Dobong-gu in northern Seoul is a predominantly residential district adjacent to Dobongsan Mountain. The local food scene centres on community restaurants and street food vendors rather than tourist-facing establishments, offering an authentic view of how Seoul residents actually eat on a daily basis.
Wow... the visual here is crazy. At first I thought there was a little bit of soup, but when it's simmered with garlic on the grill, the flavor is no joke. The seasoning soaks into the meat, and with every bite, the meat juices and sauce burst out. 🤤 The side dishes are also clean, and if you take a bite of the soybean paste stew and a piece of meat, it's game over! The soup tastes like you want to fry rice in it. I'd 200% come back!
This restaurant has always been mentioned when talking about samgyeopsal (pork belly) in Eunpyeong-gu. It operated near Gusan Intersection for nearly 30 years, but moved nearby a few years ago. The shabby atmosphere has disappeared, but it's become much more pleasant. I've been meaning to return since my first visit six years ago, and finally did. The prices are still reasonable, and as always, there are only a few sides, and the meat selection is limited to pork belly and pork ribs. We ordered three servings of raw pork belly and were served a variety of side dishes, but they were typical of home-style dishes, lacking anything special. They also served ssam (wrap vegetables) and filled the table, but I didn't really eat much. The raw pork belly arrived on a plate with onions, its vibrant pink color clearly indicating the quality of the meat. Like cold noodles, they were placed one by one on a slanted grill covered with a sheet of foil, and grilled. The kimchi was tough and crunchy, so I just grilled it all, but the seasoning was mild and watery, not the grilled kimchi I'd hoped for. The foil also contributed to the somewhat weak heat on the grill. As for the pork belly, the meat was cut quite thickly and grilled over the burner, so the undercooked portions were a bit chewy. Since there wasn't enough seasoning, I added pepper to improve the texture. The meat was slightly chewy, not juicy. The soybean paste stew, which came without a separate order, was made with homemade soybean paste, giving it a rich, savory flavor while also blending in with the spiciness of the chili peppers. It was a salty seasoning, perfect for pairing with rice or as a side dish with drinks, but not bad. The sesame oil sauce was provided, but on this particular day, the pork belly paired well with the ssamjang. As I ate, I was reminded of the ordinary pork belly I'd eat at home, or the pork belly I'd had during military unity activities, and I thought, "ordinary." I quickly got full with just one serving per person, so I ordered just one fried rice to finish. It was nothing more than gochujang bibimbap with all the side dishes thrown in, leaving me feeling somewhat empty. An egg yolk might have been enough. PS. Maybe it's because it's been six years, or maybe I didn't drink that day, but the ordinariness seemed even more pronounced.
Perhaps because I visited around 3:30 PM on a weekend—an awkward time—there were plenty of seats available. Before visiting, I planned to order two servings of pork belly and one serving of ribs, but the pork belly was so delicious that I ended up eating three servings of just pork belly. It has been a really long time since I've had such tasty meat. The owner is so friendly, and the side dishes are delicious. If you need more, you can use the self-service bar. I was especially touched when they told me to feel free to take as much kimchi as I want, saying they make it themselves.😍😍😍 I definitely have to order the ribs next time!!! I highly recommend this place and plan to visit often!!!!!👍🏻👍🏻
