# Gangneung lunch spot for charcoal-grilled pork galbi: Chodang Uga - By Damdam (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-table/) - Written Sep 18, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangneung, Gangwon - Sponsored: This post was written as a sponsored visit to the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-table/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-table/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/index.md) ## In short Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga is a hanwoo beef and pork galbi restaurant about 100m from Gangmun Beach and a one-minute walk from St. John's Hotel in Gangneung. For lunch on day two of a Gangneung trip, a couple grilled fruit-marinated pork galbi (22,000 won per serving) over charcoal at the table, then finished with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and a bowl of rice. With a generous vegetable self-serve bar and strong ventilation, Chodang Uga was an easy place to eat without worrying about the smell of smoke. ## Good to know - **Address**: Chodang Uga, 298-4 Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–21:30 (break 15:00–17:00, last order 20:50) - **Closed**: Check Naver Place - **What we ordered**: Fruit-marinated pork galbi, 22,000 won per serving - **Parking**: Private lot in front of the standalone building, about 30 spaces - **Location**: Within 100m of Gangmun Beach, one-minute walk from St. John's Hotel - **Ordering**: Tablet kiosk at each table - **Self-serve bar**: Free salad, wrap vegetables and shredded onion - **Price reference**: ₩22,000 ≈ $16 (2026-09-19) *as written by the visitor on Sep 18, 2026* ![Main image from the visit to Chodang Uga in Gangneung](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-01-q1c03-966.webp) Day two of our Gangneung trip started bright. It was one of those exciting days heading to Gangmun Beach, a place I visit twice a year without fail. Before hitting the beach properly, we stopped by Chodang Uga, a spot known among St. John's Hotel diners, to fill up first. My boyfriend loves the pork galbi here, so it was a must on our itinerary — and sure enough, we cleaned the grill completely. Here's my review, from the taste to the atmosphere, and everything was satisfying. ## Where is Chodang Uga, and what are its hours? - 🏠 Address: 298-4 Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea - ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:30 - Break time 15:00 - 17:00 / Last order 20:50 - Check Naver Place for closed days ![Exterior of the standalone Chodang Uga building near Gangmun Beach](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-02-1m432-966.webp) The restaurant sits just about 100m from Gangmun Beach, so it's a great spot for a walk along the water before or after eating. It's especially close to Gangneung St. John's Hotel, well known as a pet-friendly hotel — only a 1-minute walk away. Perfect for anyone visiting with a dog for a stroll. ### Parking at Chodang Uga No need to worry about driving here either — there's a private lot in front of the standalone building that comfortably fits around 30 cars, so we walked in stress-free. ## What's on the menu at Chodang Uga? ![Menu board posted outside Chodang Uga](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-03-1m1m2-966.webp) ![Menu sign showing hanwoo and pork prices](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-04-rep34-966.webp) The menu is posted right outside the entrance, so you can easily check what's available and at what price before even going in. There's a good variety, from Gangneung hanwoo (Korean beef) to pork and bulgogi. ![View of the spacious main dining hall at Chodang Uga](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-05-5fqqw-966.webp) ## Inside Chodang Uga: atmosphere and seating Walking inside, a spacious, comfortable view opens up. The overall interior feels upscale too. I especially loved the snowy mountain mural covering the wall and the indirect lighting every time I looked at it. On our first visit, I was surprised that despite being a BBQ place, there was no acrid smell or smoke at all. The ventilation system works so well that you can eat without worrying about your clothes smelling. The tables were spaced generously and the whole place felt meticulously clean, which gave me confidence in it. ![Seating with generous spacing between tables](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-06-lnac3-966.webp) This restaurant, popular with St. John's Hotel guests, is laid out to suit family gatherings and group dinners alike. There's also a carefully separated pet-friendly seating area. (The space is wide enough to move around easily with a dog stroller or baby stroller.) Sturdy high chairs and other amenities are well prepared, so anyone can feel comfortable staying here. ### The free vegetable self-serve bar On one side of the restaurant, there's a generously stocked self-serve bar with fresh salad, various lettuce wraps, and shredded onion, all free to take as much as you like. Being able to grab lettuce and perilla leaves without hesitation is a huge plus for anyone who loves wrapping their meat in ssam (lettuce wraps). ![Tablet kiosk ordering screen on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-07-1lwf5-966.webp) Ordering is done contactlessly through the tablet kiosk on each table. We chose one of the meat dishes, fruit-marinated pork galbi. ![Full spread of side dishes served with the pork galbi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-08-1e0xl-966.webp) ## What side dishes come with the galbi? After ordering, a neat array of side dishes was set on the table. Salad, sweet pumpkin salad, kimchi, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) — all nicely arranged sides that pair well with the meat. ![Salad and sweet pumpkin salad side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-09-1d15y-966.webp) ![Japchae and other accompanying side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-10-10lz7-966.webp) ![Close-up of side dishes that pair well with the meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-11-162tt-966.webp) ![Broccoli, salad, and other vegetable side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-12-1d8y9-966.webp) All the side dishes suited my taste perfectly and even felt thoughtfully healthy. Before diving into the main meal, we started light with broccoli and salad. They say it's good for your health to eat vegetables first, and I liked that Chodang Uga gave us both broccoli and salad. ![A plate of tofu side dish at Chodang Uga](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-13-3xluz-1200.webp) Of everything, what caught my eye most was the pale tofu side dish. Since the restaurant is near the famous Chodang Sundubu Village, they thoughtfully served tofu to match the local specialty. Mild and nutty, it gently soothed our empty stomachs, so we got to enjoy both tofu and meat — a nice two-for-one treat. ![Fresh kimchi side dish at Chodang Uga](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-14-dxyd7-966.webp) My boyfriend isn't a fan of fermented kimchi and prefers fresh, un-aged kimchi, especially geotjeori-style. This St. John's Hotel-area restaurant always serves fresh kimchi, so he cleaned the plate every time. ![Shredded onion and sauce to eat with the meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-15-1p730-966.webp) This is the shredded onion and sauce to eat with the meat. The shredded onion can be freely refilled from the self-bar. ## Fruit-marinated pork galbi, 22,000 won per serving ![Plate of fruit-marinated pork galbi as served](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-16-y58eg-966.webp) ![Close-up of the marinated pork galbi meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-17-1t5uk-966.webp) The long-awaited main dish, fruit-marinated pork galbi, arrived looking hearty. True to its ₩22,000 price per serving, it uses domestic Dodram pork, so the quality of the meat itself stood out. Marinated for a long time in natural fruit sauce made with Gangwon-do Imgye apples and more, it had a sweetness that felt natural, not artificial. ![Pork galbi placed on the charcoal grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-18-f63sn-966.webp) ![Marinated pork galbi cooking over charcoal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-19-qojeg-966.webp) Chodang Uga runs on a self-grill system with no staff grilling service — customers cook the meat themselves. As we set the thick pork galbi onto the strong charcoal fire, a sweet aroma spread everywhere. ![Cross-section of the pork galbi cut into bite-size pieces](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-20-1gpw3-m-966.webp) ![Glossy, well-grilled pork galbi on the grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-21-1p4k1-966.webp) Marinated meat needs frequent flipping so it doesn't burn on the outside, and thanks to our careful teamwork, the galbi came out looking perfect. The deep charcoal aroma soaking into the sliced pieces looked amazing. A powerful ventilator sucked up the rising smoke so we could focus purely on the meat without stinging eyes. I popped a glossy, well-cooked piece of galbi into my mouth. It melted the moment my teeth touched it, and I couldn't help but be amazed at how tender it was. Not dry or chewy anywhere, just soft and juicy, with the fruit marinade soaked right through for a lovely sweet-and-savory balance. It wasn't overly salty or sweet, so it's a flavor everyone could love without exception. ![A lettuce and perilla wrap with meat and shredded onion](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-22-1cuf0-966.webp) This time, we made a big wrap with perilla leaves and lettuce from the self-bar, topped with shredded onion and meat. The crunchy, fresh vegetables, the sharp onion, and the sweet meat bursting with juice all came together for incredible synergy. The pork galbi's addictive marinade kept our chopsticks moving without ever getting tiring. ![Doenjang jjigae packed with hearty ingredients](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-23-7lcmz-966.webp) ![Doenjang jjigae served with a bowl of rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch-24-1eksd-966.webp) ## Finishing with doenjang jjigae and rice As our plate of meat was nearly cleared, we ordered doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and a bowl of rice to finish the meal properly. Even as a dessert-style stew, it was packed generously with ingredients — meat, tofu, vegetables — giving a real sense of satisfaction. It did a great job cutting through the sweetness and refreshing our palate with a spicy, clean finish. Before heading out to enjoy the dazzling sea at Gangmun Beach, we had a fully satisfying meal at Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga, a spot popular with St. John's Hotel guests. Trustworthy, high-quality pork paired with a fantastic natural fruit marinade, a spacious and well-managed dining room, and a generous self-bar — everything came together perfectly. If you're looking to enjoy quality meat with a neat table setting while traveling in Gangneung, or searching for a relaxed BBQ restaurant to visit with your beloved dog or family, this is a spot worth checking out. ## Where it is - Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga (강릉한우 초당우가) - 298-4 Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea - 강원특별자치도 강릉시 해안로 298-4 초당우가 - 37.7915957, 128.9198579 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EA%B0%95%EB%A6%89%ED%95%9C%EC%9A%B0%20%EC%B4%88%EB%8B%B9%EC%9A%B0%EA%B0%80/@37.7915957,128.9198579,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-table/gangneung-chodangwooga-pork-galbi-lunch/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt