Gangnam Korean BBQ outdoor seating with bibim naengmyeon: Daepae

After work on a weekday, I finally had a thin-sliced pork belly party with my coworkers again, haha >_< It's such great value, and best of all, it's open 24 hours, so we could eat at our own pace without watching the clock. Plus there's outdoor seating, which feels perfect for this kind of weather.

A 24-hour BBQ spot near Nonhyeon Station: location and access

It's right in the heart of the dining alley near Nonhyeon Station, where Line 7 and the Sinbundang Line meet, so access is excellent. But the biggest draw is that it's open 24 hours, every day of the year. Whether it's the crack of dawn, right after a night shift, or a late weekend night, you can enjoy quality thin-sliced pork belly anytime without time constraints — it's already well known among locals and office workers in the area.

A clean, comfortable interior with a system that stands out

When you're getting off work late, or a late-night craving hits, or you just want a relaxed drink at odd hours, deciding on a menu and a place is always the tricky part. Finding a restaurant in the Gangnam area where you can eat comfortably late into the night isn't as easy as you'd think. I stopped by recently to solve a late-night craving and ended up completely won over by the value and taste — this is one of those 24-hour Gangnam spots worth remembering.

The self-bar system here is really well set up. Fresh lettuce wraps, kimchi, bean sprouts, sliced scallions, garlic, and various sauces are all there to grab as much as you like, no hesitation needed, and they really bring out the flavor of the meat even more. Eating in such a clean, comfortable setting, it was easy to see why this place is considered one of the go-to 24-hour spots in Gangnam.

The appeal of thin, savory pork belly

Once we sat down, there was no question — we ordered the signature daepae samgyeopsal (thin-sliced pork belly). The thinly sliced meat sizzled the moment it hit the grill and cooked through almost instantly, which made it the perfect menu when you're hungry and don't want to wait.

On one side of the grill, we set kimchi and seasoned bean sprouts to cook golden in the pork fat. The combination of kimchi soaked in savory pork fat with a crisp, tender piece of pork belly was truly excellent. The meat had no off flavors, just savory goodness filling the mouth, so we couldn't stop reaching for more — completely forgetting it was the middle of the night as we kept eating.

Paldo bibim naengmyeon and hearty doenjang jjigae

After enjoying the meat for a while, we added paldo bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) and doenjang jjigae as sides. The bibim naengmyeon arrived first, with its sweet-and-tangy special sauce and chewy noodles giving our appetite a real boost. Wrapping a well-cooked piece of pork belly in the noodles and eating it in one bite cut through the richness of the meat with a refreshing tang — an amazing pairing.

Next came the doenjang jjigae, with a rich, savory broth that hit the spot. It was generously loaded with tofu, onion, and other ingredients, and one spoonful of the broth felt like instant comfort. Sipping the savory doenjang jjigae between bites of meat cleared the palate perfectly, making it possible to keep eating meat endlessly — a truly great pairing.

Warm haetsal-bap and the grand finale: self-made fried rice

No BBQ meal is complete without rice. Here, the haetsal-bap (steamed rice) came out glossy and fluffy, as if freshly cooked, and it paired perfectly with the meat and doenjang jjigae. The rice itself had a natural sweetness and savory flavor that made the meat taste even better.

But the real finale was the self-made fried rice cooked right on the grill. We chopped up the leftover pork belly, threw the grilled kimchi, bean sprouts, and haetsal-bap onto the grill, then drizzled on plenty of the fried rice sauce, seaweed flakes, and sesame oil from the self-bar and cooked it all ourselves. Letting it crisp up slightly on the grill before scooping up a big spoonful — the taste of that self-made fried rice was genuinely amazing.

Even though it was late, we finished off the very last spoonful without leaving a thing. Being able to enjoy a top-tier meal anytime without time constraints, this is the first place that comes to mind when I crave pork belly late at night — a 24-hour Gangnam spot I can confidently recommend. That was my honest review of Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch!