Seo-myeon barbecue in Yangyang: an extra fresh rib at Yeoyejeong

Day three in Yangyang: seafood out, Yeoyejeong barbecue in

This year's summer vacation with Dori took us to Yangyang (and a bonus stop in Sokcho)! The destination was chosen for beach swimming plus satisfying Dori's seafood-lover needs.

As planned, along with ocean swimming we searched high and low for a raw fish restaurant with a good reputation and got takeout. We were so determined to eat delicious raw fish that we went all the way from Yangyang to Sokcho for it. It wasn't super far, but let's just say we made an effort.

Buuuut... maybe our tastebuds got too spoiled by the good raw fish in Jeju Island? Honestly, the raw fish place was pretty disappointing... The mul-hoe (cold raw fish soup) place we tried the next day was reasonably successful, and then by the big day three, seafood just wasn't calling to us anymore.

But since we planned to stop by a valley for a second round of water play on the way home, we needed to eat something hearty. So we decided on meat! After some quick searching we found a restaurant called Yeoyejeong, and the appetizing photos convinced us to go!

Yeoyejeong's parking lot and log-cabin exterior

Yeoyejeong sits along a two-lane road that isn't very wide, and the sign comes into view as you drive along it. The parking lot is spacious, which is great for anyone driving in. As someone who drove there myself, I really appreciated it.

First impression of Yeoyejeong, a well-known barbecue restaurant in Yangyang. The exterior looks like a log cabin lodge halfway up a mountain. The 시옷 (Korean letter ㅅ) shaped entrance was memorable.

Seating and interior at Yeoyejeong

We were seated by the picture window. It didn't seem to matter where you sat, though — every seat looked comfortable.

Inside, drawings and notes left by visitors were pinned up on the walls. A lot of them looked like children's artwork, so I'm guessing a lot of families come here...? Or maybe not, who knows.

Lunch special or grilled meat at Yeoyejeong: what to order

Yeoyejeong's menu also has a lunch special. We arrived right at opening, and a bunch of people who seemed to work nearby streamed in and ordered the lunch special. Watching that, I thought, wow, this place must really be good. Since so many people were ordering the lunch special, I agonized over whether to get that or the meat.

But the debate didn't last long. We came here to eat hearty, so hearty meat it is!

There was an event like this going on. I was too hungry to have the energy to participate, but it looked like a pretty good one.

What impressed us about Yeoyejeong's table setting

Here's what impressed me: individually wrapped, sanitary utensils and store-bought bottled water for drinking. It was so clean and tidy, I loved it.

This was another point that impressed me — they provide a designated spot for the tongs and scissors. Honestly, at barbecue places I never know where to put the tongs and scissors and end up with grease all over the table — surely I'm not the only one?

It looks like a pretty basic grilling table setup, but they gave each of us our own ssamjang (soybean paste dip), wasabi, and salt. Same with the garlic. So convenient!

The side dishes at Yeoyejeong

Lettuce wraps, gondre (mountain herb), kimchi, cucumber side dish, salad. Every single one was delicious. There wasn't a single dish I didn't reach for. The lettuce wraps had a European-vegetable feel — crisp and tender, which I loved.

The charcoal has arrived!

How many pieces are in two servings of Yeoyejeong's fresh pork ribs?

Two servings of fresh pork ribs at Yeoyejeong came out to five pieces!

We got right to grilling. And no, the mushrooms weren't tossed aside because we were too distracted by the meat — they were placed there on purpose to be grilled whole. ...I swear, really haha;;

We thought about grilling two pieces slowly later, but the smell of the meat made us dizzy, so we just added one more piece and put it all on the grill at once. This is what two servings looks like!

Gorgeously grilled, beautifully colored fresh pork ribs. Four pieces had bone attached and one was boneless. Definitely didn't secretly eat one in between and lose count, no way haha;

Kimchi stew and a bowl of rice

We also ordered kimchi stew. If you're eating meat with rice, you need a stew too, right? Haha.

Rice was one bowl each! And honestly, the rice was cooked amazingly well, like the rice at a soup restaurant. It had a sweetness to it, somehow — fluffy yet glossy!

Salt, wasabi and soy-sauce chives

The first bite went in salt. The second bite was meat dipped in salt with wasabi on top. And wow, what do you know, it was soooo good?

It was clear the meat was seriously high quality. Right away, the next bite came with chives from the soy sauce mixture. Honestly, this was delicious too;;;; the chives were clean and fresh as well.

'Do's' clean, simple wrap VS 'Ri's' pungent wrap. Honestly both were delicious, so it's a tie!!!@@@!!

Wow, this is really so good (writing this makes me want to eat it again). We were inhaling it mindlessly and getting full, but couldn't help wondering how the marinated ribs would taste.

Adding a serving of marinated ribs

So we ordered haha. Couldn't stand not knowing haha.

This is the amount for one serving of Yeoyejeong's marinated ribs! And I took one bite and.... it was so good time just warped.

So while eating I suddenly remembered, oh right, photos...!! and took this last one. And that's the end of my photos... which just goes to show how good it was... mu-ya-ho...

Is Yeoyejeong worth a return visit?

It was so, so delicious, and if I ever go back to Yangyang, my revisit intent is 100000000%.