Korean BBQ in Seolleung to cheer up my boyfriend: kkotsim at Hwaseol

Why I picked Hwaseol Seolleung Direct Branch for Seolleung Station Korean BBQ

Hwaseol Seolleung Direct Branch is a hanwoo and Korean pork BBQ place worth noting when you want quality meat near Seolleung Station. It has a reputation as a go-to Seolleung Station hanwoo restaurant, and the vibe is trendy, so it works for company dinners and for dates too.

My boyfriend has been having such a hard time lately, so I booked ahead and took him to Hwaseol, a hanwoo spot near Seolleung Station.

Hwaseol Seolleung Direct Branch info

• Location: 1st floor, Samseong-ro 85-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Hours: daily 11:30–23:00 (break time 15:00–17:00)
• Group seating, reservations and rooms available; kids welcome

A beef restaurant with good quality

When choosing a hanwoo restaurant around Seolleung Station, there is a lot to weigh besides price: the quality and condition of the meat, the service, the atmosphere. Hwaseol Seolleung satisfied all of them at above-average level.

It is about an 8-minute walk from a Seolleung Station exit, so not far, and you can enjoy both Korean pork and hanwoo here, with a variety of seating options.

What is the inside of Hwaseol like? Reservations are a must on Friday evenings

The restaurant is split into themed spaces such as a camping zone, a cowboy room and a hunter room, so it feels trendy, upscale and a bit different all at once.

I had booked ahead and was shown to a table for four.

It was a weekday (Friday) evening and the place was completely full, even the rooms.

The wait isn't usually long, but reservations can fill up, so if it's an important occasion, definitely book in advance.

What is on the menu at Hwaseol?

There is a good-value lunch special, plus single-item dishes besides the Hwaseol Korean pork mixed set, and black beef assortments and beef cuts you can pick by part.

Table setting and side dishes

Several side dishes are laid out: marinated raw crab (yangnyeom-gejang), seasoned radish, pickles, salted squid, cabbage salad and more.

They were basically the kind of sides that go well with hanwoo, and they were clean and tidy.

Just note that the marinated crab costs extra if you ask for a refill!

How were the three cuts: short rib meat, wagyu and black beef flower cut?

This day at Hwaseol we ordered three cuts: beef short rib meat, wagyu and black beef flower cut (kkotsim). The quality looked really good too. Even just by eye, the fresh, bright red color was enough to whet the appetite for this hanwoo assortment.

You grill it over charcoal, and the fire was a little strong, so I asked them to adjust the heat.

Beef short rib meat

The short rib meat burst with rich beefy flavor the more I chewed.. The marbling was even throughout, so every bite was full of nutty richness, and it wasn't tough or stuck in my teeth at all, so I think it would be great to bring older family members too.

Just dipped in the basic salt, it was delicious too~

Wagyu

Wagyu, well.. it needs no words, the taste is guaranteed already haha.

It melted the moment it went in my mouth, and the nutty flavor of the fat was really delicious.

I'd wondered for a moment whether to order the Korean pork assortment, but then, ah, hanwoo is the right call after all, haha!

The best one: black beef flower cut

This cut had a subtle sweetness and a burst of savory umami, and the one I liked best was the black beef flower cut.

The tender texture and nuttiness typical of a ribeye-style cut.. and when I put a piece on top of brown rice, it was the icing on the cake.

Cold noodles after the hanwoo, and doenjang stew with the mixed set

Just eating hanwoo felt like not enough, so we added naengmyeon (cold noodles) at Hwaseol, and the icy mulnaengmyeon with slush floating in it completely cooled off the heat.

The noodles were chewy and the style was clean, so I comfortably drank the broth too before leaving.

With the mixed set, it seems doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) comes by default.

Where is a good hanwoo restaurant near Seolleung Station?

Hwaseol Seolleung sells aged hanwoo and also pork, so it's a good place to enjoy a variety of cuts together.

Is there parking at Hwaseol near Seolleung Station?

Parking is on basement level 1 behind the building, and nearby street parking can be inconvenient for large vehicles, so I recommend using a nearby paid lot.