Guwol-dong pork restaurant with free cold noodles before 7pm: Midonjip

Today I visited a Guwol-dong hotspot that's been getting a lot of buzz among meat lovers for its striking visuals and flavor. If you're near Guwol-dong's Rodeo Street or Yesulhoegwan Station and looking for a proper pork restaurant, this place deserves your full attention. Here's my honest, detailed review of Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch.

Free cold noodles before 7pm: the event sign at Midonjip's entrance

Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch gives out a free dessert cold noodle (choice of plain or spicy) to guests visiting Monday through Thursday before 7pm. I arrived right around dinnertime, and the standing signs out front caught my eye first — full of the shop's thoughtful, witty touches.

The first thing that stood out was, of course, the event notice. If you're planning an early-weekday visit, this is a deal worth grabbing.

Right next to it, a sign read in big letters: 'Antarctic-Arctic level cool, full blast AC.' Honestly, grilling meat over a hot pan in summer or on a hot day can be brutal, but the moment I stepped in, a crisp, cool AC breeze greeted me, and I stayed comfortable through the whole meal without breaking a sweat.

Midonjip menu prices and the self-serve coffee slush

The main menu at Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch runs ₩15,000–17,000 for 200g of Korean pork. The interior was tidy and clean, with a large blackboard menu on the wall listing both the mains and the sides at a glance.

Next to the menu board was a witty line that read, 'Drinking is a waste of time, not drinking is a waste of life~' — good for a small laugh.

Which pork cuts does Midonjip serve?

• Pollack roe aged pork belly (Korean pork, 200g): ₩17,000
• Aged pork belly (Korean pork, 200g): ₩15,000
• Aged pork neck (Korean pork, 200g): ₩15,000
• Aged pork jowl (Korean pork, 200g): ₩17,000
• Aged pork shoulder (Korean pork, 200g): ₩17,000

Midonjip set menus for two: Mi Set and Don Set

• Mi-set (for 2, ₩38,900): pollack roe pork belly 200g + pork neck 200g + doenjang stew + drink (choice of Sprite/Coke/Fanta)
• Don-set (for 2, ₩41,900): pollack roe pork belly 200g + pork jowl or pork shoulder + doenjang stew + drink
• The pork belly in either set can be swapped out, per the signage.

Sides and drinks at Midonjip

• Doenjang/gochujang stew (₩7,000), steamed egg (₩4,000), cold noodles plain/spicy (₩6,000), scallion fried rice (₩6,000), ramyeon (₩4,000), extra water dropwort (₩4,000), rice (₩1,000)
• Down below, packs of Shin Ramyun, Chapagetti, and Jinjja Jjolmyeon were on display, giving plenty of choice for a side dish.

In one corner of the restaurant sat a 'Wang Siwon' coffee slush machine for after your meal. With a friendly sign reading 'Stir well before drinking,' cups were provided so you could help yourself to a sweet, cold iced coffee slush — the perfect way to cut through the greasiness after all that pork.

How does Midonjip's pollack roe aged pork belly actually taste?

The signature dish at Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch is the pollack roe aged pork belly (Korean pork, 200g, ₩17,000). This was undoubtedly the highlight of the day.

I'd heard it had an unmatched look compared to other pork belly at Guwol-dong restaurants, and my expectations were high — the moment the raw meat hit the table, I couldn't help but gasp.

The thick, reddish aged pork belly was densely coated in salty, savory pollack roe, topped with a whole king oyster mushroom. I've seen plenty of BBQ spots that serve pollack roe as a dipping sauce on the side, but this was my first time seeing the roe generously coated onto the meat itself and aged that way — fresh and genuinely mouthwatering.

Once the meat hit the hot pan, the savory pork aroma mixed with the roe's distinctive umami scent, and the staff grilled it alongside kimchi, bracken fern, a special fermented anchovy sauce, and garlic.

Picking up a well-cooked piece, I could see the little pollack roe beads clinging to the surface, almost popping. The outside was crispy and savory thanks to the roe, and the moment I bit in, juicy meat juices burst through.

The pollack roe's just-right saltiness perfectly balanced the fattiness of the pork, so the seasoning was spot-on even without dipping it in salt.

The aged kimchi and bracken fern, grilled below the meat until they'd soaked up all that rendered fat, doubled the flavor when wrapped up with the pork. If you visit Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch, I highly recommend trying this combo.

Adding bibim naengmyeon for a meat-and-noodle wrap

Cold noodles — plain or spicy — are ₩6,000 at Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch. They're a must-have side with grilled meat, so we ordered the bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) to enjoy alongside the pork.

Served neatly in a brass bowl, the bibim naengmyeon passed the visual test right away. Chewy noodles were topped generously with a special seasoning sauce, along with julienned cucumber, pickled radish, and a garnish of yellow egg strips.

After mixing the sauce through and taking a bite, the spicy-sweet-and-sour seasoning cleaned my palate right up. The egg strips' savoriness and the cucumber's crunch worked beautifully together, and wrapping a well-cooked piece of pork in the bibim naengmyeon — a lettuce-wrap-style combo — was easily one of the best bites of the meal.

Verdict and tips for visiting Midonjip in Guwol-dong

If you're looking for an unusual, well-executed pork restaurant in Guwol-dong, Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch will exceed expectations.

• Standout flavor: the unmatched richness of the salty, savory pollack roe pork belly, and its incredible pairing with grilled bracken fern and kimchi
• Comfortable setting: 'full blast AC' keeps things pleasant even in hot summer or right over the grill
• Solid value: the weekday-before-7pm cold noodle giveaway, plus a nostalgic coffee slush for dessert

It's a fitting spot for a date, and just as great for a work dinner or family gathering — a genuine Guwol-dong pork restaurant worth visiting. Be sure to stop by and experience the perfect balance of juicy meat and pollack roe for yourself!