Yangyang barbecue restaurant with house-made white kimchi: Yeoyejeong

Why grilled meat instead of raw fish in Yangyang?

Say Yangyang and everyone thinks of hoetjguk (raw fish soup) or hoe (raw fish), but by the second day of a trip, you start craving something grilled over charcoal instead. Looking for a proper meat restaurant for dinner, I found Yeoyejeong in Seomyeon. It sits a bit away from downtown, up on a mountainside, which honestly made me more curious — a barbecue place that survives in a spot like that must be winning on taste alone. Long story short, I left having confirmed exactly why Yangyang's local favorites have the reputation they do.

First impressions: Yeoyejeong's log cabin on the mountainside

Arriving in the evening, a lit wooden deck path, earthenware jars, and potted plants greeted us first. The log-cabin exterior felt more like a pension than a barbecue restaurant. Step inside and the walls are covered edge to edge with kids' drawings and notes from customers — even a celebrity autograph or two. Just looking at that wall tells you how loved this place is. Baby chairs were on hand too, so it felt family-friendly, and near the counter they were selling their own "salt-aging" meat gift sets and house-made white kimchi (baek-kimchi, a non-spicy fermented cabbage kimchi).

Yeoyejeong menu and prices

On Yeoyejeong's chalkboard menu, pork options are marinated ribs 250g ₩18,000, fresh ribs 250g ₩17,000, pork belly 200g ₩15,000, pork jowl 200g ₩18,000, and pork tail 150g ₩11,000. Beef options are flower short rib 150g ₩29,000 and chuck flap tail 150g ₩26,000. For these portion sizes at today's prices, that's reasonable. Sides like kimchi stew, doenjang stew, and bomb egg custard are ₩5,000, white kimchi noodles are ₩6,000, and lunch specials — meat pot rice and meat naengmyeon — are ₩13,000, which makes this a good option for lunch too.

Charcoal-grilled marinated ribs, 250g for 18,000 won

We paired marinated ribs with kimchi stew. First the brazier full of charcoal was set, then king oyster mushrooms and garlic went on with the ribs. The sizzle of marinade cooking over charcoal alone is unfair. The outside caramelized with a smoky char while the inside stayed juicy, and the marinade wasn't just sweet — it had deep soy-based savoriness that kept pulling me back for more. Piling the house-made white kimchi on top of the ribs with a spoonful of rice, the tangy, refreshing white kimchi cut right through the richness — the combination really worked. The banchan (side dishes) — seasoned chives, wild garlic leaves, and pickled peppers — also paired well with the meat.

Is the 5,000 won kimchi stew worth ordering?

I ordered the kimchi stew for ₩5,000 without much expectation, but it turned out to be something else. It was loaded with well-fermented kimchi, pork, and tofu, with deeply steeped broth — perfect for mixing rice into after finishing the meat. This wasn't a stew phoned in just because it's priced as a side.

Who should eat dinner at Yeoyejeong?

I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a proper meat restaurant for dinner near downtown Yangyang, Naksan, or Solbeach, families traveling with kids who want an easy grill-it-yourself spot, or surfers needing a solid protein refuel. Seating is spacious enough that it could work for group gatherings too. Just keep the break time (15:00–17:00) and Tuesday closure in mind.

• Location: 49 Ssangsolbaegi-gil, Seomyeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:30–15:00 / 17:00–21:00 (closed Tuesdays)

If you're searching for a good barbecue restaurant in Yangyang, the charcoal marinated ribs alone make Yeoyejeong worth the trip.