Gwangju pork barbecue with staff grilling: Jeju Oktop JEJU BBQ

I went to Jeju Oktop JEJU BBQ, Gwangju Gyeongan Branch (제주옥탑 JEJU BBQ 광주경안점) in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, for aged black pork. I visited for a date, and because a staff member grilled the meat, it was easy to eat while talking. We also ordered black pork samgyeopsal (pork belly), kimchi stew, and bibim memil naengmyeon (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles).

Where is it, and how did I park?

The address is 1F, 11-13 Gwangju-daero, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Unlike the location my navigation directed me to, the parking-lot entrance was behind the building. At the time of my visit, I entered the Munhwa Wedding Hall parking lot; following the directions toward the exit on the right, I found the restaurant on the left. When I mentioned that I had parked there while paying, they registered two hours for me.

The hours listed in the original post were 3 PM to midnight on weekdays and noon to midnight on weekends.

What aged black pork is on the menu?

An aging refrigerator was visible as I entered. There was a wide selection of meats, including black pork samgyeopsal, flower pork neck, bon samgyeop, and shoulder rack. Seeing the staff take the meat from the aging refrigerator and prepare it after I ordered looked neat and organized.

Curious about the aging refrigerator, I also looked at the detailed product page. It said they use wet aging, which reduces moisture loss through vacuum packaging, and dry aging, which controls moisture to concentrate flavor.

The black pork samgyeopsal I ordered was ₩16,000. The description said it was meat aged for 336 hours using the two aging methods in combination. It looked pleasantly springy to me.

How was the staff-grilled pork belly?

A staff member grilled the meat at our table and moved it to our plates when it was ready to eat. They explained things kindly and adjusted both the size of the cuts and the doneness.

Each individual plate came with Himalayan pink salt, steak seasoning, and black pepper. I tried the first grilled piece with only salt, and it was savory and clean-tasting.

There were ssam vegetables, bracken, grilled kimchi, barbecue sauce, and wasabi, so I could pair them as I liked. It was also fun discussing which combinations to try.

The aged black pork was tasty without adding much seasoning. Since I did not need to focus on grilling it myself, it was easy to concentrate on the meal and conversation.

How was the space for a date or group meal?

The tables were fairly well spaced, which made it comfortable to eat while talking. It also felt well ventilated, so the meal was pleasant.

There was also a separated space farther inside. I thought it would suit company dinners, gatherings, or family meals. Since it was listed as open until midnight, I also thought it could work for eating meat late at night.

How were the kimchi stew and bibim memil naengmyeon?

The black pork kimchi stew we ordered as both a meal and an accompaniment to drinks was ₩7,000. It contained tender-cooked black pork and Korean kimchi, and its rich broth worked well as a meal.

The bibim memil naengmyeon was also ₩7,000. It was said to contain a special sauce with buckwheat noodles, and to me it left a savory flavor that reminded me of doenjang (fermented soybean paste). It was a little unusual but tasty, and it paired well with the pork.

How did I use the receipt reward after the meal?

After the meal, I also used an app that gives rewards for photographing receipts. The earning process was simple, and at the time of my visit, Jeju Oktop JEJU BBQ, Gwangju Gyeongan Branch was a partner restaurant, so I could receive extra points.