Korean BBQ with friends near Mapo Station: yukhoe set at Usijang

My friends and I hadn't gotten together in a while, so while looking for a Korean BBQ place near Mapo Station, I found Usijang Hoegwan (우시장회관) and went to check it out.

There were several BBQ spots around Mapo Station, but this one looked good because you could get grilled beef, raw beef, and a full meal all in one visit, so I decided to try it.

It's close to Mapo Station, so it was easy to get to, and the seating works well for groups — good to know if you're hunting for a Mapo Station restaurant or a company dinner spot near Mapo Station.

Where is Usijang Hoegwan, and what are its hours?

• Usijang Hoegwan, 1F, 15-10 Samgae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours daily 10:00–22:00 / break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 21:30
• Takeout, group dining, WiFi, waiting area, reservations, delivery, parking

Usijang Hoegwan is about a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Mapo Station, so it's easy to reach by subway.

It's also within walking distance of Gongdeok Station, so it's a good option if you're looking for a place to eat near Gongdeok or a Gongdeok Station restaurant.

Inside Usijang Hoegwan: 50 seats and group tables

Inside, Usijang Hoegwan is mostly tables set up for grilling, each with its own overhead hood. Overall it had a comfortable, homey Korean BBQ atmosphere.

There were plenty of seats — around 50 total — so it looked like a good size for visiting with friends.

There's also seating that fits larger groups, so it seemed like a solid choice for a Mapo Station company dinner.

Usijang Hoegwan menu: what comes in the 3-person set

Here's the menu at this Mapo Station restaurant, Usijang Hoegwan :) There's grilled beef like premium jingalbisal, seasoned LA galbi, and beef galbisal, plus Hanwoo yukhoe (raw beef) and beef sashimi, gukbap (rice soup), stews, and boiled meat dishes — a pretty wide range.

The set menus are organized by group size — 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6-person sets — so it looked easy to pick something whether you're dining solo or with a group.

We ordered the 3-person assorted set, which comes with a beef platter, your choice of raw beef or beef sashimi, and a meal. We picked yukhoe (raw beef), and for the meal we chose the fresh clam beef gukbap.

They set up the charcoal first and brought out the side dishes along with it. Seasoned lettuce, wrap greens, pickled onion, kimchi, and various jangajji (pickles) — all neatly laid out and good for pairing with the meat. Salt and ssamjang (dipping sauce) came out individually too.

The 700g beef platter: how did the three cuts taste?

The beef platter we ordered was 700g, with premium jingalbisal, seasoned LA galbi, and galbisal all on one plate so you could try three cuts at once. It was great being able to have several cuts together.

The premium jingalbisal, once it hit the charcoal, gave off a nutty aroma and had a tender bite — really good.

There was a good amount of juiciness too, so dipping it in salt let the flavor of the meat itself really come through.

The galbisal had a chewy yet nutty flavor.

Grilled over charcoal, it picked up a subtle smoky flavor and paired well wrapped in lettuce too.

The seasoned LA galbi was well marinated, and the meat was so soft it was easy to eat.

The sweet-savory seasoning gave it a completely different flavor from the other two cuts — really enjoyable.

The yukhoe (raw seasoned beef) that comes with the set

The yukhoe (raw beef) looked appetizing right from the start. The meat was tender, and popping the egg yolk and mixing it in added a nutty richness — really tasty.

The seasoning wasn't overdone either, so it was easy to eat cleanly.

The rice meal: fresh clam beef gukbap

Last was the fresh clam beef gukbap (rice soup). Even just looking at it, it seemed quite generous — plenty of clams and beef piled on top, looking really appetizing.

The rice was already in the bowl, so there was no need to add it separately — you could dig right in. The clams made the broth light and clean, and with the beef added it was hearty and filling. Having warm gukbap alongside the grilled meat really rounded out the meal.

With grilled beef, raw beef, and gukbap all in one order, it seemed like a smart move to get the set menu when there are three of you.

Usijang Hoegwan is close to Mapo Station and has a varied menu, so it's a good pick if you're looking for a Korean BBQ restaurant near Mapo Station or a place to eat with a group. Since you can enjoy grilled meat, raw beef, and a full meal all in one visit, it's worth keeping in mind if you're searching for a Mapo Station company dinner spot.