Cast-iron mixed grill combo near Samsong Station: Neopttakjip Samsong

This place is Neopttakjip Samsong Branch, which won over local taste buds in no time with its generous portions and overwhelming meat quality. It's located at 63 Dongsong-ro, 1F Unit 101, Jun Plaza, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do — great access, plus meat and side dishes so unforgettable that the place is always packed. A true Samsong local favorite.

I really liked the exterior — Neopttakjip's own take on the cozy, nostalgic old-school restaurant feel, reinterpreted in a modern, comfortable way.

Weekday lunch special and parking

Outside the restaurant stood a flashy standing sign advertising the weekday lunch special.

There's a parking lot right next to the restaurant, but we parked at Starfield Goyang so we could walk after eating and then came here. The lunch special, running from noon to 2pm, lets you pair the mixed grill with a choice of ureong doenjang jjigae, haejang sundubu, or sagol cheonggukjang, and even includes alcohol or drinks — I imagine it's a huge hit with office workers nearby thanks to the value.

Traces of visits from well-known celebrities.

The hall, the rooms, and the meaning of 'Neopttak'

Besides the lively main hall, Neopttakjip Samsong Branch also has private rooms where you can enjoy a meal with your group away from the crowd — worth keeping in mind.

The friendly name 'Neopttak' apparently comes from a Jeju dialect phrase meaning something like 'to spread the meat flat and wide, generously and warmly.' The philosophy of an owner who's stuck to serving only the best meat for a full 14 years, driven by the conviction that a meat restaurant must have good meat above all else, was written all over the place in little notes and signs.

Signature mixed grill instead of ibulgalbi

Knowing they only serve domestic pork that's gone through a strict selection process, I couldn't help but look forward to the taste. The restaurant's signature dish is ibulgalbi — the most popular cut, whole ribs connected to pork belly, hand-sliced flat in-house — but I wanted to try a variety of cuts today, so I ordered the daepyo modum-gui (signature mixed grill).

The macaroni salad tossed in yellow curry powder for a distinctive savory flavor, the aged kimchi, the sweet-and-spicy garlic scape salad, and Neopttakjip's own secret sauce were the real MVPs that kept me eating the meat without ever getting tired of it.

The grilling order on the specially made cast-iron griddle

A heavy, specially made cast-iron griddle — built by Neopttakjip specifically for better-tasting meat — is set on the table.

The thick cuts of the signature mixed grill are carefully laid onto the griddle.

On the cast-iron griddle with its excellent heat conduction, the kimchi soaks up pork fat and sizzles to a golden brown — the sight and smell are pure art. The side dishes stick faithfully to the basics too, and the balance with the meat is spot on.

Plump king oyster mushrooms, chewy garae-tteok (rice cake sticks), and salty sausage — all provided to grill alongside the meat — get carefully cooked around the edge of the griddle too.

So, how was the meat?

The juiciness, the savory flavor that deepens with each chew, the springy yet tender texture — it clearly proves a premium quality quite different from any regular pork I've had before.

Dip the meat deep into the flavorful house sauce, pile on plenty of kimchi grilled to perfection in pork fat and fresh scallion salad, and wrap it all up into one hearty bite — and the day's fatigue just melts away.

Don't forget to join the Naver receipt review event after your meal.

A walk along Dongsong Bridge after the meal

Full and satisfied, we stepped out and walked around the back of the restaurant to find the Dongsong Bridge walking path — perfect for a light stroll under a gorgeous night view.

It would be hard to find a more perfect place than Neopttakjip Samsong Branch to sit around a round table with good people, share great meat and a cold drink, and shake off the day's stress and fatigue. Be sure to experience the true taste of meat that fills your mouth at Neopttakjip near Samsong Station.