Gangneung grill house in Gangmun-dong: 560g beef ribs at Chodang Uga

Chodang Uga is a place where the marbling alone is a highlight — and it also has a spacious main hall plus private rooms.

During our 2-night-3-day trip to Gangneung, we were looking for a hearty Gangneung BBQ restaurant with no parking worries, and after hearing good things, my husband and I headed to Chodang Uga haha. There were 6 private rooms tucked behind the large hall, and it's also known as a dog-friendly restaurant in Gangneung, so let me start with the location.

Where Chodang Uga is and where to park near St. John's Hotel

📍 298-4 Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea

• ⏰ Daily 11:00–21:30, break 15:00–17:00, last order 20:50
• 📌 Chuseok holiday hours: Thu–Sat 11:00–21:30, break 15:00–17:00 / closed Sep 22 and Sep 29
• 🅿️ About 30 parking spots in front of the building

Chodang Uga is a one-minute walk from St. John's Hotel. It's also within 100m of Gangmun Beach, so it seemed like a great stop after watching the ocean 🌊 If you're also looking for restaurants near St. John's Hotel, this is a handy one to add to your route.

The parking lot in front of the building holds about 30 cars, so parking wasn't a worry at all. Just make sure to tell staff your license plate at the counter after your meal to get the pre-discount rate — don't forget this part!

Inside Chodang Uga: 6 private rooms, a self-serve bar and dog-friendly seating

Walking in, the main hall was much bigger than I expected 👀

There were plenty of tables, and 6 private rooms on one side, which looked great for small gatherings, family meals, or a more private setting.

There's a self-serve bar in the center of the restaurant, which made refilling side dishes and lettuce wraps easy, and orders could be placed directly from a tablet at the table.

At the entrance, the dog-friendly usage rules were posted prominently. Only small-to-medium dogs under 10kg are allowed in, and there was detailed guidance on leash use and vaccination status. If you're looking for a dog-friendly restaurant in Gangneung, it's worth reading this before you go in.

On one side of the interior, you could also buy dog treats and food 🐾 It really is a dog-friendly Gangneung restaurant that fits nicely into an itinerary for anyone traveling with their pet.

Chodang Uga menu and what woo-dae galbi costs

The menu had a wide range of hanwoo (Korean beef) and pork dishes: premium assorted platter, whole hanwoo course, diced sirloin, woo-dae galbi, hanwoo yukhoe (beef tartare), flower sirloin, chuck flap tail, tri-tip, seasoned pork galbi, pork galbi, and hanwoo bulgogi.

Here's what we ordered.

• Woo-dae galbi x2 (560g): ₩74,000
• Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) + rice: ₩5,000

I was told the woo-dae galbi uses only the No. 6–8 flower rib section from the 16-rib rack of American black Angus beef.

It was plated with king oyster mushrooms and parsley, so the presentation alone was mouthwatering.

The basic side dishes filled the whole table: salad, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), napa cabbage kimchi, chodang sundubu (soft tofu), sweet pumpkin salad, radish pickles, broccoli, and pickled onions — all great pairings for the meat.

The self-serve bar had broccoli, lettuce, and various lettuce wraps ready to go, so it was easy to grab as much as we needed.

Grilling the 560g woo-dae galbi yourself over charcoal

The moment the woo-dae galbi arrived, the marbling alone was a work of art 😍 The tight, white marbling raised our expectations just from the look of it. At Chodang Uga, staff don't grill it for you, so we had to do it ourselves — but thanks to the slits cut into the ribs, separating the meat was easier than expected.

The fire was quite strong so we were a little nervous at first, but soon the sizzle of fat popping on the charcoal filled the air with that smoky aroma 🤤 The outside got a light char with a savory edge, while the inside stayed packed with juice — it sliced smoothly from the first cut.

The rib ends had a light char with a deep smoky flavor.

For the first bite, we just dipped it lightly in salt — and the moment we chewed, the juices burst out and the tender flavor unique to the flower rib meat filled our mouths. It was delicious enough to eat plain, without wraps, so we just kept going.

The more we chewed, the richer the flavor got, and it was tender rather than chewy, so our chopsticks kept reaching for more haha. Pairing it with the pickled onions and radish pickles cut through the richness nicely and worked really well together. Two portions of woo-dae galbi were the perfect amount for two people :) If you want to taste the meat's natural flavor without sauce, this is a great spot among Gangneung restaurants to enjoy woo-dae galbi simply and cleanly~!

The doenjang jjigae for dessert was the BBQ-restaurant style, loaded with vegetables and meat. The warm, savory broth was the perfect clean finish after all that rich meat. It'll probably stand out as the heartiest meal of our 2-night-3-day Gangneung trip.

Chodang Uga in 3 lines

• ✔️ Chodang Uga, a dog-friendly Gangneung restaurant, is one minute from St. John's Hotel with a spacious hall and 6 private rooms
• ✔️ We ordered two portions of woo-dae galbi for ₩74,000 plus doenjang jjigae and rice for ₩5,000
• ✔️ A well-stocked self-serve bar made this Gangneung BBQ restaurant even more convenient

Frequently asked questions

Do staff grill the woo-dae galbi for you at Chodang Uga?

No, you grill it yourself. The pre-cut slits in the ribs make separating the meat easy, but the fire runs hot, so it helps to pay a bit of attention while grilling.

Which cut of beef is Chodang Uga's woo-dae galbi?

It's the No. 6–8 flower rib section from the 16-rib rack of American black Angus beef.

What should you check before bringing a dog to Chodang Uga?

The usage rules are posted prominently at the entrance, so just check them before going in. Dog treats and food are also sold inside.

Is Chodang Uga worth a stop in Gangneung?

If you're looking for a dog-friendly restaurant in Gangneung, I'd recommend Chodang Uga. As a restaurant near St. John's Hotel, the location was convenient, and it had 6 private rooms plus a spacious main hall as a Gangneung BBQ restaurant. Between the well-marbled woo-dae galbi and the hearty doenjang jjigae, it's a great fit for anyone hunting for good Gangneung restaurants. I'd love to come back on our next Gangneung trip :)