Yangjae Station Korean restaurant for bossam and makguksu: Yangjaeok

We all have one of those days where you've poured all your energy into being out and about, and by evening you can't be bothered to lift a finger. My husband's work happened to end right around dinner time, so I texted him, and he said he wanted something comforting and proper — Korean food, not greasy fast food. While hunting for a place near Yangjae Station with light, clean bossam (boiled pork belly), cool makguksu (buckwheat noodles), and maybe a casual drink on the side, I came across the well-known Korean restaurant Yangjaeok (양재옥).

Where is Yangjaeok, and what are its hours?

• Address: 2629 Nambusunhwan-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Getting there: about 274m (roughly 300m straight ahead) from Exit 4 of Yangjae Station, Line 3 and Sinbundang Line
• Hours: weekdays (Mon-Fri) 11:00-22:00 (last order 21:00) / weekends (Sat-Sun) 11:00-21:00 (last order 20:00)
• Holiday closures are announced on Naver Place
• Amenities: group-friendly, takeout, delivery, reservations, full Wi-Fi

Hanok-eaved exterior and the dining room at Yangjaeok

Arriving out front, I found a dark brick building topped with a traditional tiled hanok-style eave, giving off an old-world yet warm charm. Amid the concrete high-rises of the neighborhood, that warm, inviting exterior put me at ease before I even stepped inside.

Inside, the space was clean and uncluttered, with a mood that felt just right for an afternoon drink. The hall was lined with spacious four-person tables set at comfortable intervals, perfect for catching up with coworkers or friends over drinks after work. With its generous size and ample seating, it's easily one of those solid Yangjae restaurants for a group dinner or work gathering.

What the couple ordered at Yangjaeok

Yangjaeok's signature is a hearty juanjang (drinking table) set piled with dubu kimchi (tofu with stir-fried kimchi), zucchini jeon (pan-fried zucchini), jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), and bossam all together. Since we'd come by car and couldn't drink, we focused on filling dishes instead. We ended up ordering medium bossam, special bibim makguksu, and six plump mandu (dumplings).

Bossam: moist, tender pork with no off taste

The moment the glistening pork touched my tongue, I couldn't help but gasp. Boiled just right, the ratio of lean meat to fat was gorgeous, and it was tender with none of that gamey smell pork can sometimes have. Wrapped up with the crisp, cool bossam kimchi and the tangy-sweet pickled garlic served alongside, each bite exploded with savory flavor.

Bibim makguksu rich with nutty perilla oil

The moment the noodles were tossed, the nutty aroma of perilla oil and sesame hit my nose in the best way. The special sauce was mildly spicy-sweet rather than overpowering, soaked into every strand of the chewy, springy buckwheat noodles. Rolling a piece of tender bossam into the noodles and eating them together was a refreshing, unbeatable combination.

King mandu packed with juicy filling

Splitting open the thin, chewy dumpling skin revealed a dense, generous filling of ground pork, fragrant chives, and fresh vegetables. The first bite let loose a burst of hot, savory juice that filled my mouth. It wasn't heavy or overpowering, making it the perfect thing to alternate with bites of the spicy makguksu.

Is Yangjaeok worth a visit? Final verdict

Yangjaeok is a top spot for a Yangjae group dinner — a place to enjoy careful home-style cooking and a relaxed atmosphere within a hanok-flavored setting.

• Excellent tender bossam: boiled pork with no off flavor, paired beautifully with savory bossam kimchi and pickled garlic.
• Bibim makguksu with plenty of perilla oil: nutty perilla and sesame flavor, addictive buckwheat noodles in a mild spicy-sweet sauce.
• Juicy, bursting mandu: thin skins packed full of vegetables and meat, a satisfying side dish with great texture.
• Great for gatherings: an excellent 3-minute walk from Yangjae Station, a clean and spacious hall, plus a nice receipt review event.

My friends and I often meet up around Yangjae Station, and next time I plan to leave the car at home so I can order the full juanjang set with a cold drink. If you're looking for good Korean food or a comfortable spot for a group gathering near Yangjae Station, I highly recommend stopping by!