Hapjeong pork rib restaurant: bean sprout mountain for 2, Bongmaruji

I had plans in Hapjeong that day. I was just going to grab a quick meal and then go to a café, but my friend said there's a place near Hapjeong Station that's pretty famous these days, and took me to Bongmaruji (봉마루집).

At first I figured it was just another galbi-jjim (braised rib) place, but the moment the food came out I completely changed my mind. haha It's been a long time since a restaurant wowed me with its looks. If you love bean sprouts, you'll definitely love this. Here's my honest review for anyone looking for a good place near Hapjeong Station.

Where is Bongmaruji Hapjeong, and what's the atmosphere like?

Bongmaruji Hapjeong is at 103 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 1st floor. It's easy to find if you walk around Hapjeong Station, with a clean exterior and a sign that stands out.

A clean exterior

The exterior felt clean from the start. It's famous on social media, so I went in with expectations, and the first impression was good. It isn't flashy, just tidy, so it's easy to walk in without any pressure. It seemed good for hanging out with friends and fine for a date too.

A spacious, stylish interior

Inside, it was roomier and more comfortable than I expected. The tables were spaced reasonably and everything was well kept. When I think of a galbi-jjim specialty restaurant I picture an old-fashioned place, but Bongmaruji was much cleaner and more stylish.

The staff were friendly too, so I was in a good mood before the meal even started. I don't think the buzz around this Hapjeong Station spot is only about the food.

What should you order at Bongmaruji?

The most popular dish at Bongmaruji is the bean sprout galbi-jjim, and we ordered it for 2. When we ordered, the staff told us that a lot of bean sprouts go on top.

I like bean sprouts, so that made me even more excited. I like galbi-jjim itself, but eating it with bean sprouts brings out the texture and makes it even better, right? haha I wondered just how much they were talking about, and a moment later I found out.

Neat side dishes, and two kinds of pickled radish

The side dishes were set out before the food arrived. Overall the lineup at Bongmaruji was clean and simple. What I remembered most was the danmuji (pickled yellow radish).

Usually you get just one kind of danmuji, but Bongmaruji served two. Each tasted different, so it was fun to alternate between them. After eating the spicy galbi-jjim, picking up a piece of danmuji left my mouth feeling fresh. It's a small detail, but details like this raise satisfaction.

A mountain of bean sprouts piled on the galbi-jjim

The bean sprout galbi-jjim at Bongmaruji comes with so many sprouts on top that you can't even see the ribs. It was a mountain of bean sprout galbi-jjim, just as the name says.

The galbi-jjim we'd been waiting for finally arrived. Everyone pulled out their phones the second it came out. haha

It looked impressive in photos, but in person it was far more overwhelming. I understood right away why it's famous near Hapjeong Station. The look alone made me feel it was worth a visit.

There are so many bean sprouts, so how do you eat them?

At Bongmaruji, turn on the heat and wait a few minutes, and the bean sprouts wilt and become easier to eat. The staff told us this method themselves.

At first there were so many sprouts that I wondered how we'd eat them. Then the staff told us that if you turn on the heat and wait a little, the sprouts wilt.

Sure enough, after a few minutes the mountain of sprouts started to sink down. Then the galbi-jjim sauce soaks into the sprouts and a really delicious smell rises up. The sprouts kept their crunchy texture, and with the sauce soaked in they tasted much better.

Is the pork galbi-jjim at Bongmaruji tender?

The pork galbi-jjim at Bongmaruji was so tender it tore easily with chopsticks. The spice level was moderate too, and even my friend who can't handle spicy food enjoyed it.

After scooping out a fair amount of sprouts, I finally dug into the ribs. It's pork galbi-jjim and the meat was really tender. It tore easily even with chopsticks. You could really tell it had been simmered for a long time.

There were no tough or dry parts. It was juicy and the sauce had soaked in well. The spice was moderate, so I kept reaching for more. Even my friend who can't take heat enjoyed it, so it isn't an overly aggressive spiciness.

Should you order a bowl of rice?

The galbi-jjim sauce at Bongmaruji is a sweet-spicy rice thief, so I recommend adding a bowl of rice. I tried not to order rice, but in the end I couldn't resist. haha

The galbi-jjim sauce really was a rice thief. Putting a rib on the rice and eating it with the bean sprouts was so good.

The sweet-spicy sauce went so well with rice. I think I'd have regretted it without rice. This sauce is one of the reasons I recommend it as a spot near Hapjeong Station.

How are the portions and value at Bongmaruji?

The bean sprout galbi-jjim for 2 at Bongmaruji was generous enough for two people to eat until full. The bean sprouts are piled on without holding back, and there was more meat than I expected.

With restaurant prices these days, plenty of places feel expensive, but I felt Bongmaruji was decent value. Considering the taste, portion and price, it was a very satisfying meal.

Bongmaruji near Hapjeong Station: final thoughts

It was a place that wowed me the moment the food arrived, which hasn't happened in a while. The mountain of bean sprouts was impressive and the galbi-jjim tasted better than I expected. The combination of crunchy sprouts and tender pork ribs went together far better than I'd thought. If you're looking for a place near Hapjeong Station, I think Bongmaruji is worth a visit at least once. I plan to come back and eat here again next time I'm in Hapjeong. haha