Gyeongsan pork BBQ: gabrisal, chili dip and doenjang stew, Kkotdwaeji

Why I stopped by Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch

Kkotdwaeji Sikdang (꽃돼지식당) Gyeongsan Branch is a Korean BBQ place in Gyeongsan where the staff grill the meat for you. I had errands in Gyeongsan one day, and going straight home felt like a waste, plus my stomach was growling~~~~ So I dropped in here.

You know what the most annoying part of eating meat is? Being so busy grilling it, haha. But I heard the staff here grill everything, so I went with high hopes.

• Address: 102 Seongam-ro, 1st floor, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
• Hours: 12:00–23:00
• Closed: every Monday
• Parking: private lot behind the building
• Amenities: reservations, group seating, high chairs, etc.

Finding Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch and parking

The sign on the building stands out, so it wasn't hard to find. And the slogan "We grill all the meat for you" haha. For someone like me who can't grill, that line is totally my kind of thing.

There's also a private parking lot behind the building, so it's convenient if you come by car.

Is the restaurant good for group dinners?

The restaurant seats about 100, and it was bigger than I expected when I walked in. There are plenty of tables and the space is split into several zones, so it looked good for family meals, get-togethers with friends, or company dinners. It seemed fine for a big group too. Every table has its own grill,

and the walls are covered with mouthwatering photos of the meat menu.

There's an aging cabinet in the middle too, which got my hopes up even more for aged meat.

The window side has big windows that open wide, so it has an outdoor-drinking feel. Next time I want to sit by the window. It was pouring when I went, and I bet the atmosphere would be delicious with rain, haha.

Inside there's also a tidy self-service corner where you can grab extra side dishes.

There's even a separate area where the staff do the grilling, which I found neat, haha. When you want more side dishes, just use the self-service corner. Super convenient.

What did we order at Kkotdwaeji Sikdang?

You order by tablet at each table. We ordered the following.

• Kkotdwaeji mixed grill 600g
• Rice
• Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew)

We had reserved ahead, so the table was neatly set when we arrived. The Kkotdwaeji mixed grill comes with pork belly, pork neck, gabrisal (pork ridge meat) and pork rind. When you don't want to settle for just one cut, getting several on one grill is great, haha.

How does the staff-grilled style work?

Before grilling, a staff member shows you the raw meat first and explains each cut very kindly. Now we leave the grilling to the experts and just get ready to eat, haha.

A whole grill full of carefully cooked meat was served. Golden-brown meat with kimchi, chives, bean sprouts and assorted grilling vegetables, wow haha. Just looking at it, I'd already reserved a bowl of rice.

How each cut tasted: pork belly, pork neck, gabrisal, pork rind

The pork belly in the mixed grill had rich fat balanced with lean meat, so it got more savory the more I chewed, and the pork neck was nice and clean-tasting. The gabrisal was chewy and savory, absolutely amazing.

The pork rind has that signature chewy texture, need I say more? Switching between cuts meant I never got tired of one flavor. A mixed grill really is fun because you get to pick and choose.

Dipping combos: meljeot, salt and gochujang-based sauce

The meljeot (salted anchovy sauce) served with the meat was a treat too. It isn't strongly fishy and adds a savory depth, so dipping the meat in it went really well.

Dip in salt and you taste the meat's own savoriness,

and dip in the spicy gochujang-based sauce (gochujangmul) and the flavor changes again. There are also fresh wasabi, roasted bean powder and curry powder, so you can mix and match to your taste.

Side dishes at Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch

The basic side dishes are quite varied. You get ssamjang (dipping paste), fresh wasabi, jeotgal (salted seafood), whole garlic, bean powder and curry powder, plus pickled onion, white kimchi, gungchae (stem lettuce pickle), onion pickles and fresh lettuce geotjeori (salad-style kimchi).

As a total wrap lover, I was happy that fresh lettuce and chili peppers come out too. A piece of meat on a leaf, garlic on top, one big bite, yum haha. Crunchy vegetables with savory meat: meat really is best wrapped.

The steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) that comes by default was a welcome surprise too. The soft, fluffy egg is perfect between bites of spicy sauce or meat.

Finishing with rice and doenjang jjigae

Meat without rice is just sad, right? Meat on top of a hot bowl of rice, plus savory doenjang jjigae, made a hearty meal, haha. The stew's rich broth was perfect for a spoonful here and there while eating meat.

With meat, rice and stew all done properly, it finally felt like a real meal. A meat meal is always finished off by rice and stew.

Events running at Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch

When I visited, the restaurant was running several events. Check the details and conditions at the restaurant when you go.

• Active-duty soldiers get one free side menu item with ID
• Prize-draw event for kids
• Write a Naver photo review and get one of fried rice or a highball

It's not just about eating good meat; small perks like these make it a good place to eat out. The owner is so generous, haha.

Who I'd recommend Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch to

I stopped here before heading home from errands in Gyeongsan, and I was satisfied with the mixed grill that lets you enjoy several cuts at once, the varied side dishes, and the convenience of having the meat grilled for you. The big space and seating suited to groups are pluses too, so I'd recommend it for family meals or company dinners. Best of all, conversation never gets interrupted by grilling.

Leave the meat to the experts and focus on eating. Isn't that happiness? On a day in Gyeongsan when you're craving a hearty grill of meat, enjoy the mixed grill at Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch! I went home happily patting my full belly.