Qingdao Malatang Yangkkochi, Ansan: Thick Lamb Skewers After Hoamsan

Come down a mountain and your body knows exactly what it wants: fire, meat and something that makes your tongue tingle.

That evening I climbed Hoamsan at sunset, looked down at Seoul's lights from the summit rocks, and came down past Hoapsa temple. Then I headed straight to Wongok-dong in Ansan, to a place with a big red sign: Qingdao Malatang Yangkkochi (칭다오 마라탕 양꼬치). Short version: everything I ate that night was good.

A red sign in Wongok-dong

Wongok-dong in Ansan is the neighborhood where restaurants from all over the world sit side by side. On its streets, 칭다오 (Qingdao) hangs in big red letters and 마라탕 양꼬치 (malatang, lamb skewers) in yellow. A small plate next to it reads "칭다오양꼬치 별관": the Qingdao Yangkkochi annex.

Side dishes, then the skewers

Sit down and out come bean sprouts, roasted peanuts and pickles. Then the skewers arrive.

My first thought on seeing them: thick. These aren't thin scraps threaded on a stick. Each piece is chunky and brightly colored. You can see the meat is fresh.

Skewers that turn themselves over charcoal

Hang the skewers on the table's charcoal grill and they rotate on their own. You don't lift a finger and every side cooks evenly. Watching fat drip onto the glowing coals while the meat turns golden is enough to make you hungry.

Dip a finished skewer in the cumin spice mix and take a bite. The outside is smoky and savory, the inside thick enough to stay juicy. The meat is fresh, so it tastes clean. That is the whole secret of the lamb here: thick and fresh.

Numbing mapo tofu rice

Skewers alone would be a shame. The mapo tofu rice makes your tongue tingle from the first spoonful, then the softness of the tofu and the depth of the sauce follow. It is spicy and numbing, and you still can't put the spoon down. A spoonful between skewers is the perfect rhythm.

A seriously hearty onmyeon

Last came the onmyeon, a hot noodle soup: noodles and bok choy in a red broth. Lift the noodles and they're bouncy; the broth is rich. In a word, seriously hearty. After all that grilled meat, a hot broth to finish leaves you properly full.

After the mountain, lamb skewers

Honestly, the hike probably made it taste even better. A rocky climb at sunset, then charcoal lamb skewers, numbing mapo tofu and hot noodles. The day started on a mountain and was completed with lamb skewers.

Menu and prices

From the menu. It notes that skewers are ordered for two people or more.

Menu	Price
Lamb skewers (yangkkochi)	8,000 won (5) / 15,000 won (10)
Mala skewers	9,000 won (5) / 17,000 won (10)
Lamb rib meat · Beef rib meat skewers	9,000 won (5) / 18,000 won (10) each
Mala rib skewers	9,000 won (5) / 18,000 won (10)
Skewer set	30,000 won
Corn noodle soup (温面) · Spicy corn noodles · Cold corn noodles	7,000 won each
Egg fried rice · Eggplant fried rice	7,000 won each
Egg fried noodles	8,000 won
Sundae (blood sausage)	12,000 won
Premium lamb ribs	30,000 won
Boneless lamb ribs · Lamb rack (500 g)	40,000 won each
Roast leg of lamb	85,000 won

The onmyeon I had is listed on the menu as corn noodle soup (옥수수면, 温面). There is also a long list of other skewers, from shrimp, squid and chicken wings to king oyster mushroom and dried tofu, plus grilled sides like eggplant and toast.

Visitor info

📍 Qingdao Malatang Yangkkochi (칭다오 마라탕 양꼬치) · Wongok-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do

• ☎️ Phone: 031-493-9671 (the number on the "Qingdao Yangkkochi annex" sign)
• 🍢 Order: lamb skewers, mapo tofu rice, onmyeon
• 🔥 Highlight: a self-turning charcoal grill at every table
• 🗺️ Map: Open in Google Maps
• ⛰️ Pair it with: my Hoamsan hike

Jayden's verdict

After the mountain, lamb skewers. One thick, fresh skewer and the whole descent melts away.

• Lamb skewers: ★★★★★
• Mapo tofu rice: ★★★★★
• Onmyeon: ★★★★★
• Would I go back?: Yes. This is where the next post-hike dinner happens.