Hwangchil pork galbi and bibim naengmyeon in Gwacheon: Najumyeonok

A while back I was craving some good pork galbi for dinner, so I went to Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch. I was looking for somewhere to eat around Gwacheon and ended up here — I got to enjoy both galbi and naengmyeon, which made for a pretty satisfying dinner. If you're looking for restaurants near Seoul Land, this is a good place to stop by before or after your visit, so I wanted to introduce it!

Location and atmosphere at Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch

Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch is located near Chanumul in Galhyeon-dong, Gwacheon. It has a hanok-style atmosphere, which felt a bit different from your typical Korean BBQ restaurant.

The dining room is fairly spacious too, so it's good for eating with family or visiting with a larger group :)

The menu

Starting with the weekday-only set menu~

There's hwangchil king galbi, hwangchil pork galbi, kkotgalbisal (flower short rib), and other meat dishes~~

The signature hwangchil pork galbi in particular is managed in-house from processing to distribution through Ondal Livestock's direct-operation system, so it's said to keep both freshness and quality. Hwangchil trees have long been known as good for the body, and they're said to cut the gamey smell of meat while adding depth of flavor. The mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon, which go well alongside it, are made with house-pulled noodles and a deep, refreshing broth that draws a lot of regulars. All the side dishes and sauces are made in-house, with no instant products, giving a clean flavor that's earned a lot of good reviews haha.

Beyond the meat dishes, there's a wide range of meal options too — naengmyeon, galbitang, gomtang — so it looked like a great spot to visit for lunch as well~ We went back and forth but ended up ordering the hwangchil pork galbi and bibim naengmyeon combo haha.

All the neatly arranged side dishes were so good.

How was the hwangchil pork galbi?

As soon as we put the meat on the grill, that sweet-savory sauce smell wafted up and really stirred the appetite.. ❤️ Sauce is everything with pork galbi, and here it was well soaked into the meat, so it was tasty even eaten plain, and it also paired well wrapped in lettuce with garlic and side dishes.

With that grilled aroma added on top, it naturally made you think of rice! Personally, pork galbi that's too sweet gets tiring after a few pieces, but here the meat and sauce together were easy to keep eating without feeling heavy. If you love eating meat, Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch, a Gwacheon pork galbi favorite, is a go!

Pairing it with bibim naengmyeon

And when you're eating meat, naengmyeon is a must! We ordered the bibim naengmyeon. Mixing the spicy-tangy sauce with the noodles' signature chewy texture went really well with the pork galbi. Especially — a bite of meat, then a bite of bibim naengmyeon, and your palate feels cleanly reset, so your chopsticks just keep going back. Highly, highly recommend.

Would I go back to this Gwacheon meat restaurant?

Ordering naengmyeon as a side to go with the meat, or eating it as dessert, worked well, and it was great being able to enjoy both good meat and a variety of side dishes. If you're looking for a Gwacheon meat restaurant or Gwacheon pork galbi favorite, how about Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch~? I think I'll come back whenever I'm craving galbi. Above all, the hanok-style atmosphere gave it a more relaxed dining feel than just grabbing meat and leaving.