Charcoal wagyu BBQ in Dongjak, Seoul, snowflake to anchang: 889 Wagyu

I was craving charcoal-grilled beef for the first time in a while, so I went to 889 Wagyu Soongsil (889와규 숭실대점), near Soongsil University Station. This time I ordered the wagyu set for two. It comes with four kinds of cuts, snowflake, nakyeop, neukgan and anchang, so I figured I could try a bit of everything.

889 Wagyu Soongsil hours and location

889 Wagyu Soongsil is at 4 Sangdo-ro 61-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the first floor, and it is open Monday to Saturday, 11:00–22:00. Break time is 14:30–17:00, and it is closed every Sunday.

How to get there from Soongsil University Station

The restaurant is about 2 minutes from Exit 4 of Soongsil University Station. It's just a short walk from the exit, so it wasn't hard to find.

What are the interior and seats like?

There were regular tables and bar-style seats. Bright walls and wood-toned furniture gave it a clean feel overall. Each table can hold a charcoal grill, with an exhaust system above to pull the smoke away. We had reserved in advance, so we were shown to a table.

889 Wagyu menu and set price for two

The wagyu set for two is ₩85,000 and comes with 400g of wagyu, grilling vegetables, pineapple and sausage. You can order snowflake, nakyeop, neukgan and anchang as separate cuts or as a set. Sets are available for 2 to 4 people depending on your group size. We added one bowl of rice to the set for two.

Side dishes and sauces

If you reserve, the side dishes are already set out at your seat. There was a salad and several other sides that went nicely with the beef. Salt, wasabi and whole-grain mustard were also provided. I love putting a little wasabi on my beef, so I kept reaching for it again this time.

What order should you eat the wagyu set for two in?

The order the staff recommended for the wagyu set for two is snowflake → nakyeop → neukgan → anchang. Soon the meat arrived, with four kinds on the plate, each with different marbling and color. The staff member explained the eating order as they brought it, so we grilled one by one starting with the snowflake, just as told, haha.

Snowflake (nuggot): the best of the four cuts

The snowflake, which we ate first, had densely spread marbling. I grilled it on both sides over the charcoal and cut it into bite-size pieces. Of the four, the snowflake was my favorite.

It was tender and richly savory when chewed, and even though it was the first one I ate, it stayed the most memorable. Next time I'd even like to order extra snowflake on its own, haha.

Nakyeop: a light, savory taste that builds as you chew

The second one I grilled was the nakyeop. It had less marbling than the snowflake, with lean meat and fat nicely mixed. If the snowflake melts softly in your mouth, the nakyeop's savory flavor comes through the more you chew. If you prefer a lighter taste to fatty beef, I think the nakyeop would suit you.

Neukgan: chewy texture and savory juices

Third was the neukgan. It's the cut from between the ribs, so it has a chewier texture than the meat before it. It has a satisfying bite along with savory juices, and it felt different again from the snowflake and nakyeop.

Anchang: finishing with a deep beefy flavor

The last one I ate was the anchang. It had a stronger, deeper beefy flavor than the other cuts. The meaty taste rose the more I chewed, which made it a good cut to finish on. If the snowflake was soft and savory, the anchang's charm was its rich beefy flavor.

Grilling vegetables that come with the set for two

Besides the meat, the wagyu set for two at 889 Wagyu Soongsil comes with a plate of side vegetables: king oyster mushroom, zucchini, sweet pumpkin, green onion, shishito peppers, pineapple and sausage. Between rounds of meat, I put the vegetables on the charcoal too. The king oyster mushroom was big and chewy, and the green onion and zucchini went well with the beef. Grilled pineapple turned sweet, which made it nice to have one piece at a time in between.

Extra rice

We also ordered a bowl of rice, and a soup came with it. After eating a good amount of meat, having it with rice reminded me that beef just isn't complete without rice, haha.

889 Wagyu Soongsil wagyu set for two: my verdict

The wagyu set for two at 889 Wagyu Soongsil let us taste all four cuts evenly, and the staff even told us the eating order, so the meal was easy and relaxed. Of all of them, the snowflake was the best. Its soft, savory taste is just my style, so next time I want to order extra snowflake, haha. The side dishes went well with the meat, and the grilling vegetables were generous, so I left very satisfied. If you're looking for a good wagyu spot near Soongsil University Station, give 889 Wagyu Soongsil a look :)