Kid-friendly spicy braised ribs in Pungmu-dong, Gimpo: Jin Galmaegal

Jin Galmaegal Pungmu Branch: spicy braised pork ribs in Pungmu-dong, Gimpo

Jin Galmaegal Pungmu Branch is a spicy pot-braised pork back ribs restaurant located on the 1st floor of 19 Pungmu-ro 96beon-gil, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, open from 17:00 to 22:30.

I was in the mood for something spicy today, so I went with my kid to Jin Galmaegal Pungmu Branch, a spicy braised ribs spot in Gimpo :) I went there wanting braised back ribs, and it turned out to be great to eat with a child too — we even finished off with fried rice at the end haha. Hope this review helps a lot of you ✨

What is on the Jin Galmaegal menu, and which sides can you add?

The main menu item was the spicy pot-braised pork back ribs. For sides there's a variety of add-ins like soft tofu, rice cake, glass noodles, ramyeon, mushroom, and udon noodles. And of course they have fried rice and rice balls haha.

Which back ribs size and spice level should you pick?

Looking at the menu, the back ribs come in small and large sizes, and since we were two people we ordered the small. You can also choose the spice level, and we went with Level 1, the basic flavor. Level 1 doesn't mean not spicy at all — for me it was just the right amount of spicy-delicious! Level 2 is spicy-hot, and Level 3 is apparently buldak (fire chicken) level!! There was no Level 0 haha. We also finished ordering rice balls, pork cutlet, and steamed egg for the kid.

How do the pot-braised back ribs taste?

A bunch of side dishes came out first to help neutralize the spice, and then the ribs arrived in a big pot, filled to the brim haha. There was already a lot of rice cake and mushroom in there! If you add extra sides, it'll probably overflow!!

The first bite hits sweet, then the spiciness builds up as you keep eating! So the more I ate, the more I wanted rice with it haha. The meat came off the bone easily too, so it was fun picking the meat off the bones. The sauce was well soaked into the meat, so it was tasty just on its own, and also good with a bit of sauce spooned over rice.

Personally, for this kind of braised ribs the sauce is what matters, and rather than being just overwhelmingly spicy or harsh, this one leaned spicy-sweet, so my chopsticks kept going back for more.

What to order at Jin Galmaegal when you bring a child

Since we were visiting with a kid, we needed a separate dish for them, so we ordered rice balls, pork cutlet, and steamed egg. The back ribs would obviously be too spicy for a child, so ordering rice balls turned out to be just right. While the kid munched away on rice balls, us adults could focus on the ribs haha. The steamed egg was so fluffy and delicious too! Honestly, I ate more of it than my kid did haha.

We had it at the basic spice level, but I think those who love spicy food could go for Level 2 or 3. If you're looking for a spicy braised ribs spot in Gimpo and you like a spicy-sweet sauce rather than just plain overwhelming heat, this is worth trying.

Finishing the pot with fried rice

There were several side menu options, and in the end we finished with fried rice. After a saucy dish like this, you just can't resist fried rice... haha. Cooked in the back ribs sauce, it had a whole different feel from the ribs we first ate, and even though we were full, we kept eating.

For me, finishing off the braised ribs with fried rice was the most satisfying part haha. If you need a dish for your kid to share, I recommend ordering a rice ball too! That day we had a small serving plus rice balls and fried rice, and left with our stomachs nice and full :)

Next visit: one spice level higher

Jin Galmaegal Pungmu Branch is located in Pungmu-dong, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, offering back ribs along with a variety of side menu options. Personally, next time I'd like to try it one spice level up haha. I'll have to eat it properly spicy next time!