Wonju burger spot: chili-topped Max Burger at Max Grill Slop Pub

With my child's summer vacation on, we've been hunting for good lunch spots in Dangye-dong, Wonju.

This time we visited Max Grill Slop Pub (맥스 그릴 슬롭카페), a handmade burger place right next to Wonju Bus Terminal.

The smoky 100% beef patty was full of juice, and I was happy with everything from the stylish atmosphere to burgers where the meat and cheese went so well together. Here's my lunch review.

Max Grill Slop Pub location and opening hours

Max Grill Slop Pub is at 163 Seowon-daero, 1st floor, Wonju-si, Gangwon, right beside Wonju Bus Terminal. It's open daily 11:00–24:00, with last order at 23:00.

Being right next to the bus terminal makes it easy to reach, and the burger and pizza sign at the entrance stands out.

It looks great for a hearty lunch in the daytime, and also for a casual beer with pizza in the evening. Oh, and there's a 20% military discount too!

Is it okay to go with kids?

The interior has an American pub vibe, but the seating is clean and comfortable, so eating lunch with a child felt no problem. Inside, it was bigger than I expected, with lots of tables.

Black tile stars, a checkerboard pattern, burger posters and assorted props come together for a real American pub feel.

A motorcycle is displayed near the entrance, and there's a corner of wall with sparkling green lighting, so my child had fun looking around.

Overall it has a distinct personality, but the tables and seats are clean and comfortable, so eating lunch there with a child was easy.

Menu, prices and set options

Here's the menu. Burgers and pizza are the main items, and you can order set menus and beer.

Draft beer is ₩1,000 off when you order pizza, so next time I'm definitely pairing pizza with a beer.

We ordered the Max Burger set and the Quattro Cheese Burger set. Add ₩4,000 to a single burger and you get a set with fries and a soft drink.

After ordering, you take the drink you want from the fridge yourself, and plates, forks, knives, water and sauces are all at the self bar, so take as much as you need.

They make everything right after you order, and when it arrived the smoky aroma was so good I couldn't wait to dig in.

I started with the fries on the side: crispy outside, fluffy inside, and so good dipped in ketchup!

• Max Burger ₩11,000
• Max Burger set ₩15,000
• Quattro Cheese Burger ₩12,000
• Quattro Cheese Burger set ₩16,000

How was the Max Burger?

First, the signature Max Burger. It's generously stuffed with a butter bun, a 100% beef patty, signature sauce, cheddar cheese, tomato, onion and romaine.

What stood out was the whole grilled cheongyang chili (a spicy Korean green chili) placed on top of the burger.

When I cut it open, the thick patty and fresh vegetables were stacked in layers, and the cross-section alone looked delicious.

The meat flavor is rich, but the tomato, onion and romaine add freshness, and the cheese and sauce tie everything together, so the overall balance was great.

It's a tasty handmade burger even on its own, but adding the grilled chili meant it never felt greasy right to the last bite.

What does the Quattro Cheese Burger taste like?

Next is the Quattro Cheese Burger. It has the same butter bun and beef patty as the Max Burger, with signature sauce, Angel Snow cheese and cheddar cheese.

If the Max Burger shines in its harmony of meat and vegetables, the Quattro Cheese Burger, true to its name, focuses on the rich flavor of meat and cheese.

Cut in half, the cheese had melted softly between the thick patties, and the smoky beef patty and nutty cheese went really well together.

With so much cheese I worried it might be salty, but the patty and cheese were nicely balanced and delicious. My child was very satisfied too.

Wrapping up

For a Wonju Dangye-dong lunch, I'd recommend Max Grill Slop Pub as a place to enjoy high-quality, smoky, juicy handmade burgers.

The Max Burger had a good balance of vegetables, meat and cheese and felt clean and easy to enjoy, while the Quattro Cheese Burger charmed with the rich flavor of meat and cheese.

The atmosphere is great. I went with my child, but it also looks good for gatherings, and especially in the evening it feels like a place where you'd want a beer, so I'll probably be back.