Gimpo Korean restaurant for family back ribs: Jin Galmaegal

Jin Galmaegal in Pungmu-dong for spicy braised ribs with family

I went to Jin Galmaegal Pungmu Branch with my family for spicy braised ribs. It had just opened, so I was curious, and while we were deciding what to have for a family meal, spicy braised back ribs sounded perfect that day, so we gave it a try.

How did I park?

There is a parking lot right next to the restaurant, but it is on the small side, and there were no spaces when I went, haha. If there is no space, you have to find parking in a nearby alley or surrounding lot. Since I am a beginner driver, I used the nearby No Brand parking lot for peace of mind. It was ₩1,000 per 30 minutes, so I parked and ate, then did some shopping afterward and ended up getting free parking. Free-parking time may vary by purchase amount, though, so it is probably best to check when you visit.

As you would expect from a newly opened place, the interior was clean and orderly. There were quite a few customers when we visited, which made me think it might already be a popular spot for a meal in Pungmu-dong. It also had a comfortable atmosphere for visiting with friends or family, so it may be worth keeping in mind if you are looking for Korean food in Pungmu-dong.

Ordering level 1 mild spicy braised back ribs

The menu has just one item: spicy braised pork back ribs. We ordered the large portion for 3 with domestic pork, ₩45,000! The spice levels are divided into level 1 mild, level 2 medium, and level 3 spicy. Since my family was eating together, we ordered level 1 mild. I would say it is about as spicy as Shin Ramyun.

Aprons are available for self-service,

and spoons, chopsticks, plates, water cups, soju glasses, and beer glasses were set out to the side.

The side dishes were lettuce, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), coleslaw, white kimchi, and braised potatoes, and I enjoyed all of them.

Generous braised back ribs with sweet-savory sauce

After a short wait, the spicy braised pork back ribs finally arrived. It looked so generous right away, haha. There was plenty of scallion piled on top, and it was filled with back ribs, mushrooms, rice cakes, and glass noodles. Best of all, it arrived already cooked, so we could eat it right away. When I picked up a rib, there was a good amount of meat on it. There was lots of meat to pull off the bone, which made it fun to eat, too.

The portion was more generous than I expected, so it was great for sharing with family. The level 1 we ordered was not very spicy, making it easy to enjoy without any 부담. The sauce was sweet-savory with a little heat, and it even had a slight tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) sauce feel to it.

The ribs were well seasoned, so they were delicious even on their own,

and they were delicious with the rice cakes, mushrooms, and glass noodles, too. The glass noodles were especially good to me, haha. I kept reaching for the noodles that had really soaked up the sauce alongside the back ribs. The rice cakes were soft and nicely seasoned as well, so I think rice-cake lovers would be happy.

Soft tofu and fried rice I want to try next time

We also ordered sundubu (soft tofu), which is said to be the owner's signature. With it set alongside the braised ribs, the table looked even more abundant, and it seemed like a good item to share when visiting in a group. We were going to have fried rice at the end, but we were too full and could not manage it. Still, the sauce was so good that I definitely want to try the fried rice next time, haha.

A mild level that was great for eating with family

Overall, I highly recommend Jin Galmaegal when you are looking for good spicy braised ribs in Gimpo! I had a really delicious meal :) The back ribs had plenty of meat, and with rice cakes, mushrooms, and glass noodles included, this one dish was filling on its own. In particular, the level 1 mild was not overwhelmingly spicy, so it was great to eat with family. If you are looking for a meat dish or Korean food in Pungmu-dong, keep Jin Galmaegal Pungmu Branch in mind.