Yangju galbi restaurant, couple's dinner and both naengmyeon: Manpo

Let me introduce a galbi restaurant in Yangju. It has a clean interior, generous side dishes, and free naengmyeon (cold noodles) when you order galbi, so the value is really great. I'd recommend it if you want a filling, satisfying meal.

What is Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch like?

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch (만포갈비 양주본점) is a Yangju galbi restaurant serving handmade galbi made with domestic Korean pork (handon), and it gives you mul naengmyeon (cold broth noodles) or bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) for free when you order galbi. I went not long ago for dinner with my wife.

When we look for somewhere to eat out as a couple, I tend to like places with a solid menu. Manpo Galbi lets you enjoy meat, a meal and even a finishing treat in one spot, so it's worth a visit for a dinner out or a family gathering :)

Location and parking at Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch sits right along Songnang-ro in Samseong-dong, Yangju, so it was easy to find. There's a big private parking lot in front, so even beginner drivers can park without stress. It has two floors, so there was plenty of seating too.

Is the interior good for a family gathering?

The inside is clean and classy overall, so it works fine for taking your parents or treating guests.

The tables are wide, so there's plenty of room for the side dishes and you can eat comfortably.

There are also private rooms, so I'd book ahead for a company dinner, a group gathering or a quiet family meal. Baby chairs are available too, so that's convenient.

What did we order for two?

We ordered 2 servings of handmade handon galbi, galbitang (beef short rib soup) and pudding steamed egg.

The staff set the side dishes on our table in no time.

Every side dish looks good, too.

The basic spread is as generous as a hanjeongsik (full-course Korean meal) restaurant's. Neatly laid out sides run from salad to potato salad to doraji muchim (seasoned bellflower root), and they even gave us yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and yukjeon (beef pan-fried in batter) as a free extra, so we were well fed from the start.

How was the handon handmade galbi?

Maybe because it's domestic Korean pork, the meat looked fresh and tender at first glance.

The marinade had soaked in deep between the knife cuts, and the moment it hit the charcoal the juices ran and a sweet, smoky aroma tickled my nose.

Since it's marinated meat, I flipped it often so it wouldn't burn and grilled it golden. Eaten on its own, it wasn't too sweet or too salty, had a subtle savory depth, and just melted in my mouth.

My wife loved it too, saying it was so tender she kept reaching for more.

Wrapped with pajeori (seasoned scallion salad) or in a lettuce wrap, it never got boring. Irresistible!

Is the galbitang enough for a meal?

The galbitang broth was rich yet clean, with a refreshing finish. I'd been craving a hearty bowl of soup, so we ordered it too, and with plenty of meat inside it was enough for a meal on its own.

Taking a hot spoonful between the ribs warmed me up and settled my stomach. If you love soup, I think it's even worth coming just for the galbitang.

What is the pudding steamed egg's texture like?

The pudding steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) looked delicious from the start, puffed up over the ttukbaegi (earthenware pot) like a bomb. I took a big spoonful, and the moist, soft, pudding-like texture was lovely.

The seasoning was mild and just right, and alternating it with a piece of sweet galbi gently reset my mouth.

Can you choose between mul and bibim naengmyeon as the free noodles?

The best perk of this Yangju galbi restaurant is the free naengmyeon that comes when you order galbi.

You can pick mul naengmyeon or bibim naengmyeon to your taste, and we tried both.

The noodles are made in-house, so they're chewy, and the mul naengmyeon broth had slush floating in it and was refreshingly cold.

The bibim naengmyeon isn't spicy but tangy and sweet, so anyone can enjoy it. Rolling up the piece of galbi I'd saved with the noodles made for a perfect combo down to the last bite.

Verdict: a couple's dinner at Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch

At Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch with my wife, we got tender handon handmade galbi, rich galbitang, soft pudding steamed egg, plus the free naengmyeon and a finishing treat. Nothing was lacking.

We were really happy with both the taste and the value, so I'm glad to recommend Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch as a Yangju galbi restaurant :)