On our way to Pyeongchang for a family trip, we decided to stop for lunch at Seorak Makguksu Chuncheon Dakgalbi Gonjiam, and wow—it turned out to be a great choice.
<Photo courtesy of Naver Map – Restaurant listing>
🚗 Convenient Location & Spacious Parking
The restaurant is conveniently located near Gonjiam IC, and the parking lot is huge and super easy to access, which is a relief when traveling with kids. Inside, the restaurant was clean and tidy, making it very comfortable for a family meal.
🔥 Charcoal-Grilled Dakgalbi, Twice-Cooked at Your Table
Their signature is pre-grilled dakgalbi that you finish cooking on a charcoal grill at your table. The moment it hits the charcoal, the aroma comes alive. The seasoning isn’t too heavy, so the natural flavor of the chicken shines through.
<Photo by author>
🌶️ Mild & Delicious for Kids
They offer spicy and soy sauce flavors, but the spicy version isn’t really hot, so the kids enjoyed both. No stress about overly spicy chicken—perfect for families.
🍽️ Generous Portions
We were a group of four (two adults, two kids) and ordered six servings. The portions were quite large, almost too much to finish, so adjust orders accordingly.
<Photo by author>
🍲 The Delectable Doenjang Jjigae
The doenjang stew deserves a special mention. Rich and savory, it complemented the dakgalbi perfectly. Definitely a highlight among the side dishes.
☕ Continuing Our Trip
After lunch, we stopped by Eomji-ne Cockle in Pyeongchang and later visited the coastal area in Gangneung, including a Starbucks with a view of the sea and historical sites. Our eldest daughter, who loves history, was thrilled with the combination of history and ocean views.
❤️ Small Gesture, Big Impression
I accidentally left my Starbucks tumbler at the restaurant, and the staff kept it safe until I picked it up the next day. Little things like this make a big difference.
If you’re heading toward Pyeongchang or Gangneung, this is a solid stop for a hearty, family-friendly Korean BBQ meal. We’ll definitely return next time we’re in the area.
When our wedding anniversary came around, my husband did what any thoughtful person would do — he booked a sushi omakase.
Sounds perfect, right?
Except… we have kids. And our kids are very loyal to salmon sushi and absolutely nothing else.
I still remember taking them to an omakase back in the U.S. once. They politely picked at their plates, I ate most of their food, and then we had to grab something else afterward because they were still hungry.
To make it even more memorable (in a bad way), the “special kids dessert” that day turned out to be a packaged chocolate snack cake topped with whipped cream. I’m still not over it. 😂
So this time, while traveling in Korea, we decided to cancel the omakase and go with something that felt more relaxed, more satisfying, and honestly… more family-friendly.
That’s how we ended up at a Korean beef restaurant instead.
📍 Hanwoo Dinner in Sindang-dong: Baeksong
We chose Baeksong, a well-known Hanwoo (premium Korean beef) restaurant located in Sindang-dong, Seoul.
A quick intro to Baeksong:
Featured on Heo Young-man’s Food Travel (a famous Korean food show)
Offers a wide variety of Hanwoo cuts at reasonable prices
Popular side dishes like spicy beef noodle soup and doenjang rice
Private rooms on the second floor (great for families or groups)
We reserved a private room upstairs, which made the whole experience much calmer with kids.
That said, the staircase and the entrance to the room gave my kids major “once you go in, you might not come out” vibes. One of them said it felt like a gangster hideout. 😂 So if you’re big on sleek, modern interiors, that’s something to keep in mind.
🥩 Service & Beef Quality: Absolutely Solid
Ambience aside, everything else was spot on.
The table setup was clean, the service was attentive, and best of all — the staff grilled the meat for us from start to finish.
That alone makes a huge difference, especially when you’re trying to actually enjoy the meal instead of babysitting a grill. The beef quality was excellent across the board.
📋 What We Ordered (and Prices)
Our order:
Signature Set
Hanwoo Yukhoe (beef tartare)
Additional cuts: Chuck flap tail & tenderloin
Prices (as of December 2025):
Signature Set: 145,000 KRW
Tenderloin: 45,000 KRW
Chuck flap tail: 45,000 KRW
Yukhoe: 25,000 KRW (a bit small, to be honest)
<Photo by the author>
🔥 The Iron Plate Makes a Difference
One thing that really stood out was the thick iron plate Baeksong uses.
If you’ve ever been to high-end yakiniku spots in Japan, you know the type. It’s heated slowly over charcoal, holds the heat beautifully, and gives the meat this deep, smoky flavor without burning it.
It actually reminded me of a pork restaurant in Haebangchon called Hunyuk — another place I’d highly recommend if you’re in Seoul.
🍲 Signature Set & Side Dish Tip (Important!)
The Signature Set includes multiple cuts:
Sirloin
Chuck flap
Rib meat
Special cuts like seodaesal
You also grill mushrooms, peppers, and potatoes alongside the meat.
Here’s the important tip:
When you order the Signature Set, you get to choose one side dish:
Doenjang rice
Spicy beef noodle soup
Or instant noodles (yes, really)
But the set already comes with two bowls of beef broth.
We didn’t think about the overlap and ended up with way too much soup on the table.
👉 Choose your side carefully to avoid soup overload.
🌱 The Green Onion Kimchi (PaKimchi-My Personal Highlight)
Out of all the banchan, the green onion kimchi completely stole the show.
Our kids didn’t touch it, so I asked if we could take the leftovers home. The staff actually packed more than what we had left.
I usually don’t even like green onion kimchi, but this one was:
Not overly sweet
Not too salty
No overpowering fish sauce smell
It paired beautifully with the rich Hanwoo, and somehow tasted just as good later at home with instant noodles.
<Photo by the author>
<Photo by the author>
🥩 About Baeksong’s Signature Cut
Baeksong is known for reinterpreting a 1920s-style Korean rib restaurant concept, and their seodaesal is considered the signature cut.
Unfortunately, thanks to strong opinions from the kids, we stuck with safer cuts this time. Next visit, I’m definitely trying more of their specialty cuts.
These days, dining out feels less about just eating and more about creating memories with the people you’re with.
Baeksong isn’t flashy or trendy, but it delivers where it matters: great beef, reliable service, and a comfortable space where families can actually relax.
It’s not inexpensive, but considering the variety of Hanwoo cuts and the full-service grilling, it felt worth it — especially for a celebration meal.
If you’re visiting Korea and looking for a solid Korean beef restaurant with private rooms in Sindang-dong, this is definitely a place worth considering.
I’ll keep sharing honest food experiences and little moments from our time traveling through Korea.
