Gasan-dong restaurant with a refillable self-serve bar: Gim Myeongtae

Gim Myeongtae Gasan Branch at a glance: spicy braised short ribs in Gasan-dong

For a hearty meal of spicy braised short ribs in Gasan-dong, this is Gim Myeongtae Spicy Braised Short Ribs. Today I visited the Gasan branch, located near the Hyundai Outlet.

What does Gim Myeongtae Gasan look like inside and out?

Maybe because it was dinner time, Gim Myeongtae Gasan branch was really crowded. The interior is fairly large with lots of tables, so it looked good for family dinners or gatherings too.

Gim Myeongtae menu and prices

• Meal dishes ₩10,000 ~ ₩17,000
• Braised pollock ₩13,000 ~ ₩14,000 per person
• Braised cuttlefish ₩15,000 ~ ₩16,000 per person
• Spicy braised short ribs ₩33,000 ~ ₩65,000

I liked that Gim Myeongtae's menu has a range from shared dishes to solo-diner options. There were a lot of families dining together, but also quite a few people eating dinner alone, so it seems solo dining works fine here too.

Side dishes and what is on the self-serve bar

The basic side dishes were bean sprout soup, corn mayo, pickled onions, radish wraps, and stir-fried fish cake. They were all good pairings for the spicy braised short ribs, easy to eat one by one. Small plates and cups were already set on every table, so we didn't need to ask for anything, which made eating more convenient.

Another plus is that if any side dish runs low, you can grab as much as you want from the self-serve bar. Beyond the basics, the bar also had fermented octopus and Wando dried seaweed haha!

Small spicy braised short ribs, 33,000 won: how hot is the mild level?

My friend and I visited together, so we ordered the smallest size of the spicy braised short ribs. The spice level comes in 4 steps — mild, medium, spicy, extra spicy — so you can order to taste. They said medium is spicier than Shin Ramyun, so I went with mild^^~...🔥 Mild was still nicely spicy and pretty good, but I think spicy would have been even more true to the dish's reputation!

We grabbed more bean sprouts from the self-serve bar and let it all boil away.

There was plenty of meat, plus mushrooms and flat glass noodles, so the portion was big and really filling!

The meat was very tender, and a bite with white rice soaked in the sauce — that sweet-spicy sauce paired so well with the rice, perfect for polishing off a whole bowl haha.

Pot rice for 2,000 won, free before 3pm

Gim Myeongtae also has a freshly-made pot rice option that makes the rice even more enjoyable. This pot rice is apparently free if you visit before 3pm!! haha

I came across this place while looking for a hearty dinner in Gasan-dong. The meat is on the tender side and the portions are generous, so it seems like a good spot for groups. Of course, solo-dining options are well covered too! If you're craving spicy food in Gasan-dong, I'd recommend it!

Is Gim Myeongtae Gasan worth a visit? Final verdict

• A place to get spicy braised short ribs in Gasan-dong
• Meat is tender and portions are generous
• Choose from 4 spice levels, from mild to extra spicy
• Good for solo diners, family dinners, and group gatherings