Jeonju restaurant for mild galbi hot pot: Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi

When you travel to Jeonju Hanok Village, one dish you absolutely have to eat is Jeonju mulgalbi, right? When people think of Jeonju mulgalbi, they usually think of Jamae Galbi Jeongol first, but today I’m introducing another great Jeonju mulgalbi spot, Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi (한옥마을물갈비), just a five-minute walk from Jamae Galbi Jeongol.

I’ve tried the mulgalbi at Jamae Galbi Jeongol too, but personally, Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi was much less intense and easier to enjoy. I’m sure this place will be more satisfying for people who cannot handle much spice and for families traveling with children.

A Jeonju Hanok Village mulgalbi restaurant with parking

Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi is on the first floor at 28 Dongmun-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, Jeonbuk State, South Korea. Its sign preserves the Hanok Village atmosphere, and banners with photos of its signature mulgalbi and yukjeon make it stand out even as you walk by.

Best of all, it is possible to park at a restaurant inside Hanok Village. There is parking right in front, which made it easy to enjoy the meal and leave comfortably.

I visited in the evening, and the lit-up exterior felt even more charming. There is also a little garden and lawn-deck area in front, so it was nice for taking photos while waiting. It is popular, though, so at peak times you may need to write your name and party size in the waiting notebook. There was also a notice that menu items can be ordered from two servings onward.

An interior overlooking a Hanok Village garden through floor-to-ceiling windows

Once inside, the Hanok Village garden view spreads out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving the room a wonderful open feel. Wood-toned tables, brown chairs, and brick details create a cozy atmosphere, while the paintings and ornaments throughout add to the Hanok Village mood.

Each table has a burner for setting up the galbi hot pot, so you can cook it right there. A large menu board is posted on the wall, making ordering easy too.

Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi menu and prices

The menu is simply arranged.

• Galbi hot pot set ₩22,000 (per person: 250 g hot pot + 120 g yukjeon, pork)
• Galbi hot pot ₩17,000 (per person: 300 g hot pot, pork)
• One plate of yukjeon ₩25,000 (pork)
• Bean sprout and chive fried rice ₩3,000
• Steamed rice ₩1,000

Next to the menu, there are also kind instructions on how to enjoy it. After boiling it for about five minutes, move the meat beneath the glass noodles around the edge of the pot in a circle so it cooks more quickly. There was also a tip that adding sliced Cheongyang chili peppers lets you adjust the heat to your liking.

How did I cook and eat the galbi hot pot?

When you order, the hot pot arrives piled generously with glass noodles, bean sprouts, mushrooms, green onion, and enoki mushrooms. I was surprised at how mountain-like the ingredients looked at first, but after boiling for about 5–7 minutes, the volume shrank dramatically and a nicely reduced broth developed.

At this point, I first lifted out the glass noodles and bean sprouts. They had soaked up the sweet-spicy seasoning, yet were not as intense as Jamae Galbi Jeongol, so I kept reaching for more. This is exactly why I recommend Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi as a great Jeonju mulgalbi restaurant.

Once the meat is partly cooked, it is practically the rule to make ssam (lettuce wraps) with bean sprouts, glass noodles, and meat. Wrapped with vegetables, it finished cleanly without feeling rich, and even when I mixed rice into the spicy broth, it was a gentle heat that children could enjoy too.

The thick pork yukjeon included in the galbi hot pot set

If you order the galbi hot pot set, yukjeon comes with it. The yukjeon here is made with pork rather than beef, so it is much thicker. One bite has so much volume that it feels more like eating meat than a pancake.

It is already seasoned, so there is no need to dip it in an extra sauce. Pair it with the accompanying pickled onions and seasoned chives, and it is just right. The nutty, savory yukjeon went incredibly well with the crisp chive salad.

If you want Jeonju mulgalbi without overwhelming spice

I recommend Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi to anyone who wants to enjoy Jeonju mulgalbi with a gentle yet deep flavor rather than excessive intensity. Based on 30 years of food-service experience, the restaurant makes a special seasoning base with natural ingredients and fruit, then fills it with fresh vegetables for a Jeonju-style mulgalbi that develops deeper flavor the longer it cooks.

It is a five-minute walk from Jamae Galbi Jeongol, so visiting both and comparing them could make a nice travel course. If you are looking for a great Jeonju mulgalbi restaurant during your trip to Jeonju Hanok Village, be sure to stop by Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi.