Gimpo galbi house: idong galbi with egg yolk dip, Jeongwon Galbi

Today I'm telling you about a Gurae-dong restaurant I went to while visiting my sister, who lives in Gimpo: Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo Main Branch (정원갈비 김포본점). (There are two shops with the same name, so don't get them mixed up, haha!)

Why is Jeongwon Galbi called the "garden" galbi house?

Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo Main Branch is a beef galbi place in Gurae-dong, Gimpo, with a wide garden just like its name says. The atmosphere hits you the moment you arrive. ^^

Now I totally get why it's called Garden Galbi! There's a broad garden with sculptures here and there, so it felt like a little park. ^^ It would be great with kids too, because there's a bouncy castle on one side.

I thought, I should bring the kids next time ^^ haha. The kids can play while the adults eat in peace, so it seems like a perfect spot for a family meal.

Indoor seating at Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo: rooms and partitions?

Inside, there are several room-style spaces that feel like an upscale hanjeongsik (Korean set-course meal) restaurant, and plenty of roomy tables too, haha. The partitions are well done, so it feels great for a private meal 👍😁

These days I really like places with separated spaces 😄 It's easy on you for gatherings or family meals, and it's not noisy, so talking is comfortable too~ haha

How did the idong galbi set for two taste?

The moment we sat down, we ordered the idong galbi set for two without any debate! haha

When the galbi came out, the color was different right away. It looked fresh, and you could see the grain of the meat, haha.

I flipped it so it wouldn't burn on the grill and took a bite, and the juices burst out the second it hit my mouth. The soft, tender texture was so good, haha. Not tough or dry, just pleasantly chewy and tender, exactly the way good beef galbi should taste. haha

The marinade isn't overpowering, so the flavor of the meat itself shines, and the sweet-and-salty balance is just right. The more I ate, the more I kept reaching for it.

Why dip idong galbi in egg yolk?

One slightly unusual thing at Jeongwon Galbi is that they give you a separate egg yolk for dipping the galbi! And it's a real treat. At first I thought, "Galbi in egg yolk?" but once I tried it, the nuttiness shot up and the flavor got deeper, haha. It felt different from the galbi I usually eat! haha

Self-serve ssam vegetable bar and the japchae side dish

At Jeongwon Galbi you can grab as many vegetables as you need from the self-serve bar. And of course you can't skip the ssam (wraps), haha. Put galbi on lettuce, add a little garlic and ssamjang (dipping paste), take a bite, and your mouth is full of happiness ❤️❤️👍👍

I also liked that the self-serve bar meant I could eat comfortably without worrying about asking for more. There's a variety of ssam vegetables like at a ssambap restaurant, so as a ssam lover I was thrilled, haha.

The basic side dishes also include japchae, salad and geotjeori, haha. I love japchae, but since it came as a side I wasn't expecting much, you know? haha But after one bite I was like, "Huh? Wait, why is this so good?" The seasoning was just right, and the noodles weren't mushy but chewy, so I kept going back for it as much as the main dish, haha.

Is Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo good for kids?

There's also a small play room on one side of the dining area, so I think it would be really easy to come with kids. Mom and dad sit and eat, and the kids eat some meat and play for a bit ^^ That's the best when you eat out, right? haha

Finishing the idong galbi set: doenjang stew and cold noodles

The idong galbi set includes doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and naengmyeon (cold noodles). After eating plenty of meat, it was time to wrap up! The doenjang stew was savory and deep, just the thing to settle things after the meat, and the cold noodles were cool and clean, great as a palate cleanser. ^^

Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo Main Branch: verdict, hours and address

Overall, Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo Main Branch in Gurae-dong satisfied me on atmosphere, taste, space, and how comfortable it is to eat with kids. 😁 If you're looking for a good galbi place in Gurae-dong, Gimpo, I don't think you'll regret stopping by. 😊 Next time I'm going to bring the kids!

• Location: 40 Gimpohangang 8-ro, Yangchon-eup, Gimpo, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: 11:00–22:00
• Last order: 21:00
• Signature menu: beef galbi-sal, pork galbi, and more
• There are two shops with the same name, so make sure it's the "Gimpo Main Branch"