Dongdaemun Korean BBQ for marinated pork ribs: Dwaegal Gongmyeong

There’s a Korean BBQ place that is always buzzing with diners when you pass between Sindap and Dapsimni stations. It’s called Dwaegal Gongmyeong! I’d kept my eye on it, wondering, “How good is this place that it’s busy every single time?” Then, on a day when I was craving pork ribs, I went to satisfy my curiosity 😎

Getting there from Dapsimni and Sindap stations, plus parking

Dwaeji Galbi Dwaegal Gongmyeong Soba Dapsimni Station Main Branch (돼지갈비 돼갈공명소바 답십리역 본점), a great spot for a dinner work gathering, is within a five-minute walk of both Dapsimni Station on Line 5 and Sindap Station on Line 2.

There is free parking for five cars in total: three spaces in front of the restaurant and two mechanical parking spaces. Checking parking availability before you visit will make your meal even more convenient.

Inside the restaurant: group seating and a self-service bar

There is group seating at the entrance. Since it is separate from the main dining hall, it looks great for comfortable group get-togethers or work dinners. Even for a Korean BBQ restaurant, the interior was exceptionally neat and clean. The floors were not slippery either, which made me think they must clean very diligently.

I arrived just after break time ended, so it was quiet when I walked in. But by the time I left, nearly every table—including the group seating at the entrance—was full. It must be a well-known Dapsimni restaurant among nearby residents and office workers!

This is the self-service bar, where you can help yourself to extra side dishes. It is kept nice and tidy too, right?

Dwaegal Gongmyeong Soba menu and receipt-review bonus

• Marinated pork ribs ₩19,000 / marinated pork neck ₩17,000 / pork belly ₩17,000 / beef rib meat ₩18,000 / beef yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) ₩200,000
• Mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) ₩9,000 / aged-kimchi bibim noodles ₩8,000 / seafood doenjang stew ₩8,000 / seafood doenjang pot rice ₩9,000 / yukhoe bibimbap ₩12,000 / steamed egg ₩3,000
• Lunch menu: bowl kimchi pork stir-fry ₩10,000 / yukhoe bibimbap ₩11,000 / cold noodles with pork stir-fry ₩11,000

Write a Naver receipt review and you can receive either cosmetics or ice cream on the house!

Ordering marinated pork ribs and seafood doenjang sulbap

You can order easily on a tablet at the table.

I ordered Dwaegal Gongmyeong’s signature marinated pork ribs, seafood doenjang sulbap (rice in soybean-paste stew), and one bottle of beer.

Two servings of pork ribs, banchan (Korean side dishes), and hot charcoal were set out quickly.

One serving of pork ribs is 300 g, so even two servings felt incredibly generous!

There were chilies, ssam vegetables for wraps, scallion salad, and kabocha squash and mushrooms to grill with the meat too.

The side dishes were arranged so neatly as well.

The dongchimi (chilled radish-water kimchi) arrived with tiny ice crystals floating on top, and it was so refreshing and delicious! It went wonderfully with the pork ribs too.

I put the pork ribs on the grill along with the kabocha squash and mushrooms that came with them.

The charcoal heat was strong, so everything cooked in no time! I cut the meat into small pieces, just how I like it.

I tried a bite with soy-seasoned onions and another with scallion salad, and wow—the meat was so tender and tasty.

We each made lettuce wraps our own way. Since the pork ribs were delicious, they tasted good however we ate them.

You all know by now that pork ribs and seasoned shredded radish are a perfect match, right? Piling on plenty of the sweet-and-tangy radish made every bite so good.

Is the seafood doenjang sulbap a must-order?

The seafood doenjang sulbap I ordered to eat with the meat arrived too, and when I tried it… wow, everyone, you absolutely have to order this!!

It was loaded with seafood, including blue crab and clams. There was a reeeally generous amount of rice too. It is easier to eat than ordering doenjang stew and rice separately, the rice absorbs the seasoning beautifully, and it pairs so well with the sweet pork ribs.

The seafood doenjang sulbap and dongchimi were such a great pairing that I thought, “I’m so glad I ordered this!” I had planned to finish with a bowl of cold noodles, but thanks to the doenjang sulbap (?) I was far too full, so I skipped the noodles 😅

Why I recommend it for Dapsimni family gatherings and work dinners

Compared with other Korean BBQ restaurants around Dapsimni, this place was so clean and well kept that I would recommend it for family gatherings with children or work dinners. Its signature pork ribs were especially tender, with a delicious marinade that did not get tiring even after eating a lot! If you are looking for a great Dapsimni restaurant for a Chuseok family gathering, Dwaegal Gongmyeong could be worth a visit!