Charcoal-grilled pork ribs in Dongdaemun: Anhung Galbi Main Branch

Charcoal-grilled pork ribs at Anhung Galbi Main Branch

• Ribs aged in a traditional marinade passed down through three generations
• Charcoal-grilled ribs cooked directly over binchotan-style charcoal on a copper grill
• A spacious, comfortable restaurant suited to family meals and group dining
• Complimentary dessert naengmyeon with a rib order
• A generous spread, from doenjang-jjigae to assorted side dishes and ice cream

Today, I was craving sweet marinated ribs for the first time in ages, so my oppa and I went out for meat. I heard there was an old, well-known rib restaurant in Jang-an-dong, so we headed over. We visited with the thought that we should eat lots of delicious things one last time before Maru is born. The place I went to was Anhung Galbi Main Branch (안흥갈비 본점). If you are looking for a long-running rib restaurant in Jang-an-dong, it is probably a name you have heard at least once—and after trying it myself, I could see why it has been loved so consistently. I thought it would be a nice choice especially for anyone looking for a meat restaurant in Jang-an-dong or a place for a family meal!

Traditional marinated ribs passed down for three generations

Anhung Galbi, a long-running rib restaurant in Jang-an-dong

It is at 306-1 Jang-an-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and the hours are 11:30–22:30. Parking is also available.

If you are visiting by car, you may be wondering about parking. About two cars can park in front of the restaurant. It is not especially roomy, so parking may be difficult depending on when you visit—something to keep in mind. If you are coming for a family meal or gathering, I recommend checking parking availability in advance!

Anhung Galbi Main Branch uses Korean chilled ribs and pork neck that are traditionally butterflied, then low-temperature ages them for 48 hours in its distinctive marinade passed down through three generations!

They are also cooked directly over charcoal using a copper grill. As the ribs cook over charcoal, excess fat renders away while the juices stay inside, so I could really taste the distinctive flavor of the ribs. That is why I thought it would be a good spot for people looking for a meat restaurant in Dongdaemun-gu, too. It also had the deep, old-school atmosphere unique to a long-established favorite, which I personally liked even more.

A spacious dining room with old-school charm

The old-school feeling was instantly noticeable when I walked in. But it was not just old-fashioned—the dining room itself was spacious and pleasant, so it was easy to eat comfortably. I saw lots of families when I visited. It looked like a good place not only for family meals, but also gatherings or company dinners with a larger group. There are lots of neat, modern meat restaurants these days, but the atmosphere of a long-loved Jang-an-dong old-timer like this definitely has its own charm. It also did not feel intimidating to visit with parents, so it is worth keeping in mind when looking for a family dining spot!

Pork ribs grilled over charcoal

The main menu includes charcoal-grilled pork ribs and LA galbi. After some deliberation, we ordered two portions of pork ribs.

Once you order, they first prepare the charcoal. Ribs really do taste best grilled over charcoal, right? Because they are cooked directly over binchotan-style charcoal on a copper grill, a gentle charcoal aroma naturally seeps into the meat. If you love marinated ribs while looking for a Jang-an-dong meat restaurant, this direct charcoal-grilling method is an important point. Once I grilled and tasted them, the sweet marinade plus the charcoal flavor made them the kind of ribs that have you reaching for rice.

Included doenjang-jjigae and a satisfying spread of side dishes

When you order meat, doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) comes as a basic accompaniment. It was full of vegetables and tofu, and because it could keep simmering separately, it was nice to eat warm while grilling the meat.

The side dishes were also laid out quite nicely. There was seasoned scallion salad, pickled onions, and seasoned chicory that all went well with the ribs. Marinated raw crab and tender napa cabbage wraps were included too, so we could enjoy the ribs in more combinations than I expected. In particular, it was my first time wrapping ribs in tender napa cabbage, and it felt so fresh. I normally only think of lettuce wraps, but the crisp cabbage texture went really well with the sweet ribs. Considering this whole spread, I thought it would be a nice Dongdaemun-gu meat restaurant to visit with family, too.

How to grill pork ribs soaked with marinade

At last, our pork ribs arrived. They looked appetizing from the way the marinade had soaked into the meat, and the portion was more generous than I expected.

Once the grill is hot enough, place the ribs on one by one. Since the charcoal heat is quite strong, they cook faster than you might think. So it is important to turn them often so they do not burn. We kept flipping ours and grilled them until nicely browned.

Once the meat is cooked, cut it into bite-sized pieces. My oppa was in charge of grilling each piece to a perfect golden brown. He even gave them that smoky fire-kissed flavor so well that my mouth was watering just looking at them. You can move the cooked ribs to the side of the grill to keep them warm, so you can keep eating without interrupting the flow while grilling the rest. The rich marinade and charcoal aroma worked together beautifully, just as you would expect from a long-running Jang-an-dong meat restaurant, and I was personally very satisfied.

And here is one little tip I want to share! While grilling the ribs, place the jeon (savory pan-fried pancake) that comes as a side on the edge of the grill and warm it up a little. It warmed through with a gentle charcoal aroma, and it was more delicious than I expected. Having a little jeon in between bites of meat made for another tasty treat. Taking in these small pleasures made the meal even more fun.

Once the ribs were beautifully browned, it was finally time to dig in. The sweet-savory marinade had soaked right into the meat, and the charcoal aroma on top really whetted my appetite. Put one well-grilled piece of rib over steamed white rice, and this combination simply cannot fail. It is a flavor that anyone who likes marinated ribs would enjoy!

They were delicious wrapped in lettuce and just as delicious in tender napa cabbage wraps, so you can enjoy them in different ways depending on your taste. That is why I would recommend it to anyone looking for a Jang-an-dong meat restaurant and wanting a proper charcoal-grilled pork rib meal.

Soft and bouncy egg pudding

While eating the meat, we also ordered an egg pudding! True to its name, it really looked like pudding.

It had a bouncy yet soft texture, making it nice to have a bite here and there between the meat. Pairing the soft egg pudding with the sweet marinated ribs felt like it reset my palate once, so I was glad we ordered it. It would be a good side to order when meat alone feels a little incomplete.

Complimentary dessert naengmyeon with a rib order

After we had eaten a fair amount of meat, we ordered dessert naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), too. One nice thing here is that dessert naengmyeon is complimentary when you order ribs. We ordered one mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and one bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles). Because it is a dessert-sized serving, it is not huge, but it was just the right amount to finish after the meat.

In particular, having a piece of rib with the naengmyeon was delicious as always: the sweet-and-tangy noodles and sweet marinated ribs went together so well. Personally, I do not feel like I have properly finished a rib meal until I have naengmyeon, too. If you are looking for a meat restaurant in Dongdaemun-gu, it is worth noting that you can enjoy not only the meat but also a satisfying dessert course here.

Ending with sweet vanilla ice cream

After the meal, you can have ice cream for dessert as well. The vanilla ice cream was sweet and creamy, perfect as a final dessert. After charcoal-grilled ribs, naengmyeon, and ice cream, we ended the meal truly full. As you would expect from a place that has been around for a long time, both the rib flavor and the overall warm atmosphere made it a memorable meal. It felt even more special to me because my oppa and I went out for delicious ribs together before Maru is born.

Anhung Galbi Main Branch was a place where I could enjoy both the charm of an old-school restaurant and charcoal-grilled ribs. The pork ribs were richly infused with sweet marinade and charcoal aroma, making them great with rice, and we also enjoyed the assorted side dishes, doenjang-jjigae, and dessert naengmyeon. If you are looking for a long-running meat restaurant in Jang-an-dong, I think it is worth a visit. It also looked like a good choice for a family meal, a meal with parents, or dining with a larger group. On a day when you are craving sweet marinated ribs like I was, you may want to remember Anhung Galbi Main Branch! If you like the warm atmosphere unique to an old rib restaurant and charcoal-grilled pork ribs, I think you will have a satisfying meal.