for the beef belly, I reached for it the moment it was grilled, and it disappeared so fast that I didn't even get a photo.

Since the meat was unmarinated, wrapping it with lettuce and side dishes was a lot of fun. The shredded green onion salad that came with it left an impression: the crunchy texture and clean seasoning went really well with the meat. I liked that this one half cow set let me taste a good variety of cuts.

How was the extra order of garlic-marinated beef short rib meat?

After a hearty round of raw meat, I added an order of the garlic-marinated beef short rib meat. Because it's soaked in marinade it burns easily, so the key is to control the heat and grill it slowly. It was slightly sweet with a subtle garlic aroma, and it had a different charm from the raw meat.

Refilling side dishes and doenjang stew at the self-service bar

If you run low on side dishes during the meal, you can freely help yourself at the self-service bar, which was convenient. From side dishes to doenjang stew refills, you can handle it all yourself, so I felt being able to eat as much as you like is a big plus.

If you run out of side dishes, you can grab more from the self-service bar~

A BBQ restaurant with a play room (Kidz Zone) for kids

Another space that impressed me at Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam was the play room. It must be especially welcome for families with children: while the kids play in the room, parents can focus on eating in peace, and I thought the consideration for families really showed.

The aging fridge at one side of the restaurant

There's also an aging fridge on one side of the restaurant, which caught my eye. Knowing they age the meat themselves made me trust it more. Like, "so this is the aged meat I'm eating.." Something like that..? haha. I ate well and left full again today~~

Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam at a glance

• Private rooms for family gatherings and group dinners
• Play room for kids
• Unlimited doenjang stew refills
• Aged meat