High-fat pork belly and doenjang sulbap in Gyeongsan: Kkotdwaeji

I was really craving pork belly, so I went to Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch. I wanted to fill up on thick, savory meat and this place came to mind right away. Let me write up a detailed review~

Gyeongsan pork BBQ restaurant, Gyeongsan pork belly restaurant, Gyeongsan group dinner spot: Kkotdwaeji Sikdang

Parking and interior at Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch

Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch has a well-set-up private parking lot behind the restaurant, which made it really convenient to visit by car. Being able to park without any worry put me in a good mood right from the entrance.

Once inside, the interior was very spacious and neatly done up in a warm wood-tone style.

The tables were spaced wide apart and the seating felt relaxed, making it a great choice for group gatherings with friends or a company dinner in Gyeongsan.

Ordering two servings each of high-fat pork belly and pork jowl

Looking over the menu, there were plenty of popular options — hearty set menus, pork belly, small intestine, and a spicy daechang jeongol (intestine hot pot). We wanted to properly taste the chewy, savory cuts, so we ordered high-fat pork belly for two and pork jowl for two.

Here are the basic side dishes. Nothing but sides that pair well with meat! Pickled lettuce, pickled onion, ssam vegetables, steamed egg, curry powder, salted seafood, bean powder, wasabi and more — a generous lineup with nothing to skip.

Pork grilled in the kitchen, served ready to eat

The biggest advantage of Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch is that the meat comes out already grilled to perfection from the kitchen! You can see how perfect it looks, right? Even looking at it again makes my mouth water haha.

No worrying about oil splatter — you just wait comfortably, which was really nice. I guess this is why it's so popular for group dinners! It's so, so nice not having to grill it yourself. The griddle came piled generously with golden, well-cooked meat along with napa cabbage kimchi, green onion kimchi, chive pickle, and bean sprout salad.

I first picked up a piece of the thick high-fat pork belly to taste.

What does the high-fat pork belly taste like?

The outside was crispy and the inside was full of juice, so a savory flavor spread through my mouth with every bite. The ratio of lean meat to fat was excellent, giving it a tender yet chewy texture. Order the high-fat pork belly!!

Pork jowl texture at Kkotdwaeji Sikdang

The pork jowl had that distinctive slightly crunchy yet chewy texture that was really appealing.

The more I chewed, the more a clean yet deep savoriness burst out, so I kept reaching for more without ever getting tired of it.

Eating it together with the green onion kimchi and napa cabbage kimchi grilled on the griddle, plus the crunchy bean sprout salad, really cut through the richness of the meat with a spicy kick.

Dipping the meat into the bubbling melchot (fermented anchovy sauce) added a deep savory note too — great combo!

Finishing with doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice)

It would've felt incomplete to stop there, so we ordered doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice soup) from the rice menu. It came out bubbling in a stone pot, and the savory yet spicy smell hit our noses right away.

The rice grains were soaked moist in the broth, and with one deep spoonful, the rich flavor of the doenjang broth had soaked thoroughly into every grain.

It was mildly spicy, with a clean flavor that washed away the greasy feeling after eating meat.

Is Kkotdwaeji Sikdang a good spot for a Gyeongsan work dinner?

Not having to grill the meat myself meant I could focus completely on the meal the whole time, very comfortably. The quality of the meat was excellent, so it seems like a great choice for group gatherings or company dinners. Recommended for anyone in Gyeongsan looking for a good pork belly restaurant.