Mapo Station Korean BBQ for in-laws: two-rib galbitang at Usijang

Usijang Hoegwan (우시장회관) near Mapo Station: treating my in-laws to beef

Usijang Hoegwan (우시장회관) is a restaurant near Mapo Station that serves beef, gukbap (rice soup), suyuk (boiled pork slices) and yuksashimi (thin raw beef slices). I heard there was a good beef place near Mapo Station, so after getting married I went there to treat my parents-in-law to beef. It had been a while since I'd had beef, so I went in with high expectations!

Where is Usijang Hoegwan, and where can you park?

Usijang Hoegwan is in an alley close to Exit 3 of Mapo Station. There's no dedicated parking, so you'll need to use a lot nearby. It's in an alley but not all the way in, so it isn't hard to find. The retro signboard alone gives off total famous-restaurant vibes!

I called to ask, and they said you can park next to the restaurant, but if you get caught by parking enforcement, there's nothing they can do.......... so I parked in a paid lot, hahaha. I'd suggest you park somewhere else and keep your mind at ease. The sign says 'Usijang Gukbap' (우시장 국밥), but it's the same restaurant, I promise!!

The inside wasn't as big as I expected, and it was packed!! The smell of grilled meat was everywhere~ I'm hungry, so hungry!!

How spicy is the silbi kimchi on every table?

Maybe because Usijang Hoegwan is a gukbap place, every table has kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), and there was also a separate silbi kimchi (실비김치)?? It looks like stir-fried kimchi, and wow, it is seriously spicy............. Spice wimps, don't try it...

What does the large yuksashimi at Usijang Hoegwan look like?

The large yuksashimi included in the set comes out wide and generous, and the slices are thin.

Thin was actually better than thick for me, since it's easier to eat. It comes with garlic, cheongyang chili (spicy green chili) and wasabi.

Because the slices are thin, you can put garlic, chili and the seasoning sauce inside and wrap it up like a ssam (wrap), and it goes into your mouth in one bite. My mother-in-law loved it, and the Usijang Hoegwan sauce was just my taste. Dip it in there and the umami goes up~~~

Assorted 3-person set: price and what's included

The Usijang Hoegwan assorted 3-person set is ₩116,900 and comes with assorted beef + large yuksashimi or yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) + 1 meal. We added one extra meal to the set.

Doesn't the meat look gorgeous? haha Maybe because the charcoal is good, the meat grilled up really well.

Charcoal heat and smoky flavor on the beef

The charcoal at Usijang Hoegwan has strong heat, so the meat cooked quickly. Don't you feel a bit of trust when you go to a place with good charcoal? The fire was so strong my face was burning hahaha

The flames rise up like this and coat the meat in smoky flavor, so the char comes alive and the meat gets even tastier~~

Tender beef with juices dripping! I think this was the jin-galbisal (진갈비살, beef rib finger meat), and it was grilled so it was full of juice and delicious.

Usijang Hoegwan galbitang: two big ribs in a rich broth

For the meal we ordered 2 galbitang (beef short rib soup). The galbitang here doesn't come in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot) but in an old-fashioned bowl, and the portion is seriously big.

It has 2 tender big ribs, and the meat was really soft. When I held the bone and shook it, the meat just slid right off~

It comes with glass noodles, mushrooms and rice already mixed in. The rice was mushy, which was a little disappointing, but the broth was still really good.

Adding a half plate of suyuk

We ordered a half plate of suyuk as an extra at Usijang Hoegwan, and it was ₩18,000.

Finishing with LA galbi

Finally, LA galbi (cross-cut marinated short ribs)!! LA galbi can't possibly taste bad haha It was my favorite.

Usijang Hoegwan restroom and getting there by public transport

For the restroom at Usijang Hoegwan, go out of the restaurant and through the Mapo Dylan door, and there's a unisex restroom half a floor up! It's close to Mapo Station, so I think coming by public transport works fine too.

Would I go back? Hot gukbap for lunch

The meat was delicious, but personally I thought the gukbap at Usijang Hoegwan was really the best. The galbitang broth is full of flavor, the meat is tender, and with mushrooms and glass noodles inside, it's a hearty meal, so if I visit again I'd go at lunchtime for a hot bowl of gukbap!! Maybe because the weather has turned cold lately, I keep craving soup dishes, and the broth was so good I keep thinking about it. If you're looking for a good beef restaurant near Mapo Station, Usijang Hoegwan is worth a visit.