Gangneung charcoal grill restaurant: 130g diced sirloin at Chodang Uga

Since I'd had mulhoe (raw fish in cold broth) for lunch, I went to Chodang Uga for meat on the first evening of our Gangneung trip.

Location and hours

Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga is at 23-18 Gangmun-dong, Gangneung, Gangwon. It's open from 11:00 to 21:30, with last order at 21:00. This hanwoo (Korean beef) and pork galbi restaurant is located in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, right near St. John's Hotel and Gangmun Beach, so it's easy to get to.

There's a large parking lot right in front, so it was easy to park even if you drive. We actually walked over from a nearby hotel, and the lights made the restaurant easy to spot from a distance.

Weekday evening atmosphere and the beach-named rooms

Maybe because it was a weekday evening, Chodang Uga wasn't crowded and had a relaxed feel, so we could enjoy dinner quietly. The hall was spacious and comfortable, with a large mural of a snowy landscape on the wall. It's a BBQ restaurant that doesn't quite feel like one, and that atmosphere made the start of the trip feel even more exciting.

Along a corridor were six private rooms, each named after a Gangneung beach — Anmok, Sacheon, Sageunjin, Gyeongpo, Gangmun, and Songjeong. It seems like the perfect spot for a family trip, for cozy, intimate conversation over a meal.

It's also a pet-friendly restaurant. They separate pet-friendly seating from regular seating and guide guests accordingly, so even as a dog-friendly place, dining wasn't uncomfortable at all.

There were also coat racks beside the tables, which was really convenient — no need to drape your coat over a chair.

The tablet menu

We sat down and chose from the tablet menu. There were quite a few options: premium mixed platter, whole hanwoo course, diced sirloin, half hanwoo course, hanwoo yukhoe (beef tartare), salchisal (top blade), flower sirloin, budaesal (shoulder blade), thick-cut galbi, seasoned beef ribs, and pork galbi. Also worth noting — there's a marble ice cream giveaway if you leave a Naver receipt review!

Here too, a serving robot brings your order to the table. There's something oddly nice about seeing one of these robots.

Basic side dishes and the self-serve corner

Our basic side dishes and the meat came out right away. Fresh vegetable salad, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), pickles, and kimchi were all neatly arranged.

The banchan (side dishes) included salad, japchae, kimchi, pickles, baechu kimchi (napa cabbage kimchi), sundubu (soft tofu), sweet pumpkin salad, broccoli, and shredded onion — well-seasoned and a great match with the meat.

Extra banchan, vegetables, or dishware were all available at a self-serve corner. It had salad greens, lettuce, perilla leaves, angelica leaves, pickled chili peppers, pickles, ssamjang (dipping sauce), shredded onion, chili peppers, and garlic — very convenient for grabbing extra as needed.

Diced sirloin 130g, ₩40,000

Chodang Uga's diced sirloin 130g is ₩40,000. It came out cut into about 8 pieces, along with mushrooms. The sirloin is cut into cubes over 1.5cm thick, and apparently eating it this way lets you really taste the juiciness.

We grilled the diced sirloin a little at a time over the well-heated charcoal grill. The savory smell of beef hit right away, and after a light grill, the juiciness filled my mouth. I worried the thick cubes might be chewy, but it was juicy, tender, and not tough at all — delicious.

Pork galbi 250g, ₩22,000 — and a second order

Chodang Uga's pork galbi 250g is ₩22,000. The glossy pork ribs came out too, and we moved on to them after the diced sirloin. The sauce looked well soaked in and, personally, I really liked that it wasn't salty.

My boyfriend grilled it perfectly without burning anything, so we wrapped some in lettuce and some in shredded onion. The pork galbi was so good we ended up ordering more.

For dessert, bibim naengmyeon or doenjang jjigae — which is better?

Dessert bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) is ₩5,000. Cold noodles are a must with pork galbi — I went back and forth with mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) but ordered the bibim version, and asked for the broth on the side. Personally the seasoning felt a touch lacking, but we finished it all happily with the pork galbi.

Dessert doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) + rice is ₩5,000. It came loaded with tofu, vegetables, and even meat — very satisfying. It was tastier than the noodles, so I'd recommend the doenjang jjigae more.

Coffee vending machine, apples for sale, and a pet supplies corner

There was a coffee vending machine, plus yakgwa (honey cookies) and Gangneung soju/beer for sale, along with apples harvested directly from Chodang Uga's own orchard.

Toward the back there's a rest area and a pet supplies corner, selling not just dog treats but toys and potty supplies too.

The most thoughtful detail, I thought, was in the restroom — the wooden diaper-changing table had a cushion and blanket laid out on it.

Beyond the food, this feels like a place to make special memories in a comfortable, upscale atmosphere. Thanks to the kind staff and clean facilities, I enjoyed every moment we spent there. If you're looking for a clean spot for a family trip or a dog-friendly restaurant, I'd recommend it!