Charcoal-grilled pork ribs in Jeonju: Ibeosi Sutbul Galbi

When you think of Jeonju, you really can’t leave out Jeonju Hanok Village. We had been wandering around the village since daytime, and before we knew it, much more time had passed than expected. More places than I thought were already closed, and finding somewhere for dinner wasn’t easy either. So we said, “Let’s go eat pork ribs!” and headed over to Ajung-ri. Haha. That’s how we ended up at Ibeosi Sutbul Galbi Ajung Main Branch (이버시숯불갈비 아중본점).

The first thing I noticed when we arrived was the blue car parked in front of the restaurant. Its color really stands out, and it makes a fun photo spot too. It was parked right out front, yet somehow suited the restaurant’s atmosphere surprisingly well. The sign was large, so the place was easy to find, and since it was dinner time, I could already see plenty of diners inside before we went in. We entered with quiet anticipation.

Ibeosi Sutbul Galbi Ajung Main Branch information

The address is 1F, 204 Ajung-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, and the posted hours were Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 AM to 11 PM. It is regularly closed every Monday.

There is parking behind the restaurant. The space is limited, but having parking available made things convenient for me.

Once inside, the restaurant was more spacious and tidy than I had expected. Maybe it was because it was dinner time, but so many tables were occupied that it had a lively atmosphere. Even though it was my first visit, I found myself getting excited. Personally, when a restaurant I’m visiting for the first time is full of customers, it raises my expectations, so we sat down, ordered, and waited excitedly. 🤭

Pre-set side dishes and a charcoal grill table

We called ahead to make a reservation before visiting, and when we were shown to our table, some of the basic side dishes were already set out. Since we had arrived hungry, seeing food prepared on the table made me oddly happy.

There was japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), kimchi, vegetables, and various side dishes. A basket of lettuce and perilla leaves—the things you really miss when eating meat without them—also arrived. Looking at the table, I saw that you grill the meat directly over charcoal. Rather than charcoal-grilled galbi, we ordered pork ribs. We had come specifically for the pork ribs, so there was no hesitation.

While waiting for the pork ribs, I looked around the restaurant. There was a space set up so guests could comfortably have coffee or drinks after their meal. It seemed nice for a light stop after eating.

And then there was the eye-catching 20th-anniversary prize draw! 🎉 A prize-draw box and event information were set up inside. There were prizes listed from first place onward, so I found myself looking them over while we ate.

There was also separate information about a review event. If you write a receipt review, you could choose from items including a soft drink, steamed egg, corn cheese, doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), Kloud beer, sikhye (sweet rice drink), or chilled canned peaches. It would be good to check which event is running when you visit.

Charcoal-grilled pork ribs

Now it was finally time to get into the pork ribs!!

What we ordered was pork ribs. Although this is a charcoal-grilled galbi specialist, we tried the pork ribs instead. We had come all the way to Ajung-ri because we wanted pork ribs, so we ordered without a second thought. Once they arrived, we put them over the charcoal and grilled them. Just watching them cook over the coals made them look delicious. The smell of meat grilling over charcoal really is torture, haha. They came almost cooked already, so it didn’t take long to finish grilling them.

When I tried the cooked ribs, they tasted as if they had been lightly seasoned. It wasn’t an intensely strong marinade; rather, they had a gentle savory seasoning that suited charcoal grilling well. The charcoal aroma added a little something too, and the meat was delicious eaten straight away while warm. The meat clinging to the bones was chewy, and as I diligently gnawed at it, one rib after another disappeared. I wanted a shot of soju so badly, but it was hard resisting.ㅠㅠ

Pork ribs with cheese and doenjang-jjigae

And of course, cheese and doenjang-jjigae can’t be left out. While eating the charcoal-grilled meat, I rolled a pork rib in soft cheese, and it added an even richer, nutty flavor.

I tried all sorts of combinations. Meat is delicious on its own, of course, but it was even better with the different side dishes.

The doenjang-jjigae was generously filled with various vegetables and tofu, and it had crab legs in it, making the broth wonderfully refreshing and spicy. Mixed with rice, I think I could have eaten more than two bowls. Haha.

This time, I had a bite as a wrap too!! I put a pork rib on lettuce and added the green onion kimchi that came with it. Meat really does taste best as a wrap.

A dinner remembered for its kind service, too

I really enjoyed the pork ribs that day. But beyond the food itself, I also remember how incredibly kind the owner was during our meal. They made us feel at ease, so even though it was our first visit, we could eat comfortably without feeling awkward.

While we were eating, one of the other diners was celebrating a birthday, and the owner even made sure they got a slice of cake. Seeing that made me happy for no particular reason—it felt like the owner really looked after the guests thoughtfully. I left feeling that we had eaten delicious pork ribs and enjoyed a comfortable meal.

A day that began at Hanok Village ended with pork ribs in Ajung-ri, and it was a filling, happy dinner.