Spicy beef gukbap with knee cartilage in Mapo, Seoul: Usijang Hoegwan

Hi everyone~ I went to Usijang Hoegwan, a quality beef restaurant near Mapo Station! I had the set that comes with grilled beef, spicy gukbap (rice soup), and yuksashimi (raw beef sashimi) — the main meat quality was great, the whole combo worked really well together, and honestly the staff were so kind that I left fully satisfied!

Where is Usijang Hoegwan and what are its hours?

Usijang Hoegwan is 260m from Exit 3 of Mapo Station, with parking for 2 cars in front and 2 more beside the restaurant. It's open daily from 10:00 to 21:50, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00, and last order at 21:20.

As soon as I arrived at the entrance, the retro yet neat sign caught my eye! It said 'Usijang gukbap,' so I guess the gukbap is a specialty here too~

Stepping inside, I found a cozy interior that matched the sign perfectly! Even though it was still early, there were a lot of customers having a drink, and I could immediately tell this was a solid spot.

What comes in the assorted 3-person set at Usijang Hoegwan?

Looking at the menu, besides the à la carte items, the set combos that let you enjoy several cuts and rice dishes at once were really well put together!

We ordered the assorted 3-person set! It includes three grilled cuts — jinkkorbisal, kkorbisal, and LA galbi (700g) — plus your choice of yukhoe or yuksashimi, and gukbap. We picked yuksashimi and spicy gukbap. It wasn't just grilled meat — with fresh raw beef and a soup dish included too, it felt like such a full meal that we went with this option.

For takeout, the broth and stock come at 1.5x the amount! Since Usijang Hoegwan is a famous gukbap spot, a lot of people were grilling beef and having a drink in the restaurant while also taking gukbap home.

Side dishes at Usijang Hoegwan: the pickled chili is the top pick

Once we finished ordering, the side dishes came out neatly arranged. Kimchi, seasoned lettuce, pickled onion, pickled chili, and pickled perilla leaves — a nice variety that all paired well with the meat! The kimchi was fermented just right and went well with the beef, and the seasoned lettuce was freshly tossed with a sweet-and-sour kick, keeping its crunchy texture intact. But the spicy pickled chili was today's top pick! Piled onto the rich, fatty meat, it cut through the greasiness perfectly.

Spicy gukbap with dogani (beef knee cartilage)

The spicy gukbap included in the set had a broth that was rich yet sharp and spicy, washing away all the greasiness from the meat. It was packed with generous ingredients too, and the depth of the broth was so satisfying!!

The rice comes already mixed into the soup, soaking up all the broth — it was so good.

There were several kinds of meat in there, and even knee cartilage... I was genuinely impressed!

Yuksashimi (raw beef sashimi): chewy and rich

Next up is the yuksashimi and assorted platter! It's really generous.

First, the yuksashimi! You could tell how fresh it was just from the deep red color, and when I picked up a piece with my chopsticks, the chewy texture came through immediately.

Dipped lightly in the special sauce, it had a clean, nutty flavor that wrapped around my mouth. So chewy... a total delicacy. It's a different taste from yukhoe too~

700g of grilled beef: jin galbisal, galbisal, then LA galbi

Next up are the three main grilled cuts. Jinkkorbisal, kkorbisal, and LA galbi come out, and at 700g, the portion is huge! I thought the value was really great.

You grill them in this order: jinkkorbisal ➔ kkorbisal ➔ LA galbi!

Jin galbisal, the first cut on the grill

First up, grilled jinkkorbisal. They say it's called 'the flower rib meat' because it's considered the flower of the beef! I grilled it lightly while the juices were bubbling up on the pan and ate it right away — it was tender and full of beefy flavor, so good!

That distinctive savory beef juice burst out with every bite — this was my favorite cut of the day.

Galbisal, the second cut

Next up was kkorbisal. Compared to jinkkorbisal, it had more distinct muscle grain, giving it a chewier bite.

The chewy texture and nutty flavor were amazing! The more you chew, the more the rich beefy aroma bursts out. Kkorbisal was my partner's top pick~ Wrapped in a pickled perilla leaf with a piece of pickled chili on top, the balance was just right.

LA galbi and the bowl of rice the owner brought unasked

Last up, the LA galbi. I liked that the seasoning wasn't too intense or overly sweet, so it didn't overpower the meat's own flavor! It grilled up with a smoky, charred aroma, and the smell alone was incredible.

The moment I tasted the sweet-savory seasoning, I immediately thought of white rice — and somehow the kind owner sensed it too, asking, 'LA galbi tastes even better with rice — want some?' and brought us a bowl. I nearly teared up haha.

Savory on the outside, tender on the inside — a true rice thief! My partner skillfully separated the bones for us, which made it even more enjoyable to eat~

Is Usijang Hoegwan near Mapo Station worth it?

A beef restaurant where you can enjoy jinkkorbisal, kkorbisal, and LA galbi alongside fresh yuksashimi and stomach-soothing spicy gukbap almost like a full course! The set menu is well put together, the value is excellent, and thanks to the wonderfully kind owner, we left Usijang Hoegwan in a great mood. Highly recommend it if you're looking for a beef spot, a gukbap spot, or a group dinner place near Mapo Station~