Beomgye Friday pub: sea snail salad & spicy chicken, Bueongi Sanjang

On Friday, May 29, I finished early voting and left work a little early, so I was in a much more relaxed mood. I didn't want to waste a nice Friday evening, so I decided to relieve some stress with good food in a place with good vibes. My feet took me to a unique spot near Beomgye Station in Anyang: Bueongi Sanjang Beomgye Branch (부엉이산장 범계점).

What's the atmosphere at Bueongi Sanjang Beomgye Branch like?

Even though it's right in the middle of the city, my first impression was a cozy cabin deep in a forest, and I was won over. Inside, cute owls (bueongi) are tucked all over the place, which made looking around fun. The space feels warm yet stylish, and my expectations shot up the moment I opened the door.

Getting there from Beomgye Station, plus parking and reservation tips

Bueongi Sanjang Beomgye Branch is just a 5-minute walk from Beomgye Station, so access is really great. It's in the heart of Anyang. If you're driving, you can use the underground parking in the building or a nearby public parking lot.

It's a very popular hot spot in Anyang, so there may be a wait on weekends or at peak times. I recommend booking ahead through Naver Reservation or CatchTable.

Once we sat down, crispy, nutty snacks came out first as the complimentary side, so our mouths weren't bored while we waited for the main dishes.

Menu and value for money at Bueongi Sanjang Beomgye Branch

The menu has reasonable prices and a good lineup, so the value felt excellent. I read the whole menu carefully, happily agonizing over what to pick.

How do the fire-grilled spicy chicken and tuna mayo rice balls taste?

Not long after we ordered, the dishes came out one after another. The moment they hit the table, the gorgeous look and great smell had me snapping photos without even thinking. Before my companion arrived, I had already rolled the tuna mayo rice balls (jumeokbap) into round, bite-sized pieces, and I was pretty proud of that!

The first dish out was the fire-grilled spicy chicken, and the spicy smoky aroma hit my nose right away. It came on a bed of smooth mayonnaise sauce with chopped scallions and soft mashed potato, and the look was a work of art. Squid was stir-fried with crunchy onions, which made it great to chew. Putting nutty mashed potato on the spicy chicken and dipping it in mayo softened the heat and made it addictive.

How do you eat the sea snail salad?

The sea snail salad (chamsora chomuchim) came with perilla leaves, seaweed, garlic and chili to wrap everything up, and it was freshness itself. Fresh perilla leaves and seaweed, plus sharp garlic and chili, came alongside the chewy sea snail, and I was very happy with the setup.

I laid a perilla leaf on the seaweed, added the sea snail salad and garlic, and took a big wrapped bite. The sweet-and-sour seasoning and the chewy sea snail together made me exclaim out loud. It felt as filling and clean as a meat dish, and I was totally satisfied.

An icy muk bowl to finish on a hot day

Finally, since it was hot, my companion wanted something cold, so we ordered the muk bowl (mukssabal, chilled acorn jelly soup), and it arrived. With the first sip of the broth with ice floating in it, a refreshing, tangy coolness opened up my chest. The bouncy muk and crunchy kimchi went well with the rich broth, and it was a great closer that cleaned up my mouth after the spicy chicken.

Add cola poured into a glass full of ice, and the meal was complete.

Service and overall verdict on Bueongi Sanjang Beomgye Branch

Besides the tasty food, the friendly service from the staff kept me happily satisfied the whole time. The place is spacious and nicely decorated with a cozy cabin feel, so it works well for a get-together with friends or a date near Beomgye Station in Anyang.

The ingredients in everything we ordered were high quality and seasoned just right, so I'm definitely coming back soon to try other dishes. If you want proper food and a cozy atmosphere in Anyang, give it a visit!