Gimhae Korean BBQ with staff-grilled pork: Anmin Yulha

Anmin Yulha at the entrance to Yulha Cafe Street

Anmin Yulha (안민 율하) is at the entrance to Yulha Cafe Street, across from Odeng Hangeureut. Hours are 16:30 to 23:00.

The restaurant’s dedicated parking area is across the street. It is a spacious open lot, so being able to park comfortably before coming in was a real plus.

Why I recommend reserving, even on a weekday evening

There was a long wait even when we visited on a weekday evening, so I recommend making a reservation. The interior was polished and clean, with liquor posters fitting the dining-bar feel, and partitions between the tables made it more comfortable to eat.

There is also a private group-seating area deeper inside. With its wood-tone interior, it is perfect for gatherings or company dinners, which is apparently why this popular spot draws such a crowd. We came in early on a weekday evening, around opening time, and I was surprised when it filled up right away.

As you would expect from a barbecue restaurant, there is a separate rack for coats and even coat covers to keep smells away! Aprons are ready too, so feel free to use one if you need it.

We visited on a weekday but had reserved in advance, so our table was set for two. When we arrived, the table even showed how many times we had visited, which really made its popularity feel real.

What we ordered: the whole-pig half set

There are whole-pig sets and half sets that let you enjoy pork belly and special cuts, plus a wide lineup including pork belly, pork neck, pork jowl, and other special cuts. There were so many meal options too that I spent quite a while wondering what to order.

One of Anmin’s highlights is its neat spread of banchan (Korean side dishes). You get soybean powder, pine pollen salt, ssiran, shiitake wasabi, salted hairtail innards, and cheese fondue sauce. There is also green-onion kimchi, white kimchi, and pickles—such a great lineup to eat with the meat.

• Whole-pig half set ₩39,500
• Crab soybean paste stew ₩6,000
• Add sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes) ₩1,000
• Matisse shoyu ramen ₩6,000
• Steamed rice ₩1,000

Among the many choices, we went for the whole-pig half set, just right for a couple. It includes pork belly, pork neck, and pork skin, and we kept adding stew and ramen for our meal—seriously, we left so full!

The set comes packed with pork belly, pork neck, pork skin, mushrooms, eggplant, and green onions. Another reason Anmin Yulha is so popular is that the staff grill it for you! They cook everything from beginning to end, so we could relax and chat while we ate.

Aged pork grilled from start to finish

The meat cooks quickly with the staff’s dazzling skills. Whether you come with friends, family, or a group, nobody has to be the designated griller, and I think that is such a great advantage.

Once it is cooked, the meat is placed on a mini brazier, so it stays warm all the way through. It looked beautifully golden and was grilled juicy and moist—thank you so much!

The oil dipping sauce even had grilled green onions in it, a perfect match for the pork belly! The smoky aroma and juices were amazing, and the pork neck was tender rather than tough, practically melting in my mouth. It was delicious on its own or wrapped in ssam (leaf wraps), so eat it however you like.

The pleasantly chewy pork skin was a perfect match with soybean powder and cheese fondue sauce. It was soft and springy with no unpleasant smell at all—exactly my taste. So good!

Soybean paste stew with golden crab and shoyu ramen

What better way to finish meat than doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew)! It came with a whole golden crab, and we added noodles for a generous bowl of sujebi, tofu, and vegetables. It was pleasantly spicy and clean-tasting rather than intensely hot, which made it even more satisfying.

Lastly, after some deliberation, we ordered the Matisse shoyu ramen. Ramen at a barbecue restaurant? That was why we tried it, and it had more volume than expected, with an appealing rich broth. The side dishes were perfect too, so this is absolutely one of the things I would order again next time!

From the service of staff grilling everything from start to finish to the quality of the meat, it was all perfect. The half set alone was filling enough, and with kind service and convenient parking, my intention to revisit is 100%! It would be ideal for a date, a family gathering, or a company dinner.