Late-lunch beef rib and cheese scallops at Gwangju BBQ Sangnok Hoegwan

Where is Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch, and is parking easy?

Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch (상록회관 연탄구이 태전점) is a briquette-grill BBQ specialist at 350-6 Hoean-daero, 1st floor, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi, and the spacious parking area in front made parking easy. Last week I stopped by a dermatologist in Taejeon-dong and came here for a late lunch. The sign stands out, so it's easy to find.

It was my first time trying briquette-grilled meat, so I was really looking forward to the taste. We went late in the afternoon, so it was relaxed and unhurried.

Is Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch good for family meals and work dinners?

The inside is much bigger and more comfortable than I expected, so it seems great for family gatherings or company dinners. When you drive past, you only see the sign on the opposite side, so I had no idea it was this spacious. I was surprised once I walked in. I asked my younger sibling, and of course they've had a company dinner here before, haha.

Every table having its own briquettes ready was impressive too. How would meat with that briquette-fire flavor taste?

Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch menu prices and order sizes

The menu has a pork one-geun (600g) for ₩34,000 and a beef one-geun (600g) for ₩48,000, so the one-geun sets look good if you come in a group.

What stood out most on the menu was that most meat dishes can be ordered in additional 100g units. The first order starts at 300g, but after that you can add 100g at a time, which seemed perfect for tasting several cuts in small amounts. At BBQ places you often end up eating just one or two items, but with a group it would be fun to enjoy a variety of cuts.

We ordered the beef short rib meat (₩8,500 per 100g) and the cheese scallops (₩17,000). I liked that we could have meat and seafood in one go.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

Among the side dishes, the geotjeori (fresh, unfermented kimchi) was especially good,

and the self-bar was kept clean, so I could grab whatever side dishes I needed without hesitating. Grilling the pineapple on the grill too is honestly heavenly!

A generous spread was laid out.

How does briquette-grilled beef short rib taste?

The beef short rib meat comes already salted, so you just grill it as is. The briquettes are powerful, so it turned golden brown in no time. The meat was tender and juicy, and I was satisfied.

It was hot out, so sitting by the briquettes was a little warm, but the faint briquette aroma drifting around put me in a good mood anyway.

Normally I eat grilled beef on its own, but this day I tried it in a lettuce wrap with jangajji (soy-pickled vegetables), and the flavor got much richer. The icy radish salad with a thin layer of frost on top was a treat too.

What are cheese scallops like at a Korean BBQ restaurant?

It was my first time having scallops at a BBQ place, and the cheese scallops (₩17,000) were surprisingly satisfying. When I set the big scallops on the briquette fire, the cheese started melting, and the plump scallop meat went really well with it.

As I ate, I remembered eating grilled shellfish in Daebudo once, and for a moment it felt like a little trip.

Finishing with doenjang jjigae and rice

We ended, of course, with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and a bowl of rice. After the meat, finishing with a hearty stew made the meal feel properly complete.

Beef and cheese scallops went together better than I expected, so it was a different kind of meal. It seems good for anyone who wants a menu combination a little different from usual.

Is Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch good for families with kids?

Sangnok Hoegwan has baby chairs, and at the entrance there's a fish tank and the origin of the ingredients is displayed. Stuffed and smelling strongly of grilled meat, I went to pick up my baby from daycare, haha. Maybe because I ate so well, I had the energy to get through the afternoon of childcare.

If you're looking for a BBQ place in Taejeon-dong, Gwangju, with easy parking and a way to casually try various cuts, I think Sangnok Hoegwan is worth a visit 😊