Odor-free makchang at a Seongseo, Daegu BBQ buffet: Gankeun Galbi

Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch (간큰갈비 성서점) is an all-you-can-eat pork rib place in Seongseo, Daegu that's great to visit with kids🫶 It has its own parking lot below the restaurant, and the playroom is big and clean, so it's a good fit for families with children. On top of that, the generous self-bar and good-quality meat are a given💕 Just thinking about it makes me want to go back, so let me tell you about Gankeun Galbi in Igok-dong.

Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch: hours and parking

Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch is open daily from 12:00 to 23:30 and has its own parking lot. Group dining, takeout, delivery and reservations are all possible, and high chairs are available.

Atmosphere, waiting and private rooms

The restaurant is quite spacious and kept clean and pleasant. I went on an early weekday evening, and some tables were already eating and guests kept coming in, but there are lots of tables, so luckily there was no wait. (There might be one on weekends, who knows.)

Besides the open hall there are separate rooms too, but people were eating in them, so I couldn't take photos. They looked nice for group gatherings, where you can eat in peace with your party.

What is the playroom at Gankeun Galbi like?

On one side of the restaurant there's a fairly big playroom, and when I walked in, the facilities were really well done. It has everything from a trampoline, which kids love, to a slide.

There are also claw machines and other arcade-style games, so I think kids would love it😉

What's at the self-bar?

One of Gankeun Galbi's big strengths is the self-bar💕

There's meat like pork ribs, pork belly, makchang and pork skin, plus all kinds of vegetables and sauces, and also tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), fried chicken and fried snacks.

For dessert there's Hangang ramyeon (instant noodles), bingsu (shaved ice), ice cream and even coffee. A very satisfying lineup.

Menu at Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch

The signature menu here is, above all, the all-you-can-eat option😘 You can choose which type of buffet you want. I picked pork ribs, pork belly and makchang.

Besides the buffet, there's a good-value lunch special available only at lunchtime. They also have the meal staples every meat restaurant needs, like naengmyeon and doenjang jjigae. Of course, I was too full from the buffet to try them🥲

One more thing❗️ You can also order meat à la carte, which I found unusual. Just note that self-bar use is limited when you order à la carte.

Pork belly and makchang buffet: does it pass a makchang restaurant owner's daughter?

At Gankeun Galbi, after you order the buffet, you go to the self-bar and bring back whatever you want to eat, as much as you like.

First I put the pork belly and makchang on the grill. While the meat cooks, I took the edge off my hunger with tokbokki and fried chicken😋

Golden-brown pork belly and makchang✨️ For a buffet, the meat quality is good, so the pork belly isn't greasy at all and is even tender. The lean-to-fat ratio is perfect, so it was tastier than I expected and I kept reaching for more🥓 And the makchang? I'm a makchang restaurant owner's daughter, so I'm a bit picky, but with chewiness and a nutty flavor this free of any gamey smell, I approve👏👏

Honestly, it was my first time eating pork belly and makchang together, and surprisingly it wasn't greasy and was a pretty good combination👍👍

I liked it so much I grilled another round, haha. I grilled it better than the first time and could even feel the juicy moisture. A second round being tastier is rare, so it really is a worthy Seongseo, Daegu hotspot🥰

How are the pork ribs at Gankeun Galbi?

The pork ribs at Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch are thick, on the bone, and lightly sweet in their marinade. I was getting full, but I couldn't skip the pork ribs! I piled them on to finish in a single round.

Some people were eating only the pork rib buffet, and no wonder, because the quality was so good🫢 The meat itself is thick and substantial, and the marinade is gently sweet, so I think you could eat just this without getting tired of it and still leave full.

Pork ribs that are all lean meat or too thin have a poor texture, but at Gankeun Galbi in Seongseo you can really taste proper pork ribs on the bone.

Finishing with self-bar ramyeon

I was already full from the meat alone, but I couldn't pass on the self-bar ramyeon at Gankeun Galbi🥹 Ramyeon🍜 boiled with a cracked egg and chopped scallions. Why is it so much better than the stuff I eat at home, haha!

If you go to Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch, the type of meat doesn't matter much, but I recommend the all-you-can-eat option with self-bar access, and the ramyeon, for sure🥰