This post was written in 2008. Shop details and prices may have changed since then.
I got together with some high school friends in Incheon for a weekend lunch. Everyone’s so busy that it’s hard to meet up. Still, it’s nice to have friends back in the old neighborhood. Even when I’ve been away for ages, they take me somewhere good to eat ^_^
The sign
It’s a clean, tidy place. Rather than a butcher’s restaurant, you could just call it a regular barbecue joint. The prices are low for how nice it looks, and the service is good, so it’s definitely competitive. That’s probably why they’ve opened another branch too..
This is the kind of meat they sell.
The 1+ grade mixed platter is about 45,000 won, and two of them were just right for four people.
Here’s roughly what the place looks like.
They charge a 3,000-won table fee per person, and with a bottle of soju and a bowl of naengmyeon each to finish, it came to about 30,000 won a head including the meat. That’s really cheap for a place where you can eat hanwoo (Korean beef).. And there’s no way they can cheat you on the quality of the meat, which makes it even more appealing. I can see why butcher’s restaurants are all the rage these days.
The basic vegetables
They’re great with the meat. Refills are self-service.
Charcoal!
What can I say.. I have to call it moving ^_^ It’s not dirt cheap, but it’s the real deal. And if you look closely, you’ll see the vent that sucks up the smoke doesn’t come down from the ceiling; it draws from below instead. Vents hanging from the ceiling always feel a bit awkward. They get in the way when you clink glasses and when you’re trying to talk. This setup is just right.
Right.. let’s get started.
Gotta eat some veggies too, right?
Lots of people shout “I can fill up on meat alone!”, but honestly, if you only eat meat you get sick of it fast and can’t eat much. Mix it up with vegetables and you can actually fit in more meat.
Here’s what it looks like with the cover off.
What a happy sight.
Grilling it nicely over the charcoal.
The 1++ grade was 10,000 won more. The marbling is better, but I’ll try it next time.
Complimentary doenjang-jjigae.
Delicious ^_^ A barbecue place with good side dishes deserves bonus points. We ate our fill.
And finally, naengmyeon to clear the palate.
I assumed the broth and noodles were factory-made, but it turns out they make them in-house. A regular barbecue place would be one thing, but I never imagined a butcher’s restaurant would serve homemade naengmyeon. I was very happy with the taste. The icy cold broth with ice cubes floating in it is especially perfect for cooling down after all that grilled meat. You don’t see broth like this much these days. It gets a passing grade.
It was my first time at a butcher’s restaurant, and it’s pretty good. For one thing, it’s great that you pick out the meat yourself. There’s no risk of them skimping on the amount or bringing out some shabby cut. I think it may be the perfect barbecue concept for Korea. I have a feeling I’ll be back again and again ^_^