I’d heard the name Hangawi (한가위) for ages before I finally went.
It’s one of those big-name grill houses in Buk-gu, Ulsan, and I went for the lunch set, mostly to try the marinated US beef short rib.
Short version: the place is much bigger than I expected, the mood is closer to a banquet hall than a typical BBQ joint, and the marinated galbi is an easy crowd-pleaser. It’s the kind of spot you’d take family or out-of-town guests.
The basics before you go
Hangawi is at 43 Jinjang-yutong-ro, Buk-gu, Ulsan.
It’s right next to the Jinjang-dong CGV cinema and about a 500m walk from Costco.
The phone number is 052-245-9200, and it’s open from 11:30 in the morning until 10 p.m. The lunch set runs until 3 p.m.
Parking is genuinely not a worry here.
There’s a large free lot inside the building with room for up to 200 cars, and there’s even someone helping you park.
📍 View Hangawi (한가위) on Google Maps →
Bigger than I pictured
Walking into the first-floor lobby actually made me pause.
It feels less like a grill house and more like a hotel banquet space, with a little stream of water, stones, and greenery running through the building. Even waiting here doesn’t feel cramped.
The dining floor has both chair seating and floor seating, plus several private rooms in the back.
Tables are spaced far enough apart that you’re not bumping elbows with the next group.
I’d booked ahead, so my table was ready and I sat down right away.
Weekend lunches and evenings can get a long wait, so I’d really suggest reserving before you go.
By the entrance on the first floor there’s also a counter where you can buy galbitang and meat to take home.
Handy if you end up craving it again later.
The banchan set the tone
The side dishes (banchan, 반찬) came out neatly arranged.
White kimchi, pickled onion, scallion salad, lotus root, a little salad, and a pot of fish-cake soup. Nothing was over-seasoned, which I liked.
The one that stuck with me was the icy water kimchi (mul-kimchi, 물김치) with a thin layer of frost on top.
Spooning some between bites of meat resets your mouth nicely. I asked for a refill.
The pickled onion comes with a sauce you pour over it yourself, to taste.
With the meat, it cuts through the richness perfectly.
The main event: marinated US short rib
What I came for was the soyangnyeom galbisal (소양념갈비살), marinated US beef short rib.
It’s 29,000 won for a 250g serving, a cut with a nice balance of lean and fat that works really well marinated.
It arrives rolled prettily along the rib bones.
Looks modest, but once you unroll it there’s more than you’d think. It comes with king oyster mushrooms and a few tteokgalbi (떡갈비, minced rib patties) portioned to your group, so there’s a bit of variety on the grill.
The grill runs on charcoal.
A whole tray of well-lit coals comes out, and the heat held steady right to the last piece.
The marinade isn’t heavy, so it didn’t really char, and the fine knife scoring meant it cooked fast.
You grill it yourself, and they hand you two pairs of tongs so two people can work both sides.
Cooked, it has a lovely color.
The marinade is on the sweet-savory side, not spicy at all and not aggressive, so it’s an easy one to keep eating. If you’re nervous about Korean heat, this dish is a safe pick. The meat is tender with just enough juice.
The way to eat it: a piece of meat on a lettuce leaf, a bit of pickled onion on top, wrap and go.
I’m firmly a ssam (쌈, lettuce-wrap) person, so I kept building them.
A side of yukhoe
I added a plate of yukhoe (육회, Korean beef tartare) since it’s popular here.
It’s made with Korean hanwoo beef, tender and not chewy at all, with slivers of pear for a touch of sweetness.
The lunch set includes a meal
The nice thing about Hangawi’s lunch set is that a finishing dish is included.
You choose between doenjang-jjigae or naengmyeon.
The doenjang-jjigae (된장찌개, soybean paste stew) you simmer right at the table.
It had plenty of meat in it and the broth was savory rather than heavy.
I also got the mul-naengmyeon (물냉면, cold buckwheat noodles in chilled broth).
The broth is light and was just right after all that grilled meat. The buckwheat noodles snap easily, so even my parents found them easy to eat.
The bibim-naengmyeon (비빔냉면) is sweet with a mild kick once you mix it. Note this one has a little chili heat, but nothing intense.
At lunchtime they also serve galbitang (갈비탕, beef short rib soup).
On a day you don’t feel like grilling, coming just for the galbitang would be perfectly fine.
Free café on the third floor
My favorite touch was the third-floor café after the meal.
Pay, take your receipt upstairs, and the drinks are free.
Americano, iced tea, green tea, that sort of thing. Felt like saving on coffee.
It’s a separate space with no grill smoke, so it’s a calm spot to sit with a drink and wrap things up.
A few notes for visitors from abroad
If you’re traveling in Korea, a couple of practical things.
Paying is easy. Like almost every restaurant here, Hangawi takes cards, so any internationally accepted credit card should work fine. No need to carry much cash.
There’s no tipping culture in Korea, so you don’t tip at restaurants. Honestly, trying to leave a tip can just confuse the staff, so it’s fine to skip it.
On language: the staff don’t really speak English, but ordering is not hard. You can look at the menu, point to what you want, and hold up fingers for how many portions. That’s how a lot of it works here, and it’s totally manageable.
Getting there
Hangawi is at 43 Jinjang-yutong-ro, Buk-gu, Ulsan.
It’s next to the Jinjang-dong CGV and near Costco, so it’s easy to find, and it’s about 6 minutes by car from Ulsan Airport.
With parking this easy, coming by car is the way to go.
📍 View Hangawi (한가위) on Google Maps →
Final thoughts
Big space, easy parking, and marinated galbi that just about everyone will like.
The lunch set includes a meal, so the value is solid, and that walk up to the free third-floor café at the end is a genuinely nice way to finish.
If you’re looking for somewhere to bring family or older relatives in Ulsan, Hangawi is an easy recommendation.