Gangseo lamb restaurant date night with charcoal-grilled skewers: Hwarodam

After feeding the kid, spooning up soup for them, bringing water on command, and getting showered with “Mom, do this for me!” requests in between… it’s the kind of war-zone day where I can’t even remember what I put in my own mouth, haha. So we made a big decision and went to Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok, just my husband and me.

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok: location and seating

There are so many good places in Magok that we were looking around saying, “Let’s try somewhere new today!” when we found this one. It is on the second floor, but the restaurant is big and its sign stands out, so it was easy to find. Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok (화로담양꼬치 마곡) is a newly opened charcoal-grilled lamb specialist near Magok and Balsan Station.

It is a recently opened Magok restaurant, so I was curious—and above all, I loved that the lamb comes out par-cooked over a brazier.

From lamb ribs and lamb sirloin to lamb skewers, its specialty is that you can choose from a range of lamb cuts.

The moment you open the door, a gorgeous charcoal brazier greets you right at the entrance. They par-cook every order here.

They have everything from window seats with a wide-open Magok city view to cozy sofa seats that make you want to settle right in! The tables are generously spaced too—perfect for talking behind people’s backs (?)… I mean, having an intimate conversation.

The menu, from lamb ribs to a beer deal

The grilled menu ranges from lamb ribs and fresh lamb sirloin to all kinds of skewers, while the Chinese-style dishes—such as guobaorou (crispy sweet-and-sour pork) and crispy eggplant—are seriously solid too. And then there was the little cheat code that made my eyes light up… the Pilsner & IPA 3+1 deal! 🍺 Go out for lamb skewers and naturally find yourself at a beer party. A miracle, really.

Here is the menu list that my husband and I demolished with all our hearts that day.

• Lamb ribs (shoulder rack) ₩26,000
• Lamb sirloin skewers ₩23,000
• Thick lamb skewers ₩18,000
• Crispy eggplant (small) ₩15,000
• Pilsner & IPA, 3+1 glasses ₩21,000

How the par-cooked lamb ribs and skewers tasted

The best thing here is that the food arrives par-cooked over the brazier! “Honey, is this done?” “Grill it a little longer.” Conversations usually get interrupted like that, but because it was already par-cooked, we only had to warm it through lightly at the table. Peaceful conversation was possible, haha.

Lamb ribs steeped in charcoal aroma

The lamb ribs had charcoal aroma all through them, crisp outside and juicy inside, just like that! It was so fun dipping them in the three sauces: chive-flower sauce, secret soy sauce, and Silk Road sauce. Since the meat came par-cooked, we only had to finish it to a golden brown at the table. As it cooked over the charcoal and that distinctive nutty lamb aroma rose up, the conversation between my husband and me rapidly dwindled.

“Delicious.” “Yep.” “This is really good, though?” “Yep.”

Hahahaha. A couple on a long-overdue date, concentrating on the meat more than conversation. Still, we were happy. 😂 Not even a hint of gaminess! Every bite burst with juices, and our chopsticks would not stop 🍖

Thick lamb skewers and sirloin skewers

We ordered both the thick skewers and the sirloin kind, and I liked the sirloin better. It somehow tasted a little cheesy, or maybe just nuttier?! But that is personal preference—ultimately, it was all delicious, haha.

You know, right? The automatic rotating grill? You have to get them cooked quickly and put new ones on so you can eat faster and eat more ^,^ haha.

The seasoned chive sauce Hwarodam gave us was unusual but delicious. It had a magical flavor that kept the lamb from feeling rich, so you just kept eating more?!

Pilsner, IPA, and crispy eggplant

A meal with meat would feel incomplete without beer. It was a rare outing for just the two of us—and an especially precious one because we had left the car behind—so cheers! ❤︎❤︎

Let’s be friends~~❤︎ One bite of rich lamb followed by a gulp of Pilsner… this is paradise.

₊⁺ ꒰১ meat cross ໒꒱ ⁺

The crispy eggplant was the very definition of crisp outside, tender inside. Alternate it with the lamb and there is no other heaven. Even people who hate eggplant would get down on their knees for this dangerously crisp-outside, tender-inside goodness 🍆

What about the lamb aroma and sauces?

I think lamb can be a love-it-or-hate-it food because of its distinctive aroma, but par-cooking it over the brazier and finishing it over charcoal made it easy to eat: golden on the outside and moist inside.

You could taste lamb’s characteristic nutty flavor, and the charcoal aroma made it pair well with beer too. Trying the three sauces—chive-flower sauce, secret soy sauce, and Silk Road sauce—was fun as well. The same meat tasted a little different with each sauce, so it was fun comparing preferences with my husband: “I’m this sauce!”

For me, the lamb aroma was not strong. If it is your first time trying lamb, I also recommend having it with the sauces.

Balsan Station access and whether it is good for two

It is about a five-minute walk from Balsan Station Exit 9. You can use the Queens Park 10 underground parking lot, with four hours of free parking. Still, it is best to check with the restaurant whether your parking has been registered when you visit.

There are also private rooms and partitioned seats, so it looked well suited to lots of occasions: a couple’s date, a get-together with friends, a company dinner, or a family meal. It was also a nice place for dinner for just the two of us without the kid.

This outing had everything: delicious lamb, a beer, and long-overdue time alone with my husband! That is why it became an even more memorable dinner. “Dinner for two without the kid is… more precious than lamb.”