Rear parking and 50% takeout discount at this Uijeongbu galbi spot

I visited a galbi (marinated rib) restaurant in Uijeongbu with my boyfriend. It's near his workplace too, so he told me he'd been here a few times before.

Location and parking at Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch

Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch / Address: 11 Beomgol-ro 145beon-gil, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 1st floor / Hours: 11:00–23:00 / Parking: 2–3 spots behind the building, roadside parking also available

The exterior is white with a gold logo shining on it. I thought it'd be hard to find, but it stood out so clearly that I found it easily.

There's a small parking area behind the building too, so it's easy to access by car, which I liked. If the lot is full, you can also park along the road, making it a bit more convenient to use.

Why there's gift-set galbi right at the entrance

Opening the door, a pretty partition wall and gift-set galbi came into view first. I thought this was a nice touch. Usually when you walk in, other customers' faces are the first thing you see, but here the gift galbi catches your eye first, which immediately tells you takeout/gift orders are possible~ It shows off the takeout option while also blocking the view of other guests, so it's a nice two-birds-one-stone effect.

What are the seats like?

The restaurant is spacious and the tables are spread out well, so you can talk without being bothered by the next table. The tables are set up as standard 4-seaters and 8-seaters.

There's also a separate group seating area, which seems great for booking ahead and enjoying a more private space.

Since we'd booked ahead and came in, the meat marinade, onions, and wet wipes were already set out waiting for us.

Handmade marinated galbi for two, plus a 50% takeout discount

After thinking about what to order, we went with the signature handmade marinated galbi for two. Manpo Galbi also lets you take the meat home — if you package it up in-store, you get a 50% discount, so it's a fairly affordable way to eat it at home too, or even give as a gift.

Basic side dishes, including beef tartare

After we ordered, they brought out the basic side dishes: fried mushrooms, japchae, radish salad, potato salad, beef tartare, and pickles. They didn't just bring small portions as 'basic sides' — the plates were piled generously full, which made me think this must be a place where people can't help ordering more because the meat is genuinely that good haha.

Giving beef tartare as a basic side dish — isn't that such a great deal? The tartare was fresh and savory, and I kept reaching for more. My boyfriend and I basically devoured it the second it came out haha.

Once we ordered, they set up the charcoal for us. They also brought garlic and kimchi in a stainless bowl, and since the kimchi was stir-fried, it tasted even better.

Marinated galbi served in three meat chunks

When the meat arrived, the color looked appetizing and they gave us three whole chunks. At most galbi restaurants, they weigh the meat out in grams, and it always feels like the portion is a bit small, which was disappointing — but at Manpo Galbi, getting three actual meat chunks was really great.

We grilled it on the pan until it looked delicious, then wrapped it in lettuce with the marinade to taste. The meat was tender, the galbi marinade had soaked in well, and the charcoal aroma came through just right, making it even tastier.

Free water naengmyeon to finish, with springy noodles

When we were almost done with the meat, we ordered the water naengmyeon. Since it's free, you definitely shouldn't skip ordering it haha. The naengmyeon broth had a flavor that people of any age or taste could enjoy. It was fine for me, but if you find it too bland, they also bring mustard and vinegar so you can adjust it to your taste.

The noodles weren't like any I'd had before. They were thin, and hard to describe exactly, but rather than chewy, they had a springy, bouncy texture. That said, they weren't undercooked at all! The unfamiliar texture was a bit puzzling at first, but as I kept eating, I found the springy noodles had their own charm, and I finished them off in no time.

The meat was delicious, and with free naengmyeon plus beef tartare as a basic side dish, it was an even tastier and more value-packed galbi restaurant to eat at!