Manse-ro BBQ restaurant in Pyeongtaek, beef galbisal set: Ihwajeong

Whenever I crave pork galbi in Pyeongtaek, Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi is the place that comes to mind! I'd been once before and loved it, and this time I went with my husband and my parents. It's hard to find a restaurant that satisfies everyone's taste, but pork galbi is loved by all ages, making it the perfect family meal out ❤️

Where is Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi, and is there parking?

Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi, a go-to for pork galbi in Pyeongtaek, is located on Manse-ro. It's in the building next to Syabolday Pyeongtaek Sosabeol branch — Migkodam is on the 1st floor, and Ihwajeong is on the 2nd. Just take the elevator up to the 2nd floor.

There's ample parking space around the building, so you can visit without worrying about where to park!

Inside Ihwajeong: second-floor dining room and self-serve bar

Walking into Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi, the space felt spacious and clean, great for a family meal or a group gathering. The tables were spaced generously so it didn't feel cramped, and although I expected the usual grilled-meat smell that clings to your clothes, the ventilation was so good that barely any smell lingered after the meal.

The self-serve bar, where you can refill any banchan (side dishes) you run low on, was kept neat and clean too~

Ihwajeong cross-ages its pork galbi for 144 hours in a special marinade made with pear! One corner of the restaurant even had a pear-tree photo zone symbolizing this, plus another perk — pear slush, perfect as dessert after the meal.

Ihwajeong menu and what our family of four ordered

The menu board at Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi, a favorite on Manse-ro in Pyeongtaek. Ihwajeong specializes in pork galbi, offering seasoned pork galbi, seasoned pork grill, and beef galbisal along with meal items like naengmyeon (cold noodles) and doenjang jjigae. The menu isn't long, which oddly gave off a sense of confidence in the taste.

Beef galbisal + seasoned pork grill + doenjang jjigae

The banchan spread that comes with the grill

After the charcoal was set up first, a full spread of banchan arrived. Each one was clean and delicious — mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad), salad, and yangnyeom gejang (seasoned marinated crab) were all great appetite-boosters that paired well with the meat.

The yangnyeom gejang packed with meat, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) seasoned just right, and my personal favorite — potato salad. I'd be satisfied eating just the banchan alone~

After a wait, our order of beef galbisal (2 servings) and seasoned pork grill (2 servings) arrived. Last time I only had the seasoned pork galbi, so today we decided to try the two dishes we hadn't yet~

Beef galbisal on the charcoal grill

The beef galbisal came generously topped with garlic.

Onto the grill it went! The key with beef galbisal is to cook it quickly over high heat, so sear the outside well first~~~

Once cut into bite-sized pieces, it already looked delicious before I even took a bite.

The beautifully grilled beef galbisal was delicious even plain, with no dip. The garlic aroma came through while the savory flavor of the meat stayed intact!

You could also dip it in the special sauce or top it with mu-saengchae — the variety of ways to eat it was another plus!

Seasoned pork galbi cross-aged 144 hours in pear marinade

After the beef galbisal, it was time for the seasoned pork grill!

The signature dish of Ihwajeong, a go-to for pork galbi in Pyeongtaek, is the seasoned pork grill, made with carefully selected pork galbi and pork neck cut thick and marinated in a special pear-based sauce. What sets it apart is the 144-hour cross-aging process — refrigerated aging and marinade aging done in two rounds — which preserves the meat's flavor while letting the seasoning slowly soak all the way through!

Instead of the sharp sweetness of sugar, pear adds a subtle, natural sweetness, and grilling it over charcoal brings out juicy, tender texture — Ihwajeong's signature dish.

The seasoned pork grill uses pork neck, which has a great fat-to-meat ratio, giving it a soft, moist texture once grilled. Cooked this way over charcoal, the outside turns golden while the inside stays full of juice — so delicious. It was so tender it practically slid down after just a couple of chews. I finally understood why it's the signature dish ❤️

The seasoning soaked in well, giving a slightly sweet and mildly salty first taste — but since the sweetness comes from natural ingredients, it never got cloying. Not dry at all, just packed with juice — totally my style~

Doenjang jjigae to finish the meal

You can't really call it a proper meal without some carbs... doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and rice are a must with meat!

It was loaded with tofu, onion, and other ingredients, and eating it alongside the meat made the savory flavor come through even more.

Why Ihwajeong worked so well for a meal with my parents

If you're looking for a great pork galbi restaurant in Pyeongtaek, I recommend Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi on Manse-ro ❤️ Clean interior, neat banchan! Above all, the pork galbi was tender and juicy with a nice charcoal aroma. It'd be great not just for a family meal out but also for a work dinner or group gathering.