Ansan Korean BBQ: light brisket lunch with seasoned crab, Cheongnyuok

Lunch on Bandalseom when you want meat but nothing too heavy

The brisket set (chadol jeongsik) at Cheongnyuok (청류옥) on Ansan's Bandalseom is a lunch set of beef brisket with doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), seasoned raw crab and japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), and it costs ₩22,000 per person. I'd recommend it for those days when you want meat, but a big pile of greasy pork belly feels like too much, and a plain set meal feels a little disappointing.

You know those lunchtimes when you're stuck on what to eat today? On a day when I wanted meat and a hearty bowl of rice, this is what I went for, so let me introduce it.

• Cheongnyuok brisket set
• Price: ₩22,000 per person
• Menu: beef brisket set meal
• Served with: doenjang stew, seasoned raw crab, japchae and more
• Recommended add-on: mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth)

Seriously? Charcoal this good for a lunch special?

Why is brisket a good lunch meat?

The brisket in Cheongnyuok's set is sliced thin and grilled, so it cooks quickly and feels easy on the stomach at lunch. When people say they're going out for meat, pork belly or galbi usually comes to mind first. Those are great, of course, but grilling and eating at a grill table from lunchtime can make the afternoon feel a bit heavy.

That's when brisket is a good choice! No, a great choice! It doesn't take long to cook, and it has that rich, nutty flavor. The deep meaty taste that fills your mouth goes really well with rice too.

What I liked is that the set isn't just meat on its own: you get doenjang stew and several side dishes too. When you're craving meat but don't want a lunch that's too heavy, I think a set like this is just right.

Brisket and doenjang stew, I can't resist this combo!

The set comes with doenjang stew, so you can have brisket, rice and stew as a balanced meal. A broth-style dish alongside meat is surprisingly important.

While enjoying the nutty brisket, one spoonful of hot doenjang stew and your hand naturally goes for the rice too. Rather than eating only meat, adding rice and stew makes it a well-balanced meal.

The doenjang stew especially suits the flavor of the meat. Put a slice of brisket on rice with that savory doenjang broth and you don't need any fancy combination. Another plus of a set with meat, rice and stew is that you don't have to agonize over ordering separate dishes.

If you want a filling lunch but don't want to spend much time choosing a menu, this kind of set is a welcome one.

What side dishes come with the brisket set? Seasoned crab and japchae

Cheongnyuok's brisket set comes with seasoned raw crab (yangnyeom gejang) and japchae as well as the meat and stew. What's worth noting is that it isn't just meat and stew.

Sweet and spicy seasoned crab is a side dish that goes great with rice. After the nutty brisket, switching to the crab changes up your palate so you get different flavors. Japchae has its own charm: the seasoning on the chewy glass noodles makes it nice to pick at between bites of meat and stew.

When meat, stew and several side dishes are all on one table, the fun of the meal feels different, doesn't it? I think it suits people who like tasting a bit of everything rather than eating one dish the whole time. With the side dishes included, you came for meat but still get the feeling of having had a proper meal.

Does the brisket set come with mul naengmyeon?

Mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in chilled broth) isn't included in Cheongnyuok's brisket set, so if you want noodles after the meat, order them as an add-on. People who have to finish a meat meal with mul naengmyeon? Now then, there are people who just can't walk past mul naengmyeon when they eat meat, right?

After meat, I always crave icy mul naengmyeon. Warm, nutty meat and then finishing with cold noodles, that combo! It's less a matter of taste than a pleasure that's just hard to give up.

The brisket set alone is a hearty meal, but if you want meat and naengmyeon together, just add a mul naengmyeon. The cold broth and chewy noodles change the mood of the meal. You can have noodles with a bite of meat, or finish the meal with them. Just note that naengmyeon isn't included in the set, so if you're planning on it, order it as an add-on.

What to eat for lunch on Bandalseom? My verdict on Cheongnyuok's brisket set

Cheongnyuok's brisket set on Bandalseom is a ₩22,000 per person lunch built around brisket and doenjang stew, with seasoned raw crab and japchae on the side. It suits days when you want meat but a really heavy meal feels like too much.

The price isn't exactly light for a lunch, but it's worth considering when you want meat and stew with a variety of side dishes. If you like meat, prefer a set with rice and stew, or enjoy meals with lots of side dishes, put it on your list. And for those who need mul naengmyeon after meat to complete the meal, don't forget to order it too!