Lamb assortment platter with four sauces near Ttukseom, Seoul: Hwaro

On a day I had dinner plans in Seongsu, I suddenly craved lamb, so I went to Hwaro Yangmi, a well-known lamb spot near Ttukseom Station.

It's slightly off the main Seongsu street, so the surroundings were relatively less crowded, and the restaurant itself was bigger than expected, making for a relaxed dinner.

That day I ordered the lamb assortment platter, which lets you try several cuts at once — each cut had a slightly different texture, so it was fun to eat them in turns.

Best of all, the staff grilled the meat for us, so we could focus on eating instead of worrying about the grill, and even though I'm sensitive to the distinct smell of lamb, I could eat it without any hesitation.

Hwaro Yangmi's location, hours, and parking

Hwaro Yangmi is located at 9 Sangwon4-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.

It's about 200m from Exit 4 of Ttukseom Station, so it's convenient to reach by subway.

It's open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Parking is also available in front of the restaurant, which should be handy for anyone driving to the Seongsu or Ttukseom area.

Unlike the crowded, busy feel of the main Seongsu commercial district, this area has a calmer atmosphere, so it suits both a dinner with friends or a work dinner with colleagues.

We had reserved in advance, and when we arrived, our seats were already set up so we could start eating right away.

Once inside, the tables were spaced comfortably apart, so even a group of several people didn't feel cramped.

Why the lamb assortment is a great choice for first-timers

Whenever I think of Hwaro Yangmi, the first menu that comes to mind is the lamb assortment platter.

Sticking to one cut is fine too, but if it's your first visit, the assortment — where you can try a bit of several cuts — feels much more fun.

Depending on the cut, lamb can feel quite different in tenderness, chewiness, and fattiness.

Ordering the assortment meant the texture and flavor kept changing even within one plate, so it never got boring until the end.

The basic side dishes were radish salad, pickled radish, and peanuts, which were good for cleansing the palate between bites of meat.

The peanuts especially were the kind of thing you keep reaching for without even thinking about it.

That day too, dinner really got going once the meat went on the charcoal grill.

Charcoal-grilled lamb, made easier by tableside grilling from staff

One thing I really liked about Hwaro Yangmi was that the staff grilled the meat for us.

Lamb can turn tough if overcooked, and if undercooked, its distinct flavor can come through too strongly — but since the staff handled the grilling, I didn't have to worry about any of that.

The meat cooked over charcoal turned golden brown on the outside while staying juicy on the inside.

Personally, the thing I care about most when eating lamb is that distinctive smell, but the meat we had that day had almost no off-putting aroma.

Four sauces, including cumin salt and shiitake wasabi preserve

It seemed like even someone trying lamb for the first time could eat this without much hesitation.

Four sauces were prepared to go with the meat: cumin salt, whole grain mustard, wasabi, and shiitake wasabi preserve.

Cumin salt was, as expected, the most classic pairing with lamb, and the shiitake wasabi preserve had a savory depth and aroma that went well with the meat.

Switching between sauces made the same meat feel a little different each time, so it never got old, even by the end of the meal.

A place to remember next time lamb comes to mind near Seongsu

Hwaro Yangmi felt like a place that's not just for lamb lovers, but also for people who've hesitated because of lamb's distinctive smell in the past.

Each cut had a different chewy or tender texture, which made the assortment fun to eat, and the charcoal grilling brought out a nice smoky flavor.

Having staff grill the meat for you was a clear advantage too, since it meant not having to keep an eye on the grill during a group gathering.

There are plenty of restaurants around Seongsu and Ttukseom Station, but on days when you want to sit quietly and enjoy meat and drinks, this kind of atmosphere fits better sometimes.

The restaurant's spacious layout and good accessibility make it a good fit for a wide range of occasions, from dinner with friends to a work dinner or group gathering near Ttukseom Station.

If you're looking for a good lamb restaurant near Ttukseom Station, I'd recommend starting with the lamb assortment platter at Hwaro Yangmi, which lets you try several cuts at once.