Daegu-style makchang set for three at 49,000 won, Isu Station: Chammak

Today I went to Chammak, a makchang (grilled beef/pork intestine) restaurant near Isu Station known for great value for money. I heard the taste was good AND cheap, so I had to check it out — and I was so satisfied that I'm writing this review. Let's get into it!

Where is Chammak Isu Station Branch and when is it open?

Chammak Isu Station Branch is within walking distance of Isu Station, so it's very accessible and a great spot to set as a meeting place. The alley it's in is full of bars and restaurants, making it perfect for either a first or second round of the night.

• Daily: 12:00 – 3:00 AM
• Paid underground parking available on B2 / nearby public parking lots are cheaper
• Group reservations available
• Takeout available
• Wi-Fi available
• Separate men's/women's restrooms
• Disabled parking spot
• Pets allowed (small dogs)
• Free corkage! (1 bottle)

The storefront looked clean since it hasn't been open long, and the large signboard made it easy to spot from a distance.

Inside, the tables were spaced generously so dining never felt cramped, and the place was kept clean overall, making for a pleasant meal. The ventilation was better than expected, so there wasn't much smoke or smell — I liked that!

Mixed makchang and pork belly set for three: 49,000 won

Chammak's makchang is apparently first-generation makchang that came up from Daegu — since it's the Daegu-style makchang often called the original, my expectations went up even more. The owner seemed to really take pride in the makchang!

• (For 3) Mixed makchang + domestic pork belly (pre-grilled, 600g) ₩49,000
• Beer ₩5,000
• Soft drinks ₩2,000

Side dishes and unlimited vegetables at the self-serve bar

Here's the basic side dish spread. It came with makjang (seasoned dipping paste) and ssamjang (dipping sauce), garlic, soy sauce, and chive salad. But there was also a wide variety of vegetables ready at the self-serve bar.

You can take as much lettuce and vegetables as you want for wraps, and there were tons of veggies and side dishes offered — napa cabbage, lettuce, seasoned bean sprouts, kimchi, green onion, cucumber, water parsley, pickled radish, and more. The value for money here was really incredible.

Pre-grilled makchang, raw pork belly

The mixed makchang and pork belly set we ordered arrived. The makchang comes pre-grilled, while the pork belly comes raw, not pre-grilled.

The set menu is made up of pork belly, beef makchang, and pork makchang, so you can enjoy makchang and pork belly together — a combo I'd recommend for first-timers.

They grilled the pork makchang first. Since it was already pre-grilled, it just needed a little more time on the grill, which made it easy to cook.

Pork makchang: grilled flat and crispy vs. whole and chewy

I personally like flattening pork makchang out and grilling it crispy, so I spread it wide and grilled it until golden brown. The outside turned crispy while the inside stayed chewy — it was really delicious.

I also tried grilling it in its original round shape once, and both versions were delicious — I liked how the texture and appeal changed depending on how you grill it.

I also ate it with the special soy sauce dip, and grabbed mushrooms, various vegetables, and kimchi from the self-serve bar.

I grilled the water parsley and enoki mushrooms. Since the vegetables were unlimited, I ate them without holding back, haha.

Beef makchang with Daegu-style makjang dipping sauce

They grilled the beef makchang too — the distinctive chewiness and nutty aroma of beef makchang came through, and it was great. Being able to enjoy beef and pork makchang together was really, really nice.

This makjang (seasoned dipping paste) in particular was especially tasty — dipping the makchang in this Daegu-style version made it even better. It had a salty yet savory flavor that brought out the makchang's richness even more.

There's also salt and various sauces at the self-serve bar, so you can pick whatever suits your taste.

Korean Handon pork belly with beer

Lastly, they grilled the pork belly. I wasn't expecting much from it, but it turned out to be much more tender and tasty than I thought — it's even Korean pork (handon), with a great fat-to-meat ratio, so it was delicious.

A bite dipped in salt~

You can't have delicious makchang without a drink~ Today we went with beer.

Finishing with unlimited ramyeon: Odongtong Myeon

After filling up on makchang and pork belly, we finished the meal with unlimited ramyeon. There were three types available — Jin Ramyeon, Odongtong Myeon, and Kimchi Ramyeon — and we went with Odongtong Myeon.

We added green onion from the self-serve bar and just boiled it right there. Being able to cook as much ramyeon as you want, too, felt like the ultimate value for money. In a time when eating out feels expensive, this place really delivers great value, and even the final bowl of ramyeon left us full and satisfied. I think I'll definitely be back~ If you're looking for a good restaurant near Isu Station or want to eat makchang there, I'd recommend giving this place a try.

Chammak Isu Station Branch events and freebies

One more thing!! There were a lot of events going on, so let me introduce them!

Unlimited makgeolli refills per person for guests before 6pm!!! Is this even allowed? The value is... unbelievable.

A 1+1 deal for takeout customers after dining.

Leave a Naver review and get corn cheese, king oyster mushroom, and snow ice (nunkkot bingsu)... I wonder if the owner makes any profit at all, haha. If you love value for money and are looking for a good restaurant, come check out Chammak, the makchang restaurant near Isu Station~