Gyeongju pork BBQ, 500g dwitgogi platter: Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae

I'm Choi Seok-hoon, a magician based in Gangneung who's been touring the country for 23 years. This time, after wrapping up a weekday schedule in Gyeongju, I set out to find a hearty dinner. Looking for a barbecue spot around Hyeongok in Gyeongju, dwitgogi (pork neck/back meat) caught my eye, and that's how I ended up at Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae.

The name itself is fun — it plays on the Korean phrase for "craving dwitgogi tonight?", which made me smile.

When you travel, sometimes a random neighborhood restaurant leaves a stronger impression than a famous tourist spot. That was the case with this dinner too.

5 things I liked about Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae

• ① The meat comes pre-cooked, so grilling time at the table was short and easy.
• ② The clean, bright interior cut down on the usual stuffy barbecue-joint feel.
• ③ I could really taste dwitgogi's signature chewy, springy texture.
• ④ There was a good variety of side dishes to pair with the meat.
• ⑤ Finishing with doenjang jjigae and rice after the meat was satisfying.

So this is a place I'd like to recommend to anyone looking for a barbecue restaurant in Hyeongok, Gyeongju.

Where is Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae? Hours and parking

• Name: Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae
• Address: 경북 경주시 현곡면 용담로 548-14 102호
• Hours: 16:40–23:00
• Last order: 21:30
• Closed: Every Monday
• Parking: Lot behind the building

The storefront in Hyeongok, Gyeongju

Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae sits near the Hyeongok Central Prugio apartment complex. A parking lot behind the building made it easy to visit by car. The exterior looked clean and tidy, and stepping inside, I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious the place was.

Inside Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae and its pre-grilling system

The interior was decorated in bright, clean white tones. Even though it's a barbecue restaurant, the overall atmosphere was pleasant, making it comfortable for a relaxed weekday dinner. What stood out most was the pre-grilling process: the meat comes partially cooked through a system set up near the kitchen, so at the table you just finish it off with a bit of charcoal aroma.

I liked that it let me focus on conversation rather than on grilling. Since the AI pre-grilling system cooks the meat evenly, all that's left at the table is a quick browning, which saves a lot of the usual grilling effort.

What's on the menu: dwitgogi cuts and prices

Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae is a place to enjoy pork with dwitgogi as the star. This visit, I didn't stray to other menu items and focused entirely on dwitgogi. Trying a bit of everything is fun when traveling, but properly savoring just one dish has its own pleasure too.

Side dishes and steamed egg

The side dishes were a clean lineup that paired well with the meat, and eating them alongside tangy pickles and wrap vegetables brought out the savoriness and chewy texture of the dwitgogi even more.

Along with the basic side dishes, a soft-steamed egg dish was served as well, and its warm, fluffy texture went nicely as a bite between rounds of meat.

How the 500g dwitgogi platter (36,000 won) tasted

The dwitgogi platter 500g at Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae costs 36,000 won. Dwitgogi was, of course, tonight's main event. Once the pre-cooked meat arrived, I put it on the grill to finish it off until golden brown. As the surface cooked, the savory aroma really stirred up my appetite.

Taking a bite, I first noticed dwitgogi's signature springy, chewy texture. Rather than the soft bite of plain lean meat, it had a pleasant elasticity that made chewing fun. The parts with a bit of fat turned especially rich and savory as they cooked over the charcoal. The surface was slightly browned while the inside stayed moist, so the meaty flavor and savoriness naturally built with each chew.

Dipped lightly in salt, the meat's own flavor came through clearly, while wrapping it in lettuce added a fresh vegetable brightness for a different kind of bite. At 500g, it was plenty for two people to share for dinner, and it was great for slowly grilling and chatting over. Dwitgogi really was a treat to have at a barbecue restaurant in Hyeongok, Gyeongju.

Finishing with doenjang jjigae (4,000 won) and rice

After the meat, I ordered doenjang jjigae (4,000 won). The bubbling stew gave off a hearty aroma first, and one spoonful settled my palate nicely after all that meat. Rather than being sharply seasoned, it leaned savory and mild, which paired well with the rice.

A bite of meat, a spoonful of doenjang jjigae, then a spoonful of rice — that combination is hard to resist. Pairing warm white rice with the stew and topping it with a last piece of dwitgogi rounded out a hearty dinner. I've tasted all kinds of food touring the country, but there's real comfort in ending a trip with a warm bowl of rice like this.

Is a weekday dinner at Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae worth it?

On a weekday evening visit to Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae, I finished a hearty meal with the dwitgogi platter 500g at 36,000 won, doenjang jjigae at 4,000 won, and rice at 2,000 won. The pre-cooked meat was easy to grill, and dwitgogi's chewy yet savory texture left a real impression. The clean, comfortable restaurant also made it a pleasant place for anyone looking for a barbecue restaurant in Hyeongok, Gyeongju.

When traveling, a single meal in a local spot sometimes stays with you longer than a famous restaurant. That was the case with this evening in Gyeongju. Dwitgogi browning golden on the grill, a warm bowl of doenjang jjigae, and a bowl of rice — nothing flashy, but a dinner that filled a traveler's day just right. If you're looking for a barbecue restaurant in Hyeongok, Gyeongju, it might be worth filling your evening with a dwitgogi platter at Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae.