Uijeongbu Korean BBQ lunch set with galbi sotbap: Manpo Galbi

Back at Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch after a while

These days, I usually head toward Yangju when eating out, so I do not get many chances to eat in Uijeongbu like I used to.

I was in Uijeongbu for the first time in a while that day, and Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch came to mind, so I went back. I had visited Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch a few times before, so seeing its big sign again felt familiar and welcoming. Since it had been so long, I was also curious whether the food would taste just as I remembered.

Manpo Galbi, a popular Uijeongbu spot, specializes in handmade charcoal-grilled galbi (marinated ribs) and Hamheung naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles).

What are the parking and atmosphere like?

There is a parking lot behind the restaurant, and nearby parking is available too, which is convenient.

Manpo Galbi offers free house-made naengmyeon. The galbi sotbap lunch set is nicely priced, too.

Inside, the space was roomy, with tables comfortably spaced apart and good smoke-extraction equipment at every table for grilling meat.

It also looked like a good place to visit when looking for a Uijeongbu meat restaurant for a family dinner or gathering.

Manpo means to give abundantly, and the restaurant lives up to that meaning by serving guests generously.

There is a sotbap machine near the kitchen, so you can enjoy pot rice as well.

Ordering the lunch special and handmade marinated galbi

Since we visited at lunchtime this time, we decided to try the lunch special too. Available on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the ₩11,000 galbi sotbap set comes with cauldron-cooked rice containing galbi, doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), and side dishes.

But we could not come all the way to Manpo Galbi and simply skip the meat, haha. Along with the galbi sotbap lunch set, we ordered handmade marinated galbi. It was ₩16,000 for 250 g, and we ordered two portions.

Various cups were set out at every table, which was handy.

After ordering, the table was set with side dishes that go well with meat, including ssam vegetables, japchae, salad, and pickles. I liked being able to have a little of so many different things.

I also really liked that Manpo Galbi serves yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) among its complimentary side dishes.

The charcoal was excellent too. As the weather turns cooler, I find myself loving that warmth.

Handmade marinated galbi with a smoky char

A little later, our two portions of handmade marinated galbi arrived!

Once we put the appetizingly marinated ribs on the grill, the sizzling sound as they cooked was just perfect.

Marinated galbi can burn easily over very high heat, so it needs to be turned well on both sides until nicely browned. Mr. Woolgogubnam took care of grilling it for us, of course.

After tasting a piece of the perfectly cooked meat, I thought, once again, that we had done well to come back after so long.

The meat had a gently sweet marinade, and the charcoal aroma made it delicious with rice or wrapped in lettuce and perilla leaves. This flavor is probably why I seek out charcoal-grilled rib restaurants whenever I am craving Uijeongbu pork galbi.

A lunch-special pot of rice loaded with galbi

The galbi sotbap set we ordered alongside it was generous, too.

The hot pot was filled with rice and plenty of bite-sized galbi, then topped in the middle with an egg yolk, scallions, and sesame seeds. It looked delicious from the start.

I mixed it all together and took a big spoonful, then had it with warm doenjang-jjigae; it was everything I could want from a satisfying lunch. Grilling meat separately while having the pot rice made the meal feel even more abundant. The doenjang-jjigae was full of meat, too.

Free house-made naengmyeon and coffee after the meal

There was also a notice in front saying that house-made naengmyeon is served free. If you love ending a galbi meal in Uijeongbu with naengmyeon, it is worth noting.

We were so full that, even though the naengmyeon was free, we did not think we could possibly eat it, so we did not order any.

We even finished with a cup of coffee as a palate cleanser. After spending so much time only going around Yangju, it had been ages since our last visit to Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch. It was nice to return to a place we had visited before, and after delicious galbi and hearty pot rice, I felt again that we had made the right choice.

Chuseok is coming up soon. Gift sets are on sale too, so keep that in mind if you are looking for tasty meat.

If you are looking for a restaurant near Uijeongbu Station, Uijeongbu City Hall, or Uijeongbu New Town—or a comfortable Uijeongbu meat restaurant to visit with family—I think it would be nice to enjoy handmade marinated galbi and the lunch special together at Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch. We had a wonderfully filling meal at a place we had not revisited in a long time.