Korean BBQ revisit in Sinjungdong food alley: belly, neck, floss, Cham

Is Cham Dwaejitgan in Sinjungdong worth a second visit?

Cham Dwaejitgan Bucheon Sinjung-dong Branch (참돼짓간 부천신중동점) is a Sinjungdong pork BBQ place where the staff grill the meat for you. On my last visit the meat was great and I remembered how easy it was to eat when someone else does the grilling.

This time I went back, and it's still one of the most satisfying pork BBQ spots in Sinjungdong, Bucheon. I'd enjoyed it once already, so I came with high expectations again.

Where is Cham Dwaejitgan? The Sinjungdong food alley in Bucheon

The restaurant is in the Sinjungdong food alley, so it wasn't hard to find. It's close to Sinjungdong Station too, which makes it a good meeting spot after work, and an easy choice for a company dinner or a group get-together.

I went after the peak hours this time, so the place felt much more relaxed. It wasn't crowded, which made the meal even more comfortable.

What are the dining room and self-serve bar like?

The restaurant has about 120 seats and was kept neat and clean again. Tables are spaced widely and there are lots of seats, so it never felt cramped. With 120 seats, it seems well suited to big company dinners and gatherings.

The self-bar was tidy too, so it was easy to grab wrap vegetables and side dishes.

Cham Dwaejitgan Bucheon Sinjung-dong Branch: basic info

• Signature menu: Boseong pork belly, pork neck, Jirisan black pork
• Feature: staff grill the meat for you
• Self-bar: wrap vegetables, kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, pickles
• Recommended for: company dinners, family meals, dates, gatherings

What we ordered: 2 portions of Boseong pork belly and 1 of pork neck

I ordered the same combo I liked last time: 2 portions of Boseong pork belly (보성녹돈 삼겹살) and 1 portion of pork neck. The meat came out thick, and its bright pink color looked fresh.

Potatoes, king oyster mushrooms and shishito peppers came along too, so grilling everything together was fun. The side dishes were varied, and kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts and minari (water dropwort) grilled alongside the meat went really well with it.

There was a good range of sauces, like wasabi, coarse salt and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), so you can eat it however you like.

How does staff-grilled pork belly at Cham Dwaejitgan taste?

Once again the staff grilled everything for us from start to finish. They flipped the meat at just the right moment and cut it into bite-size pieces, so we could chat and eat without worrying about the grill.

The Boseong pork belly was golden and crisp outside, while the inside stayed juicy, and the nutty flavor filled my mouth the more I chewed. The pork neck was lean yet chewy, with a different charm from the belly.

Grilled potato topped with pork and pickles

Putting meat and jangajji (soy-pickled vegetables) on top of a potato added a subtle sweetness and savory depth, and it went together way better than I expected.

Wrapping meat, pickles and ssamjang in perilla leaf and lettuce never got boring either, right to the end.

Floss and mouthwash after the meal, and where to go next

I could help myself to any side dishes I needed at the self-bar, so nothing was lacking. After the meal, they even had dental floss and mouthwash ready, which made the finish really satisfying.

Since it's inside the Sinjungdong food alley, it's also easy to head to a café or a casual second round afterward.

Final verdict on revisiting Cham Dwaejitgan

I went back because of a good memory, and again both the meat and the staff-grilling service satisfied me. The meat quality is good overall and the meal is comfortable, so I was very happy.

One drawback: it can get crowded at peak dinner time, so going when it's a bit quieter should be more comfortable. If you're looking for pork BBQ in Sinjungdong, Bucheon, I'd recommend Cham Dwaejitgan Bucheon Sinjung-dong Branch as a place that's still satisfying on a second visit.