Yangyang Korean restaurant: galbitang and meat pot rice, Yeoyejeong

After a day out in Gangneung, I passed through Yangyang on the way home. I was hungry, so I briefly left the highway and stopped at nearby Yeoyejeong (여여정). The road there seemed a little questionable, but once I arrived, diners kept coming into the restaurant.

Where is Yeoyejeong, and is parking convenient?

The address is 49 Ssangsolbaegi-gil, Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon, South Korea. According to the original post, it is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a break from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Follow the road that makes you wonder whether you are going the right way, and the restaurant appears. It looked like a lodge in the woods, and the large parking lot made it convenient to come by car.

How busy was it at lunchtime?

I arrived around 11:35 a.m., and there were already many diners. More people kept coming in and it quickly filled up; when I finished my meal, some people were waiting. During my visit, the lunch special seemed to sell out quickly.

What were the facilities like for families with children?

The restrooms were inside the restaurant, with separate facilities for men and women. They were kept clean and were easy to use. There were many families with children, and the pictures displayed on the walls gave the space a warm feel. While their parents ate, children could spend time drawing pictures.

At the time of my visit, there was also a prize-draw event for people who left a receipt review. Many children had gathered here too. I noticed a soft squishy toy and considered it for a moment, but I did not enter the draw.

What are the lunch special prices and order cutoff time?

According to the original post, lunch specials could be ordered until 1:30 p.m. Meat sotbap (pot rice), meat naengmyeon (cold noodles), and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) were ₩13,000 each, while galbitang (beef short-rib soup) was ₩15,000.

The side-menu listings were baek-kimchi guksu (white kimchi noodles) for ₩6,000; janchi guksu (banquet noodles), Yeoyejeong naengmyeon, steamed egg, kimchi jjigae, and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) for ₩5,000 each; sotbap for ₩3,000; and a bowl of rice for ₩1,000.

The meat menu listed marinated galbi for ₩18,000, fresh galbi for ₩17,000, pork jowl for ₩18,000, pork belly for ₩15,000, pork tail for ₩11,000, boneless beef short rib for ₩29,000, and salchisal (beef chuck flap) for ₩26,000. Extra mushrooms were ₩1,000.

How were the galbitang and meat sotbap served?

We ordered two servings of galbitang and one serving of meat sotbap. The lunch special came with sotbap as standard, so the table felt generously set.

The basic side dishes were two kinds of kimchi and a seasoned vegetable dish. I was not sure exactly which vegetable it was, but it had a pleasant aroma. The separately served chives were meant to accompany the meat sotbap. There was no self-service bar; if you wanted more side dishes, you needed to ask the staff.

How were the galbitang broth and meat?

The galbitang broth was fairly well seasoned and leaned more rich than refreshing. There was also more meat than I expected, which I appreciated.

The meat was tender enough to break apart easily when cut. Although there was plenty of meat attached to the bones, it was not tough, and the lean meat was seasoned enough to enjoy without extra sauce.

What goes well with the meat sotbap?

The meat sotbap had a generous amount of meat. The tender meat went well with the galbi seasoning, and the difference was especially noticeable when I ate it with seasoned chives. The rice was nutty and pleasantly chewy, which suited the meat well.

The doenjang soup served alongside was mildly seasoned, which I liked. Overall, I was satisfied with the galbitang, meat sotbap, and side dishes.

What was disappointing after the meal?

Because the road feels as though it leads into the mountains, it was initially hard to find. I was satisfied with the lunch special, but I was a little disappointed that I did not get to try the grilled meat. On this visit, the galbitang and meat sotbap made for a filling lunch.