Gangdong Korean BBQ before IKEA: Geumdon Hwaro

A Korean BBQ spot near Sangil-dong Station before IKEA

My friend and I were so hungry before heading to IKEA that we hurriedly looked for a Korean BBQ place around Sangil-dong Station. That is how we found Geumdon Hwaro Sangil-dong Station Branch (금돈화로 상일동역점)!

I heard this Korean BBQ restaurant has lots of regulars. At first, we were just hungry and thought, let’s have some good meat—but once we tried it, I could see why it has so many regulars, haha.

What are the parking and waiting areas like?

We parked at Godeok Central Prugio Shopping Complex. They register your parking when you pay, so I do not think you need to worry about parking, haha.

Come out onto the first floor and follow the delicious smell of grilling meat—you will spot Geumdon Hwaro right away. As you would expect from a popular place with a wait, there are chairs for waiting too.

From the outside, it looked smaller than I expected, so I thought the interior would be cozy too. But once we went in, it was actually quite spacious, haha. (We visited at around 4:30 on a Saturday. By 5, it was full!)

A table setting I loved, from the sides to the hygiene

There were more sauces and side dishes to enjoy with the meat than I expected, haha.

This garlic sauce is so good. When we were nearly out of the pickled onions or garlic sauce, the staff brought more without us even having to ask!

Overall, it felt like they paid a lot of attention to hygiene. I personally prefer places that provide bottled water like this, and I liked even more that the utensils came hygienically wrapped, haha.

This is a one-bite guide board from Geumdon Hwaro showing combinations for enjoying the meat even more. The classic combination is seriously delicious, so I definitely recommend trying it, haha.

We ordered the Geumdon B Set, pork neck, and kimchi jjigae

We had the Geumdon B Set with an extra order of pork neck and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew).

One thing I loved was that the staff grilled the meat themselves from start to finish.

Thanks to that, we could relax, chat, and eat without having to focus on grilling. It was so convenient.

Another thing I liked was that the rice came as black rice! It went so well with the meat, and it felt healthier than regular white rice, which made me like it even more, haha.

We made the combination from the guide, and it was really, really delicious..

Ahhh... it was honestly the best samgyeopsal (pork belly) I have had recently, haha.

While eating, we added one serving of pork neck.

Generous complimentary dishes and familiar kimchi jjigae

They also gave us gyeranjjim (steamed egg) and sangchu geotjeori (fresh dressed lettuce salad) as complimentary dishes!

Eggs are expensive these days, so I was extra happy to get complimentary steamed egg, haha. Since it was complimentary, I expected a small portion, but it was actually really generous—plenty for two people to have with the meat.

The fresh dressed lettuce salad also went so well with the meat that I kept reaching for it! I love kimchi jjigae, so I ordered it, and that was a generous portion too, haha. But what was really amazing was that it tasted exactly like the kimchi jjigae my mom makes. It was so familiar and delicious—like a 100% match—that I happily enjoyed every bite.

Thoughtful service, from clothes-storage chairs to hair ties

One quietly important thing at a Korean BBQ restaurant is your clothes picking up the smell, right? Here, the chairs have lids that open to reveal storage space inside, so you can put your clothes away while you eat, haha.

My hair was bothering me while we were eating, and the owner brought me a hair tie. Seeing them take care of even these little details, I think I understand a bit more why they have so many regulars, haha.

True to a popular place with a wait, they had a waiting-time service event, haha. The perk changes depending on how long you have waited.

• Wait 15–30 minutes → a drink
• Wait 30 minutes–1 hour → soju or beer
• Wait 1 hour → one serving of meat (pork belly or pork neck)
• Wait 4 hours → ownership of the restaurant… 😂

A meal that showed me why it has so many regulars

The meat was really, really delicious, and having it grilled for us from beginning to end was so easy. Add the thoughtful service, and I could see why this place has so many regulars. Kindness + delicious food + generous portions + cleanliness.

Would I revisit? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The staff were all so kind, the meat was delicious, and even the kimchi jjigae was great, so this is somewhere I would love to visit again. Everyone was so friendly that I wondered whether the owner treats the staff especially well—it made the meal even more enjoyable.

Frequently asked questions

Do they grill the meat for you? Yes, a staff member grills it directly from start to finish, so you can eat comfortably.

Is parking available? Yes, parking is available, so it is convenient to visit by car.

Are there lots of included dishes? Yes, the basic table setting is generous, right through to the fresh dressed lettuce salad.

What is the kimchi jjigae like? It is a generous portion with a familiar, delicious taste like kimchi stew made by Mom at home.

Would you revisit? Yes. The meat and stew were delicious and the staff were kind, so I definitely want to return.