Low-smoke basement lamb skewer restaurant in Banpo: Banpo Yangkkochi
In short
Banpo Yangkkochi (반포양꼬치) is a lamb skewer restaurant on the first basement floor of a building right outside Exit 8-1 of Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer, hooked on lamb skewers since trying them in Daegu, came at about 7 PM after work and grilled 2 portions of lamb on an automatic rotating charcoal grill with beer, finding little smoke or smell despite the basement and almost no gamey taste. Banpo Yangkkochi is a neighborhood lamb skewer favorite that was nearly full, so book ahead for group dinners.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Express Bus Terminal Station Exit 8-1 · 1-min walk (store listing, Oct 7, 2026)
- Location
- First basement floor of the building right outside Exit 8-1, Express Bus Terminal Station
- Visit time
- Around 7 PM on a weekday after work; nearly full
- Seating
- About 7 tables, mostly for four
- What we ordered
- 2 portions of lamb and beer
- Complimentary starters
- Peanuts and salty side dishes
- Grill
- Automatic rotating charcoal grill at every table
- Reservations
- Recommended in advance for group dinners and gatherings
as written by the visitor on Jul 12, 2026
Ever since I first tried lamb skewers (yangkkochi) in Daegu last year and fell hard, hunting down good lamb skewer places has become a hobby of mine, as you all know by now, right? 🤣 I can't give up my lamb skewer love even now that I'm in Seoul, so whenever I hear rumors of a great spot, I run straight there!! This time I heard there's a place near the Express Bus Terminal that does lamb skewers really well, so I dashed over right after work.
Where is Banpo Yangkkochi, and is the basement smoky?
Banpo Yangkkochi (반포양꼬치) is on the first basement floor of the building you see as soon as you come out of Exit 8-1 of Express Bus Terminal Station, so it was really easy to find. Even though it's underground, there was hardly any smoke inside and not much smell.
At first I thought, "A lamb skewer place in a basement??" Honestly, I figured a basement would be smelly and full of smoke!! But what do you know~~ maybe the ventilation is just really good, because there was almost no smoke and not much smell!! If you worry about your clothes stinking after lamb skewers, you can visit without any stress!!
Banpo Yangkkochi at 7 PM: is there a wait?
I got to Banpo Yangkkochi around 7 PM on a weekday and it was almost full. There are only about 7 tables of four, so for a group dinner or gathering, I recommend reserving ahead.
Wow... it was really almost full!! I thought, "Haha, this place is the real deal!!" lol The crowd was so varied too: office workers, students, families, older folks!! A proper neighborhood favorite~~ and customers kept coming in. If you don't reserve, you might end up waiting for a table like I did!!
Free starters and the automatic rotating charcoal grill
The free starters at Banpo Yangkkochi were peanuts and the salty side dish you always get at lamb skewer places, and every table has an automatic rotating charcoal grill. The skewers spin round and round, so they cook evenly without burning.
That salty side dish, well, I still don't know its name, but why is it so good?? lol I kept reaching for it until the lamb arrived. And the charcoal is so powerful that the meat cooks absolutely perfectly. It cooks evenly, and just looking at it made my mouth water~~ 🤤
Banpo Yangkkochi's 2 portions of lamb: how do they look?
I ordered 2 portions of lamb at Banpo Yangkkochi, and the color was great and the pieces were nice and big. It was my first lamb since moving up to Seoul, so I was extra excited, and it passed on looks alone!!
And here are our 2 portions of lamb at last!! Can you see that color?? I gasped as soon as it came out!!
They say the proper way is to put on only 3 or 4 skewers and grill them slowly, right?? But... we don't do that. 🤣 We were so hungry lol Proper way, who cares!!! Putting them all on and eating fast is my proper way!!! lol Isn't eating lots of tasty food quickly the best?? Right, everyone?? 🤣
Does Banpo Yangkkochi's lamb have a gamey smell?
The lamb at Banpo Yangkkochi had almost none of that typical lamb smell, and it was tender and chewy with the juices still in it. Even if lamb smell has put you off before, I think you can enjoy it here.
I dipped the golden-brown lamb in the sauce, dipped it in the seasoning too!! One bite and wow..... 👀 This is why I can't quit lamb skewers. They just kept going down. Add a cold beer and isn't that the small happiness of life after work? 💕 It felt like the whole day's fatigue melted away.
Best of all, the owner was so kind that I left feeling great!! With good food, good atmosphere and good service, I could see why it's so busy. I'm already craving it again, so this is officially a real gem 👍🏻
Who I recommend Banpo Yangkkochi to
- Anyone in Seoul looking for lamb without the gamey smell
- Anyone looking for a good restaurant near the Express Bus Terminal
- Anyone looking for a spot for a company dinner or gathering
- Anyone who wants to enjoy lamb skewers on a date in a nice atmosphere
- Anyone who likes restaurants run by a kind owner
It's "Banpo Yangkkochi," right outside Exit 8-1 of Express Bus Terminal Station!!!! As someone totally hooked on lamb skewers, I recommend it with confidence, so if you're nearby, do visit once. Next time I plan to go back and try the lamb ribs and other dishes too! 🥰
Where it is
177 Sinbanpo-ro, Building 3, B1, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 서초구 신반포로 177 3동 지하1층 반포 양꼬치
Banpo Yangkochi: hours, menu and prices →
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