Korean BBQ in Sinnonhyeon with 80s–90s songs: LA ribs, jjolbibim

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store (소제이 서울본점) is a great spot for beef and a drink near Sinnonhyeon Station. I went recently, and this is already my nth visit here!

The staff grill the meat for you, and you can also try the signature oxtail stew with chives, so it was a big hit as a place for a team dinner or group get-together.

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store: location, hours and reservations

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is at 13 Gangnam-daero 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (1st floor). It's open 17:00–01:00 Sunday to Thursday and 17:00–02:00 on Friday and Saturday. Last order is 1 hour before closing.

• Address: 13 Gangnam-daero 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (1st floor)
• Hours: Sun–Thu 17:00–01:00 / Fri–Sat 17:00–02:00
• Last order: 1 hour before closing
• Parking: not available
• Reservations: Naver Reservation / Catch Table

What's the atmosphere like at Sojei?

Sojei is a Korean BBQ place that mixes retro charm with a hip vibe. That blend was the first thing I felt the moment I walked in.

The menus and posters on the walls have an old-school feel without looking cheesy. They're styled in a trendy way, so it's a nice place for photos too.

The tables are round, which makes it easy to chat and comfortable for having a drink. Maybe that's why it seemed to draw all sorts of people, from office team dinners to friend meetups and dates.

There's also one outdoor street-style table. And the music is 8090 hits, which made me want to dance on the spot, haha. That's my inner ajumma (middle-aged Korean woman) coming out, haha 😆

The water is barley tea, which I loved. It comes in a Delmonte bottle, which fits the retro mood perfectly!

What we ordered at Sojei and the prices

This visit we ordered the small oxtail and chive stew, 500g of LA ribs, jjolbibim and soju.

• Oxtail and chive stew, sampler size: ₩33,000
• LA ribs 500g: ₩60,000
• Jjolbibim (spicy chewy noodles): ₩7,000
• Soju: ₩5,000

Free side dishes, including beef tartare

Once you sit down, a generous spread of side dishes arrives all at once on a round tray. It was the first thing that caught my eye.

Sojei says it makes everything itself, from the side dishes to the sauces. You can feel a philosophy of putting flavor ahead of convenience, so my expectations were up from the start.

The free sides were spring cabbage salad, icy radish salad, beef tartare and seaweed, along with a variety of sauces to eat with the meat.

I was especially impressed that beef tartare comes as a free side. The portion isn't big, but it was fresh and rich in flavor, enough to whet the appetite before the meal. The spring cabbage salad had a crisp texture and balanced seasoning, and the radish salad topped with a little ice cleansed my palate between bites of meat.

The sauces were quite varied too: egg yolk sauce, herring roe mayo, wasabi and myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic leaves). It's fun to mix and match to your taste. The meat matters, but a place with good free sides makes the whole meal more satisfying, and Sojei made a good impression right from the start.

500g LA ribs with standout marbling

The 500g LA ribs (₩60,000) at Sojei were cut thick with tight, dense marbling. The moment they arrived, they grabbed my eyes.

The meat looked great, and the mushrooms served with it even had the Sojei logo carved into them, a small detail that showed real care.

Do the staff grill everything from start to finish?

Yes, the staff at Sojei grill the LA ribs for you from start to finish. This was what I liked most.

I didn't have to worry about doneness and could just chat and eat. They also told us the best moment to eat each piece, which I was happy about.

The first bite was juicy with a wonderfully tender texture. The rich, nutty flavor of galbi (ribs) came through, and the deep beefy taste as I chewed made it excellent drinking food.

The sauce combination that went best with the LA ribs

The ribs are great with myeongi namul, wasabi, egg yolk sauce and herring roe mayo, each giving a different flavor so you never get bored. Personally, the wasabi and herring roe mayo combo was the most memorable.

They explain how to eat it and build each bite for you one piece at a time :)

Signature oxtail and chive stew: portion and taste

I ordered Sojei's oxtail and chive stew in the sampler size (₩33,000), and the portion was still quite decent, with about 6 pieces of oxtail. Piled high with chives, it looked appetizing, and the meat was tender enough to pull apart easily with chopsticks.

It had a chewy texture and rich beef flavor, and the fragrant chives made a lovely balance. The seasoning wasn't too heavy either, so I kept going back for more, and it worked really well as drinking food.

When the nutty oxtail meets the crisp chives, you see why it's the signature dish. If you're planning to drink in Sinnonhyeon, I recommend ordering the oxtail and chive stew.

Finishing with jjolbibim

After plenty of meat and oxtail stew, we finished with jjolbibim (₩7,000), spicy chewy noodles. Carbs are a must, after all!

The sweet and spicy sauce on chewy noodles cut through the richness of the meat. It works as a meal and as a satisfying way to end a drinking session.

Is it a good place for a team dinner or group in Sinnonhyeon?

With fresh ribs grilled for you, tender oxtail and chive stew, and an atmosphere that's great for a drink, I'd recommend Sojei Seoul Flagship Store for team dinners and gatherings. If you're looking for beef in Sinnonhyeon, a team dinner spot near Sinnonhyeon Station, or Gangnam Korean BBQ, give it a try!