Samsong Station Korean BBQ with a meat-sauce dip: Neopttakjip Samsong

Where to grill meat near Starfield Goyang: why Neopttakjip Samsong Branch?

There are plenty of restaurants inside Starfield, but instead of a crowded food court, I wanted to put thick pork slices on a proper grill and cook them sizzling away. So I did a frantic search for somewhere not too far from Starfield where I could really enjoy samgyeopsal or pork. That's how I found Neopttakjip Samsong Branch, a well-known spot near Samsong Starfield :)

It's a quick drive from Samsong Station and Starfield, so the route from finishing shopping to swinging by was really convenient. Parking was easy too since there's dedicated parking in the building — great to not have to worry about parking when heading over for a meal!

Inside Neopttakjip Samsong Branch: atmosphere and the private room

Walking into Neopttakjip Samsong Branch, rows of retro-yet-round tables give off a cozy old-school vibe, and the tables were wiped clean with no grease, so it felt really pleasant.

Maybe because it's already famous as a go-to Goyang Starfield restaurant, even on a weekday evening it was lively and packed with families out for dinner and couples on dates. There's a separate room space too, good for when you want a quieter meal. It also seemed nice for a cozy family meal, or for a work dinner or group gathering — there's space to eat comfortably even with a larger group.

What is on the self-serve bar at Neopttakjip Samsong Branch?

In the center of Neopttakjip Samsong Branch there's a spacious self-serve bar, so if you run low on side dishes or lettuce wraps, you can just grab as much as you need without feeling awkward about it.

Grilling two servings of Sancheong black pork raw ribs on cast iron

That day at Neopttakjip Samsong Branch we ordered two servings of Sancheong black pork raw ribs. Right after ordering, Neopttakjip's signature thick cast-iron pan started heating up. While it got properly hot, the side dishes that go well with meat came out one by one — scallion salad, aged kimchi, lettuce wraps, and the house-made meat sauce. Every single one paired so well with meat that I was already picking at them before the meat even arrived.

And then, finally, the meat! The color alone was something else. A vivid reddish hue with just the right amount of marbling scattered throughout — it looked delicious even before hitting the grill...! The thick-cut raw ribs looked appetizing from the start, and just looking at them, I could already imagine that clean, savory pork flavor.

They grilled it up beautifully with the vegetables arranged on top, and the meat quality was genuinely insane...! Watching the thick-cut meat sizzle away on the grill made my mouth water just from the sight of it ㅠㅠ

How do the black pork raw ribs taste?

Grilling the thick-cut meat over the coals gave it a subtle smoky char that was so delicious. Since it's raw ribs with no seasoning, you really get the clean flavor and aroma of the pork itself, and the more you chewed, the more the juices came through — really satisfying.

Grilling it golden brown on the outside while keeping the inside moist gave it a really great texture. For black pork, I think a menu like raw ribs, where you can really taste the meat itself, is the way to go 😋

Enjoying the black pork raw ribs alongside the neatly arranged variety of side dishes.

Dipping the pork in the house meat sauce with chili

I dipped the meat deep into the sweet-spicy house meat sauce and topped it with a slice of chili. The savory depth and gentle heat of the sauce blended really well with the flavor of the meat, and the chili gave it a sharp kick now and then, keeping things from getting greasy — a combo I kept reaching for. Especially since the meat itself was full of juices, dipping it in the sauce made everything taste even richer! This combo genuinely makes you crave rice or a drink haha

Finishing the meal with ramyeon

After eating our fill of meat, we finished off with ramyeon (instant noodles). The noodles that came out bubbling in the pot were still perfectly chewy, and after a spoonful of the broth post-meat, I felt instantly refreshed. The spicy, salty broth plus the chewy noodles made for the perfect finish to the meal.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat meat near Starfield, I'd recommend this place as a genuine find — I was that satisfied. If you love meat, I think it's well worth a visit at least once :)