Yangju charcoal galbi restaurant with ping-pong-sized tables: Manpo

It was time to treat a junior coworker to a meal. Since I was buying, I wanted good meat and a place where we could talk comfortably. So I went to Manpo Garden in Yangju. I already knew this place had easy parking and big tables — the kind of layout where I could ramble on like an old-timer without spitting on anyone haha.

Wide parking, roomy tables, delicious charcoal galbi, plus naengmyeon and puffed-rice ice cream! A Yangju galbi spot worth remembering when you want to properly treat a junior coworker to a meal.

How big is the parking at Manpo Garden?

Taste is fundamental at a barbecue restaurant, but I also think parking and table size matter quite a bit — especially on a day when I'm treating someone to a meal haha.

The moment I arrived, I was already impressed by the size of the parking lot. There was plenty of space both in front of and behind the building, which was itself pretty large, so parking was a breeze.

• 📍 28-37 Godeok-ro 355beon-gil, 1st floor, Yangju, Gyeonggi, South Korea
• ⏰ Daily 11:00 - 22:00
• 🚗 Wide private parking available in front and behind the restaurant

There's even more parking if you go around the back;;; it's basically the size of a big-box mart parking lot;;

Inside Manpo Garden, a Yangju galbi restaurant

Once inside, the spacious dining room meant plenty of room between tables too. The tables themselves were big, so even with several side dishes laid out, there was still plenty of room.

Tables as big as a ping-pong table

At most barbecue places, the table gets cramped once you add side dishes, the grill, and water cups. Not here. It was easy to chat with the person across from you — even a chatty junior coworker wouldn't have to worry about splashing anyone lol.

Manpo Garden menu and prices

Manpo Garden's handmade pork galbi is ₩19,000, and the hanwoo sirloin ++ is ₩42,000. The naengmyeon that just comes with the course is a huge win here!

• Handmade pork galbi 19.0
• Charcoal-grilled hanwoo bulgogi 28.0
• Hanwoo sirloin ++ 42.0
• Pork belly, pork neck 18.0
• Hanwoo yukhoe 28.0
• Chadol doenjang sulbap 4.0
• Pudding egg custard 3.0
• Galbitang 14.0
• Yukhoe bibimbap 15.0

Three servings of handmade pork galbi and pudding egg custard

The menu had handmade pork galbi as well as hanwoo sirloin and bulgogi. Anyone looking for hanwoo in Yangju should check it out too. That day, we went with the handmade pork galbi.

Even the beef jeon (pan-fried beef) came out colorful, like something off a royal table. Don't worry — the pepper in the middle isn't spicy!

Yukhoe~ extra yukhoe is ₩5,000~ served round and cute like a little snow globe~ just the right portion~

The side dishes were neatly laid out even before the meat arrived. Yukhoe and beef jeon caught my eye, but what really hit my sweet spot was the radish salad. Slightly spicy, tangy, and full of savory flavor — my chopsticks kept going for it even before the meat was cooked. The cucumber salad was crisp and good too. With every side dish worth reaching for, my expectations for the meat naturally went up.

How is the charcoal grill for Manpo Garden's handmade pork galbi?

Finally, the galbi went onto the charcoal. The meat itself was tasty, but what stood out that day was the charcoal fire. Weak charcoal takes forever to cook the meat, and if you can't control the heat, you end up burning just the outside. But that day the fire stayed steady, letting the galbi grill up beautifully.

Taking a bite of the well-cooked galbi, the seasoning didn't overpower the meat's own flavor, and the juices and charcoal aroma blended more with each chew. Adding the radish salad brought a slightly spicy, tangy kick that kept me reaching for more.

The glossy white rice was the surprise star

The glossy white rice stuck with me too. The grains shone so much it reminded me of rice from a fancy Japanese restaurant.

Pudding or egg custard? Manpo Garden's steamed egg for ₩3,000

The egg custard we ordered on top was the hidden star of the day. The moment I scooped it with a spoon, it split apart softly — the texture reminded me of foie gras haha.

There was no heavy seasoning added, so you could taste the egg's own savory, gently sweet flavor, and at ₩3,000 it was a great addition.

Free naengmyeon with the galbi, ordered at the kiosk

Once we finished the meat, it was time to wrap up with cool mul-naengmyeon (cold noodle soup)! Here, ordering meat lets you also enjoy naengmyeon. I didn't even need to add mustard or vinegar — the seasoning was just right for my taste. After eating galbi, a sip of the cold broth was so refreshing. Ah, but a heads-up — the naengmyeon isn't just handed to you; you order it via the kiosk (it comes up as ₩0), and it's served after that, so pick between bibim-naengmyeon and mul-naengmyeon there~ We both can't handle spice, so we went with mul-naengmyeon~

Manpo Garden's puffed-rice take on McDonald's soft serve

So many desserts on offer at this Yangju pork galbi favorite, Manpo Garden!

I thought that was it, but there was soft-serve ice cream at the dessert corner too. Piled on top of puffed rice, the ice cream added a sweet, crunchy texture. Maybe it's the Korean version of McDonald's soft serve? From the meat to the naengmyeon to the puffed-rice ice cream, the meal was packed from start to finish.

I came to treat my junior coworker, but ended up feeling treated myself. This is a place that comes to mind again when I'm thinking about where to find good galbi in Yangju, or planning a family meal out or a get-together with coworkers.

Wrap-up: is Manpo Garden worth it?

• 🚗 Wide parking in front and behind made it easy to visit by car.
• 🪑 Both the restaurant and the tables were big with roomy spacing, great for eating and chatting.
• 🥩 The handmade pork galbi had lovely juices and charcoal aroma, and the radish salad and cucumber salad were tasty too.
• 🍚 Glossy white rice, soft egg custard, and cool naengmyeon after the meat all hit the spot.
• 🍦 Finishing with the puffed-rice soft-serve made me feel like I'd properly treated my junior coworker to a meal.