There’s been an influx of new Korean restaurants over the last few months and included in those openings was another Korean BBQ restaurant! Considering how Edmonton does not have a ton of Korean BBQ options to start with, this is a welcome addition. Let’s chat about Makchang Dodook!
Makchang Dodook is a chain from South Korea, with over 130 locations worldwide. The Edmonton location marks the first one in Canada. Makchang translates to grilled intestine and Dodook means thief. Hence, when you are dining at Makchang Dodook, you’ll notice their branding has many “jail-like” elements and wanted posters of their “mascot”, Makchang DoDook – the intestine thief. Makchang is one of their specialty dishes, more on that below.
I was invited to Makchang Dodook for a sneak peak ahead of their opening. Our meal was hosted but a post was not expected following my visit and.all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tucked away in a newly built plaza, just past Ellerslie Road, I thought the location choice for Makchang Dodook was interesting since it’s not exactly visible from the main road. Nonetheless, there is ample parking with it being a newly constructed building.
Interior wise, Makchang Dodook felt laid back and casual. When thinking about KBBQ, it’s exactly what I envision – a little industrial, moodier tones, comfortable seating… and good ventilation systems. The ones at Makchang Dodook are actually adjustable, similar to ones you’ve possibly seen in K-dramas! This was especially useful when grilling and luckily I didn’t notice much of a scent on me afterwards. Overall, the setting feels fitting for a casual meal and practical enough for groups and families since there’s lots of seating and larger table options.
Makchang Dodook is NOT an AYCE option but I prefer an a-la-carte menu anyway because I am a quality over quantity gal. On the menu, you can order from various combos, grilled dishes, soups, and sides etc. The prices seemed a bit high at first glance but I’d say it’s actually very comparable to other KBBQ choices and the quality of the meat was great, so no major complaints there. I also appreciated that both beef and pork options were available in the same combos, as I’ve noticed they are sometimes separated at other restaurants… I am sometimes torn between choosing one or the other, or having to order 2 separate combos to enjoy both proteins but luckily did not have that issue here. Unfortunately no substitutions can be made but each combo choice seems well-rounded. You can also view the rest of their menu on their Instagram.
We decided to try the recommended Family Combo ($210) during our hosted experience. The combo offers about 4 servings, although I’d argue it was more cause I was stuffed. This platter comes with 6 types of meat including: boneless short ribs, garlic seasoned ribs, fresh pork belly, spicy jjok-jjok, galbi ribs, gochujang pork belly, and makchang. It is also accompanied by a side of steamed egg and a kimchi stew. I would recommend trying their Dodook combo options to get the best bang for your buck. In addition to the combo, we wanted to try the corn cheese and scallops too. Safe to say, there was plenty of food!
All of the meats were good but the stars of the show for me were definitely the pork belly (delicious) and boneless short ribs (so tender). The ribs were also a closer runner-up! Now, you might be wondering about the makchang.
I have never tried intestine myself but was intrigued when my hubby tried it and said “it tastes like bacon!” Here, they cut it flat and then pre-cook the intestine in the kitchen so that you are just grilling it at the table. The final product does in fact taste a little like bacon since intestine itself has some fat content to it. However, the texture felt a bit thicker and “fattier” than regular bacon to me. It wasn’t my personal favourite but it’s worth a try since their name revolves around this specialty dish! It looks like makchang is included in all of the combos as well so if you don’t want to order an entire portion, the combo is a good option to try a sample.
Aside from the meat, there were also some seafood options. I heard great things about their jumbo prawns but only tried the Grilled Scallops ($12/7 pcs) myself. The scallops are served/cooked in a tin tray along with butter and then you can sear each one directly on the grill just before consuming. They were incredibly plump and juicy, I would definitely get them again.
The Corn Cheese ($8) was indulgent and very flavourful. I also enjoyed the stew but thought the steamed egg was just ok and wish it would have been slightly fluffier. One thing that also surprised me was the amount of banchan – aka side dishes – that had come out along with our meal! Some of the sides included were soybean sprouts, a fruit salad, a pasta salad, kabocha squash salad, green onion kimchi and more! I do wish that rice was included with the combos but it looks like an add-on for now. I loved that it was the Korean black/purple rice, and not just steamed white rice. There is a slim chance you’d still be hungry after all of this.
Service was also great, albeit a media night, but our server was attentive, quick and even helped us cook our meats. After several experiences with KBBQ in the States where service is often table-side (i.e. they cook everything for you), I still hope for a full service KBBQ restaurant in Edmonton some day but having some assistance was a nice treat!
Overall, I think Makchang Dodook is a contending option for KBBQ in Edmonton! The meat quality is great, the sides are abundant, and the service is efficient. I am hoping to return to try some other dishes on their menu, such as their Squid Game Korean Lunch Box! Find them at 1007 Parsons Road.
Check out my reel on Makchang Dodook:
Eat with Sharon 
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