Guro Seoul Korean BBQ for spicy eel and makchang: Meongteongguri

There are days when I crave something spicy. On those days, my criteria for choosing a menu get weirdly simple: red sauce, over charcoal, and something cold!! Looking around for a Sindorim Korean BBQ restaurant that had all three in one place, I found Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo Makchang Guro-gu Sindorim Branch (멍텅구리꼼장어막창 구로구신도림점), which serves both kkomjangeo and makchang, so I had to visit.

While looking for a meat restaurant near Sindorim Station, I settled on one that serves both kkomjangeo and makchang.

When the group is split between kkomjangeo and makchang

There is one especially awkward moment when choosing a Korean BBQ restaurant: one person wants something in the gopchang/makchang family, while someone else finds that a bit muchㅠㅠ In that case, Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo, which stir-fries kkomjangeo and webfoot octopus on one grill, is the answer! Have a kkomjju first, then order makchang afterward, and nobody has to fight over the menu when you visit in a group!

What we ordered

• Kkomjju (seasoned kkomjangeo + webfoot octopus), ₩30,000
• Old-style makchang, 1 serving, ₩15,000
• 1 yeolmu mulguksu (cold noodle soup with young radish greens)
• Steamed egg (provided with a written review)

We added one serving of makchang to the kkomjju, then ordered a bowl of yeolmu mulguksu to finish. We also made sure to get the steamed egg that comes with a review! It was nice to start by soothing our stomachs with the soybean-sprout soup served as a basic side dish.

Kkomjju with kkomjangeo and webfoot octopus

Kkomjju brings kkomjangeo and webfoot octopus together on one grill.

The menu item that really lives up to this place's name is the kkomjju. It combines seasoned kkomjangeo with stir-fried webfoot octopus, and ₩30,000 was more than enough for two people.

Even when it arrived on the plate, the sauce had such a deep color. The sound of it sizzling the instant it hit the charcoal was insane.. As it cooked, the sauce reduced and became even darker, making it look even more delicious! (mouth watering)

Maybe it was even tastier because we cooked it over charcoal..!

Chewy kkomjangeo and tender webfoot octopus

The kkomjangeo had some resistance when picked up instead of snapping right away.

Once it was all cooked, we picked up each piece with tongs. The kkomjangeo did not go limp when lifted. A thin coat of sauce gave the surface an absolutely crazy gloss..! When I chewed it, it did not break in one bite, so I kept chewing a couple more times—it was so satisfyingly chewy (this texture is why we eat kkomjangeo, right!!).

When the webfoot octopus legs start curling into circles, that means they are done. They break apart more tenderly than the kkomjangeo, so alternating between them keeps your mouth from getting bored. I think the reason to eat these two together on one grill is to enjoy both textures at once.

Old-style makchang, added by the serving

The old-style makchang is ₩15,000 per serving. Since you can add it one serving at a time, it is easy to order when your group size is a little awkward!

Because the makchang is grilled without sauce, they change the grill plate once in the middle. As it cooked, the outside turned golden and the fat rose up; after all that spicy sauce, one bite of this felt like resetting my mouth! The outside was chewy and crisp while the inside was tender, and for a moment I thought, why didn't I start with makchang..?

Review steamed egg and a beer ice basket

The steamed egg you get for writing a review was pure fluffiness..! It arrived puffed right up over its earthenware bowl, and steamed egg is definitely essential with spicy sauce because it really mellows the heat! (It only takes one line of review, so it is worth getting!!)

Order beer and they bring you the whole ice basket.

This was the part I liked most. When you order beer, they also bring a basket filled with ice. Why is that so good? Spicy meals tend to keep you sitting around for a while, and then the last drink is always lukewarm. Keeping it in the basket meant I could drink it cold right to the end! Not that many places provide an ice basket as a service, so I think this may be a special strength of Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo. Even when the weather gets cooler, drinks warm up quickly if the meal runs long, so I loved not having to worry about that!

A clean finish with yeolmu mulguksu

We finished with yeolmu mulguksu. After staring at hot charcoal the whole time, one sip of cold broth feels refreshing simply because of the temperature difference. There was a generous amount of yeolmu in it, and it was deliciously crisp. The broth was sweet and tangy too—the kind of flavor that washes everything you ate before right down cleanly.

If you want kkomjju and makchang together in Sindorim

To sum it up, this place has three key points: kkomjangeo and webfoot octopus come together on one grill, you can order old-style makchang one serving at a time, and beer comes with an ice basket so it stays cold to the last sip! If you are looking for a Sindorim Korean BBQ restaurant, I recommend Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo Makchang Guro-gu Sindorim Branch!