Forest Korean BBQ in Namyangju, acorn pancake wraps: 2002 Witch's

Is 2002 Witch's Arpeggio crowded on a weekday evening?

Even on a weekday, guests start coming into 2002 Witch's Arpeggio around 5pm, and by close to 6pm the outdoor seats were full. I went because it's famous as a great outdoor BBQ place in Namyangju, and I'd seen it all over social media, so I was curious. Having been, I get why it's famous!!

I figured a weekday would be relaxed, but if I'd arrived a bit later I probably wouldn't have gotten the seat I wanted T_T I could really feel how many people in Namyangju are looking for an outdoor dining spot, and the vibe alone explained why it has a word-of-mouth reputation as a Namyangju BBQ and date spot!

Location and parking

2002 Witch's Arpeggio is at 142 Sure-ro 661beon-gil, Wabu-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi, and parking is free 🚗

Outdoor seating that feels like a forest campsite

From the entrance, 2002 Witch's Arpeggio feels like you've walked into a forest. The trees are thick, so even in midsummer they block the sun just enough, and the yellow parasols and tables give it a campsite feel!

The sign has a fairytale-style illustration and highlights the tomato jang (paste)~

The path into the restaurant. You can see yellow parasols between the leafy trees, and the healing vibe starts the moment you arrive~~!!

I arrived around 5:10pm.

(This photo was taken right when I arrived, 5:10pm.) By around 6pm the outdoor seats were full?? Even on a weekday they were almost packed around 6pm, so if you're planning to visit, I recommend getting there a little early.

What are the indoor seats like?

The indoor seating at 2002 Witch's Arpeggio is a spacious room with yellow chairs as the accent, and big windows show the green scenery, so it feels open and airy~

Inside, aging jars are on display along with a line saying they researched it for 25 years, so you can feel the concept that sets 2002 Witch's Arpeggio apart.

They have disposable aprons too.

Real tomatoes everywhere~

What makes the tomato jang pork belly different?

2002 Witch's Arpeggio uses a sauce made from tomatoes instead of gochujang (red chili paste). They say a 48-hour jar aging gives it a deep, soft flavor.

What I ordered and the prices

• Witch's Jar Cheese Tomato Pork Belly ₩25,000
• Witch's Crispy-Outside, Chewy-Inside Potato Pancake ₩25,000
• I skipped the fried rice because I was full

A Namyangju valley restaurant, a Namyangju must-eat!! The atmosphere is so good it's perfect as a Namyangju date spot too~!

If you do a review event, they give you cauldron pollock roe fried rice!

Side dishes

The basic side dishes at 2002 Witch's Arpeggio included ssambu (pickled radish wraps), tomato kimchi, wrap vegetables, seaweed, pickles and more~

Japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) came out too~ The staff grilled the meat and cut it all up for us, so we could eat comfortably~

Our order was laid out like a full spread~ The tomato pork belly, the potato pancake and the side dishes looked generous right from the first glance.

Taste and spice level of the Witch's Jar Cheese Tomato Pork Belly

The Witch's Jar Cheese Tomato Pork Belly comes with cheese sprinkled on in a circle~ A staff member melts the cheese with a torch, like a little performance?! The cheese melts slowly and blends into the tomato sauce, and it made my mouth water 🤤

The spice level was described as "slightly bad boy" (about Jin Ramen level), but when I actually ate it, it wasn't overwhelming at all. Even people who can't handle spice can eat it!! Maybe because the tomato jang is aged 48 hours, it was completely different from regular gochujang seasoning.

How the staff told us to eat it

• Take a bite of the cheese pork first
• Put cheese pork + bean sprout pork on the acorn pancake
• Cheese pork on seaweed + ssambu
• Pork without cheese + lettuce + bean sprouts

At first you taste a gentle tomato tang, and then the savory umami comes up~ Probably because the pork belly is aged, there was no gamey smell and the texture was tender. It's rich with lots of cheese, but blended with the tomato sauce it wasn't greasy.

Wrapping it with onion and bean sprouts adds a crunchy texture, and the best bite was lettuce with meat, tomato jang and cheese together~

If you're looking for a BBQ place or date spot in Namyangju, this signature dish is worth trying at least once.

How is the Witch's Crispy-Outside, Chewy-Inside Potato Pancake?

The Witch's Crispy-Outside, Chewy-Inside Potato Pancake (₩25,000) is huge and golden all the way to the edges, so you can almost see the crunch with your eyes haha

The outside is crispy just like the name says, and the middle is chewy~ The potato flavor is rich and it isn't greasy, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy. Having crispy and chewy parts together made the texture great! Dipping it in the sauce that came with it made it even better~~

Good for the valley, dates and bringing dogs?

Quite a few people were cooling off with their feet in the valley stream near 2002 Witch's Arpeggio, so it's great as a Namyangju valley restaurant! I saw lots of families and couples too, so I recommend it as a Namyangju date spot~ haha Dogs are allowed as well 🐶🐾

I loved the outdoor feel, like eating in a forest, and I think it would be a nice place to visit not only in summer but also in cool spring and fall! The aged tomato seasoning was what set it apart from ordinary BBQ places, and with the cheese it was a flavor anyone could enjoy without difficulty.

If you want a different kind of pork belly in a nice setting, or you're looking for a date spot, it's a place that should satisfy you. It was a satisfying visit where I really enjoyed the outdoor mood and a tasty meal. If you're looking for outdoor dining, a valley restaurant or a dog-friendly place in Namyangju, it's worth a visit for the atmosphere alone, and if you want BBQ, the signature tomato pork belly is worth trying.^^

Opening hours

• Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time 16:00–17:00
• Last order 20:00
• Mondays close at 20:30
• Dogs allowed