Korean BBQ set with minari wraps in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung: Hamdon

The place we had lunch in Siheung was Hamdon.

Where is Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch, and what is the restaurant like?

Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch is a BBQ restaurant on Jungsimsangga3-gil in Siheung, and you can spot the gold "Hamdon" sign from far away. There's a dol hareubang (Jeju stone grandfather statue) by the entrance, and one wall reads "Fall for meat." Little Jeju touches were everywhere.'

Inside, black walls and wood tables give the place a calm overall feel. Each table has its own ventilation setup, and you order via a tablet right at your seat. What we ordered was the oegyeopsal (five-layer pork belly) set.

What comes with the Hamdon oegyeopsal set?

We ordered Hamdon's oegyeopsal set, and it wasn't just meat — minari, doenjang jeongol (soybean paste stew), and rice all came together on the table. Best of all, a staff member grilled the thick pork belly from start to finish, so all we had to do was eat. Wrapping the well-grilled pork belly in minari and eating it, the fragrance was lovely.

The basic side dishes come on an octagonal wooden tray. Green onion kimchi sits in the middle, with garlic, chili, pickles, and sauce each in their own small bowl. And on one side, a generous portion of minari is set out. You wrap the minari around a piece of meat and add a bit of gochujang (red chili paste) — the distinct fragrance and crisp texture of fresh minari cut through the richness of the pork belly.

How much is it? ₩18,000 per person, minimum two orders

Orders require 2 people or more, and it's ₩18,000 per person. It comes with pork belly, doenjang jeongol, minari, and rice. The teukmokssal (premium cut) set is also ₩18,000, so you can choose based on preference. At most Korean BBQ places you order meat and then add stew and rice separately, but at Hamdon you can order a set that includes the whole meal from the start — that was convenient.

Thick-cut oegyeopsal grilled by the staff

When the meat arrived, the first thing that stood out was the thickness. The pork belly comes cut into large pieces, served with king oyster mushrooms. You could clearly see the layers of fat and meat. A staff member placed the meat on the grill and cooked it for us themselves. Thick cuts like this can end up burnt outside and undercooked inside if you grill them yourself at home, so it was a relief to have someone handle it. They grilled both sides thoroughly, then cut it into bite-sized pieces and grilled the cut surfaces evenly too. Once the grill was full of sliced pieces, the portion looked quite generous. This oegyeopsal was less about thin, crispy bites and more about the chew of thick meat. The outside had a nice golden sear while the inside stayed juicy. The king oyster mushrooms grilled alongside were also a treat.

How to eat it: pork wrapped in fresh minari

We tried making a minari wrap the way Hamdon suggests. Wrap minari around your hand, then place a piece of pork belly and a little gochujang on top. At first I wondered if it was okay to use this much fresh minari, but eating it with the pork belly, I understood why — the minari's fragrance was distinct and paired well with the fatty pork. Rather than adding a lot of gochujang, just a touch suited me better, letting the flavor of the meat and the minari fragrance come through together. I'd really recommend eating it this way at Hamdon.

The doenjang jeongol included in the set

The oegyeopsal set also includes doenjang jeongol and rice. A whole large block of tofu sitting on top already made it look hearty. Inside there was meat, green onion, and vegetables. Rather than the small doenjang jjigae usually served at BBQ places, this was closer to a full jeongol simmered in its own pot. With plenty of ingredients, it works as a proper meal alongside the rice. Not having to order stew and rice separately after ordering meat was another perk of the set menu.

An easy family lunch at this Siheung Korean BBQ spot

If I had to pick what I liked most about Hamdon, it would be the thick pork belly grilled for us and the minari. Having a staff member grill and cut the thick meat made things easy for everyone at the table, and the minari wraps gave a different flavor from the usual samgyeopsal. On top of that, doenjang jeongol and rice were included from the start, so we didn't need to order extra items separately. If you're looking for samgyeopsal or oegyeopsal in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung — especially if you like minari — this is a place worth remembering. Our family had a great lunch here and left satisfied.

Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch hours and address

- Address: 31-1 Jungsimsangga3-gil, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, Units 101-102 - Hours: Daily 11:30 – 23:00 (last order 22:30) ※ Closed Sept 25 for Chuseok

They're open from lunch through late evening, so it's a good spot for both a midday meal and dinner out. Before visiting, it's worth checking whether hours or closures have changed.