Makchang and free jjajangmyeon in Dangye-dong, Wonju: Yeon Makchang

After a weekend of shopping in Wonju, I took my son to dinner at Yeon Makchang Dangye Branch, a well-known spot in Dangye-dong, Wonju.

Yeon Makchang, the Dangye-dong go-to these days, is one of the hottest and most loved makchang (grilled beef intestine) brands right now. As someone who really loves makchang, I can honestly call this the makchang of my life — the flavor is special and the menu lineup is generous. Unlike regular makchang, they age the makchang on lotus leaves and par-grill it before serving, so it comes out fast and easy to finish grilling, with no gamey smell and a clean, soft, chewy texture — truly premium stuff.

Where is Yeon Makchang Dangye Branch, and what are its hours?

Yeon Makchang Dangye Branch is on the 1st floor of 66 Cheonsa-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, open daily from 17:00 to 24:00. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays it opens at 16:00.

This Dangye-dong favorite sits along a roadside packed with restaurants near the Wonju bus terminal, making it easy to reach and convenient to drop by.

Yeon Makchang, currently a completely dominant brand, has appeared on various broadcasts and is recognized by many celebrities. After falling for its charm on my last visit, I've been recommending it to everyone around me and calling it the makchang of a lifetime.

You often see soldiers around the Wonju terminal area, and this Dangye-dong favorite is a kind-hearted place running a 10% discount event for soldiers and pregnant guests.

Walking inside, even during the early evening there were already plenty of guests enjoying makchang, and not long after, the whole place filled up with people who'd come specifically for Yeon Makchang.

What's on the menu at Yeon Makchang Dangye Branch?

The menu at Yeon Makchang Dangye Branch starts with the signature par-grilled yeon makchang, followed by par-grilled special makchang, Korean pork cold samgyeopsal, fire chicken feet, and a brisket-and-scallop combo, all reasonably priced. The generous side menu lineup makes the whole meal even tastier and more filling alongside the mains.

From the owner to every staff member, this Dangye-dong favorite was kind and quick with service, which made the whole visit comfortable. After ordering 3 servings of makchang (the first order must be at least 3 servings), they quickly set the table with side dishes and sauces that go well with makchang.

Wrap vegetables and kimchi from the self-serve bar

Anything missing from the basic setup can be picked up freely at the self-serve bar, so we piled our plates generously with lettuce wraps, green onion kimchi, and cabbage kimchi, none of which come in the basic side dish set.

Par-grilled yeon makchang and special makchang: how long do they take on the grill?

We ordered 2 servings of par-grilled yeon makchang (the long-shaped makchang) and 1 serving of par-grilled special makchang (the square-shaped one), and the kitchen brought the pre-grilled makchang out very quickly, arranging it neatly on the grill to start finishing it off.

Grilling makchang myself usually takes a long time and can be a hassle, but at Yeon Makchang it grills up incredibly fast, and anyone can easily get it golden brown and crispy. It was such a relief.

What mulberry makchang sauce tastes like

Dip the golden, well-grilled makchang into Yeon Makchang's signature mulberry sauce, made with chili, green onion, and perilla leaves, and you get out-of-this-world makchang. It's just as good wrapped in a vegetable leaf, or paired with the spicy gochujang-based sauce.

Sides at Yeon Makchang: free jjajangmyeon and the 6,000-won clam hot pot

One more charm of Yeon Makchang Dangye Branch is how well the side menu pairs with the makchang. Take part in the receipt review event and you get free old-style jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) or yeolmu bibim guksu (cold noodles with radish greens), and if you order the spicy pepper clam hot pot along with your first order, you can enjoy it alongside the makchang for a kind price of just ₩6,000.

After filling up on makchang, jjajangmyeon, and hot pot, we grilled the leftover makchang together with rice cakes and finished off perfectly with a smoothie.

Yeon Makchang = makchang of a lifetime. Yeon Makchang is a must. Go visit at least once. Meet your own makchang of a lifetime at Yeon Makchang Dangye Branch, a Dangye-dong favorite in Wonju.