Under ₩10,000 a serving Korean BBQ near Mapo Station: Mapo Gui Madang

Today I'm back at Mapo Gui Madang, the naengsam (frozen pork belly) spot near Mapo Station I've already posted about with my own money before — I paid out of my own pocket again, then discovered there was a campaign slot open and felt that little thrill... didn't even hesitate, ran straight there. This place has insanely good value for naengsam, so it's where I go whenever I want a pork party.

Where is Mapo Gui Madang Yonggang Direct Branch, and what does the entrance look like?

Mapo Gui Madang Yonggang Direct Branch sits on a main road just over a 10-minute walk from Mapo Station. Maybe because it's such great value, when I went after work on a Monday, within about 10 minutes office workers and students kept pouring in.

Inside Mapo Gui Madang: an old-school room full of round tables

The inside of Mapo Gui Madang is a clean, classic old-school restaurant through and through. Lots of round tables, great for a group dinner, and clean enough to be comfortable for a small, simple meal too. Oh wait — they sell lottery tickets here too (didn't know that).

It kind of gives off a cozy mountain cabin feeling too haha ⛰️ Looked like the owner was running it solo! Later on they looked super busy.

Menu and prices: naengsam under ₩10,000 a serving

True to its reputation as a great-value spot near Mapo Station, Mapo Gui Madang is famous for naengsam, and a serving is under ₩10,000...!😲 Besides that there's whole pork belly, whole pork neck, makchang (grilled intestines), spicy stir-fried octopus, and various sides. On my first visit I also had makchang — it was solid.

This time we ordered 3 servings of naengsam plus 1 extra, doenjang jjigae, and an extra bowl of rice.

Side dishes at Mapo Gui Madang: three kimchis and lettuce refills

For basic side dishes you get the kimchi trio! Regular kimchi, green onion kimchi, and white kimchi come out, and whenever they run low they come by to top them up.

For sauces there's ssamjang, garlic, and a soybean powder sauce(?) which is a low-key highlight.

And the lettuce!!🥬 I'm a wrap killer so I demolished it fast, and I was a bit shy about asking for more given how expensive lettuce has gotten lately. But they came over and said they'd give us more without even asking ㅠㅠㅠ

Even the water comes in a plastic bottle..!!

Ready for the shot of soju.

Three servings of frozen pork belly, plus one more: how was it?

First up, 3 servings of naengsam 🥩 Since naengsam is thin, we started with 3 servings right away. Like last time, I felt this place's naengsam has a good fat ratio and not too much cartilage.

They always put the green onion kimchi and regular kimchi on the grill for you. I love raw garlic so I had them put on just half a serving!😀 I was grilling before my partner arrived, but the moment they showed up they sighed and took the tongs saying they'd grill it (I'm pretty good at grilling too, you know).

So tender. You know you're supposed to sprinkle pepper on it now and then, right?

A true naengsam gem ㅠㅠ❤️ There are a lot of pricier restaurants around Mapo Station, so this place is precious — naengsam itself isn't anything super special, but thinking about the value makes it taste even better.

Great with the grilled kimchi too! And it's genuinely delicious dipped in the soybean powder sauce as well.

Wrapped with fresh lettuce and you'll inhale it endlessly 👍

In the end I thought about ordering something else but circled right back and ordered 1 more serving of naengsam.

Doenjang jjigae from the wall menu, not the printed one

Adding a bowl of rice to the stew at Mapo Gui Madang

For dessert, ha, we ordered Mapo Gui Madang's doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew)!🔥 I ordered it on my first visit too. I remember it wasn't super amazingly delicious back then, but I ordered it again anyway. (It's not on the menu board pictured above — it's written somewhere on the wall where extra menu items are listed, and doenjang jjigae is among them.)

Rice is a separate order!

Went full drinking-meal style again today. The doenjang jjigae isn't so much bold as it is savory, more on the mild side if I had to describe it. So it's not a wildly amazing flavor but more of a solid, dependable one? I always tell myself I'll order something else next time but somehow I order the doenjang jjigae every single visit haha.

Is Mapo Gui Madang Yonggang Direct Branch worth it? Final verdict

• Great-value naengsam spot near Mapo Station
• Cozy old-school atmosphere
• Recommended for group dinners and gatherings in Mapo
• Decent variety of side dishes
• Naengsam is under ₩10,000 a serving

Since I'd already been to Mapo Gui Madang Yonggang Direct Branch before, I went in expecting a flavor I already knew — and it was still delicious anyway. Above all, the prices are so low that ordering extra never feels scary...! The owner looks a bit gruff but is actually kind, and with its cozy old-school vibe, I'd recommend this place if you're looking for an old-school naengsam and pork belly restaurant near Mapo Station.