Today, I’m sharing a food spot I visited near Magoknaru Station, which is on Korea’s Airport Railroad line.
When you arrive in Korea, chances are you’ll take the Airport Railroad straight into Seoul.
Magoknaru Station is one of the first stations you’ll reach after entering Seoul, and the best part is that you can get here directly without transferring from the Airport Railroad, which makes it very convenient.
This neighborhood is relatively new, so the buildings are modern, clean, and the overall atmosphere feels very pleasant.
If you’re visiting Korea, I’d actually recommend staying around this area. There are some nice hotels nearby, and it only takes about 50 minutes by subway to the airport.
I personally love how calm and comfortable this area feels, so I even went for a run here today.
There’s also a lake nearby, which makes it a great place for walking or running.
Personally, food always tastes better after working out, so I really enjoy eating after exercising.
Now, let me introduce the restaurant I visited.
This was actually my third visit!
And yes – it’s one of the most iconic K- foods: Samgyeopsal (Korean pork belly).
Mabuja Fresh Pork Belly(Korean BBQ)
This is what the restaurant looks like from the outside.
Since it’s cold right now, all the windows are closed, but on nicer days, they open them all up.
When you walk by, the smell of grilled meat fills the air – it’s almost impossible not to step inside.
That’s actually how I found this place too. I followed the smell, loved the food, and ended up becoming a regular. Haha.
Location
Address : 서울특별시 강서구 마곡동 760번지 마곡나루역보타닉푸르지오시티 1층 121호
Here’s the location.
It’s only about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Magoknaru Station.
Restaurant Atmosphere
This is what the inside looks like.
It has a very classic Korean BBQ restaurant vibe.
The metal barrel-style chairs open up like lids, so you can store your jacket or bag inside.
As soon as you sit down, it’s a good idea to put your clothes inside — it really helps keep them from smelling like grilled meat.
Menu
Here’s the menu.
We ordered two servings of fresh pork belly and a bowl of rice.
One serving of fresh pork belly costs 16,000 KRW (about $11.05 USD).
A bowl of soybean paste stew is included by default, and extra bowls cost 2,000 KRW (about $2.38 USD).
Banchan (Korean Side Dishes)
As soon as you sit down, they set the table with these side dishes.
Even though everything looks red, none of the dishes are actually spicy — no need to worry!
The complimentary soybean paste stew is rich and comforting.
I liked it so much that I ordered an extra bowl. Haha.
They also bring lettuce for wrapping the meat, along with ssamjang (dipping sauce) and soybean powder.
In my opinion, this soybean powder is one of this restaurant’s secret weapons.
Dipping the pork into it makes it incredibly delicious.
Main menu : Samgyeopsal
Finally, the pork belly arrived!
The grill is slightly tilted – the meat cooks on the upper part, while the pork fat flows down. That pork fat is used to stir-fry kimchi on the lower part of the grill.
Kimchi cooked in pork fat has so much more depth and umami – it’s absolutely delicious, The stir-fried kimchi is definitely another highlight here.
The staff grills everything for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. Super convenient, right?
While grilling the meat, the staff told us the reason their pork tastes so good.
According to them, it’s because they know how to grill it properly. Haha.
Honestly, they weren’t wrong. The meat was perfectly cooked, and the service was very friendly.
They even noticed when our side dishes were running low and brought more without us asking.
Such thoughtful service – easily one of the best experiences I’ve had.
The staff took care of everything from start to finish, which made the meal so relaxing.
At most BBQ places, you have to grill the meat yourself, which can get pretty hectic.
Here, you just sit back and watch.
They even cut the meat for us and constantly checked the heat of the grill.
Doesn’t it look perfectly cooked?
The Best Way to Enjoy It Here
Once everything was cooked, the staff explained the best way to eat it.
First, coat the pork lightly with the soybean powder.
Then, place a bite of green onion kimchi and stir-fried kimchi on top.
The combination is amazing – the clean taste of the pork, the nutty and slightly sweet soybean powder, and the flavorful kimchi all work perfectly together.
I especially noticed how subtly sweet the soybean powder was.
It almost tasted like it was mixed with sugar – sweet but still very clean.
Pork belly with soybean powder and stir-fried kimchi is honestly an unbeatable combination.
When we were almost done with the meat, we ordered fried rice.
Since there were two of us, we ordered just one portion.
At Korean BBQ places, if you’re still hungry after the meat, you usually order fried rice for everyone.
If you’re already fairly full, you order one less than the number of people.
We were already pretty full, so one portion was perfect.
The fried rice wasn’t as impressive as the pork – it was just okay.
Maybe the pork was just too good.
Either way, the meat itself was absolutely excellent.
My Thoughts And Quick Summary
- If you’re coming into Seoul from Incheon Airport and stopping by Magoknaru, or if you’re staying in this area, I highly recommend this restaurant.
- The area around Magoknaru Station is relatively new, clean, and comfortable, with a nearby lake that’s perfect for a relaxing walk.
- The pork at this restaurant is outstanding. Pairing it with soybean powder and stir-fried kimchi creates an absolutely amazing combination.
Thank you for taking the time to read this long post.
I hope you have a wonderful trip in Korea – see you in the next post!