Gangseo Seoul Korean BBQ with pre-grilled pork: Ihwajeong

There are so many places around Balsan Station that claim to have great pork ribs, but Ihwajeong was such an all-time pork-rib favorite for both my daughter and me that I had to leave this strong recommendation.

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga, five minutes from Balsan Station with worry-free parking

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch has an elegant, tidy exterior and is just five minutes from Balsan Station.

There is a huge parking lot right next door, so parking is absolutely no concern. It is perfect for anyone looking for a place for a group company dinner in Magok or Balsan, too.

Spacious halls and rooms for family and group gatherings

The moment I walked in, the elegant, spotless interior put me in a good mood. The decor is lovely, the food is delicious, and the staff are genuinely kind, so I think older family members would really love it. I am definitely bringing my parents here for our next Balsan Station family gathering.

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is enormous, making it ideal for group gatherings. It has two spacious dining halls like this as standard.

The ceilings are high and the tables are generously spaced, so it is comfortable. Powerful ventilation draws smoke down from the grill, keeping the view open and making everything look even cleaner. If nobody told you it was a pork-rib restaurant, you would believe it was a very upscale Korean set-menu restaurant.

There are also several large private rooms for dining in privacy, so it is more convenient to call ahead or reserve through Naver. Even on the day we visited, group guests kept arriving for the rooms.

Menu

You can conveniently order from a tablet at the table, and it is so handy that you can choose individual side dishes for refills. If you visit for a Magok group gathering or a Balsan family gathering, ordering a set menu is a more reasonably priced option.

Marinated grilled pork made easy with pre-grilling

Ihwajeong, a pork-rib favorite near Balsan Station, is so serious about its meat that it has even received a taste patent. You will understand the power of its 144-hour cross-aging process and the tenderizing effect of organic pears as soon as you try it. One bite and it just has to become an all-time pork-rib favorite!!

Basic side dishes

Just look at how upscale the basic side dishes are. Garlic, onion, ssamjang (savory dipping paste), and the like are brought over when you order them separately on the tablet. The tangpyeongchae (mung-bean jelly salad) and baek kimchi (white kimchi) were so good that I refilled them twice, and that seasoned vegetable dish was insanely nutty and delicious—such a great match for the meat.

Two servings of marinated grilled pork

I ordered two servings of marinated grilled pork to share with my child, and an incredible amount came out. Before grilling it, a staff member gives it one more drizzle of pear juice—that is the key to the flavor, but sadly I did not get a photo..

Two servings came with three huge, thick pieces of pork, so it was seriously, seriously generous.

Marinated meat burns quickly and can be difficult to grill, but the staff pre-grilled it brilliantly until it was just right to eat, so we could relax and enjoy it. When I visit with my child, I am usually so busy grilling meat and taking care of her that I barely get to eat, but this time I could finally have a beer and enjoy pork ribs comfortably. I was really satisfied.

The staff perfectly pre-grill the pork ribs, then you simply put only what you are about to eat back on the grill, lightly cook it as you would beef, cut it up, and eat.

Even when I take my parents out for a meal, I am usually too busy grilling to have a proper conversation. Here, though, we could comfortably chat during a family gathering, which would be so nice. Our next Balsan Station family gathering is absolutely happening at Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch.

Wow.. I ate until I was bursting, but seeing these photos makes me want it again. It gets its sweetness from organic pears without any sugar, so it is not artificially or excessively sweet and the flavor just clings to your palate. It is incredibly tender, too, so even older people with weak teeth or children can eat it comfortably...

The side dishes are especially a perfect match for the meat, so if you eat them together one by one, they just keep going down endlessly even when you are stuffed to death.

Bibim naengmyeon and dessert that went beautifully with pork ribs

Bibim naengmyeon

For dessert, I ordered bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) because I wanted something spicy, and wow, the sauce is incredible?

I normally add loads of vinegar and mustard to naengmyeon, but this was already so delicious as it was that I devoured it straight away. It was nicely spicy and sweet, my child enjoyed it too, and it paired fantastically with the pork ribs.

After a satisfying meal, you can also have an organic pear slush for dessert. It is very refined and delicious, leaving your mouth completely refreshed, so make sure you try it. If you take part in the Naver review event, you can also get a 100% Mungyeong omija (five-flavor berry) ade, so keep that in mind~