Sanbon Station pork BBQ: grilled bracken and jjolmyeon set, Geobugi

Why did I come back to Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch?

I was so happy with Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch (거북이동네 군포산본점) the first time that I went back this weekend with my husband. Weekends just make you crave meat more, right? It's not only me, is it? haha I went again because of that good memory, and it didn't let me down! This time we ordered the signature jjolmyeon pork belly set (chewy spicy-sweet noodles with pork belly), and the meat and noodles went together far better than I expected. It was a really satisfying meal.

The restaurant is close to Sanbon Station, so it's easy to get to. All through our meal I saw all kinds of guests, from families to couples on dates, and I could see why so many people come haha If you want proper pork in Sanbon, it's worth a visit at least once!

What is the atmosphere and seating like at Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch?

The dining hall is spacious and clean, with group seating and private rooms, so the layout works for family meals or company dinners. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was how much bigger and tidier it was than I expected haha It doesn't feel stuffy or smoky like a typical BBQ place; it's bright and stylish overall, so I was comfortable the whole meal.

The tables are spaced generously, so you won't bump into the next table, and with group seating and rooms it looks good for gatherings too. The staff were really kind to customers, which made a good first impression. There's the usual BBQ-place bustle, but it felt lively rather than noisy, so it was perfect for chatting with my husband while we ate haha The space is so well used that I thought it would be nice to come back with family.

What's on the menu and how do you order?

The menu has aged pork belly, pork neck, a shabu-shabu set and plenty of side dishes. Meat starts at 500g for the first order, and you can add more in 200g units. There are so many options that first-timers can pick to suit their taste haha After some thought, we chose the signature jjolmyeon pork belly set. Being able to enjoy sides together with the meat, rather than meat alone, made it a much fuller set.

It was easy to order to match our headcount, and I liked that you can also order cauldron rice (gamasotbap), which makes the meal even more filling. The shabu-shabu set seems popular too, so I'd like to try that next time haha With such a varied menu, I don't think you'd get tired of it even after several visits.

What's in the self-bar at Geobugi Dongne?

The self-bar has fresh ssam vegetables, several side dishes and sauces, plus rice cakes and potatoes to grill with the meat. Honestly, the self-bar was one of my favorite parts haha I assumed a BBQ place's self-bar would only have a few simple sides, but the variety surprised me.

The side dishes and sauces were neatly arranged, and you can take as much as you need, which was so convenient. You can bring back more of any side without feeling awkward, so I was happy throughout the meal. The vegetables were fresh, which showed it's well maintained, and the self-bar area was spacious and kept clean, so it was a pleasure to use haha

Side dishes from the self-bar, and grilled gosari and kimchi

From the self-bar we piled up corn salad, gosari (bracken fern), kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts and ssam vegetables haha When you eat meat, more side dishes really do make it tastier. Grilling the gosari and kimchi on the grill together brought out much more flavor, and the seasoned bean sprouts cut the richness of the meat so cleanly that I kept reaching for them.

The corn salad was sweet and soft, great for refreshing the palate in between, and I brought plenty of fresh lettuce and ssam vegetables too, wrapping them around the meat was a perfect pairing haha It was great that I could take as much as I wanted, and every side went well with the meat, so I enjoyed it to the very end.

Is the jjolmyeon in the pork belly set good at a BBQ place?

The jjolmyeon in the set has a spicy-sweet sauce that isn't overpowering, and it cuts the richness of the pork belly, so it was nice to alternate with the meat. At first I honestly thought, how good can jjolmyeon be at a BBQ place? but after one bite I completely changed my mind haha The seasoning is just right and really wakes up your appetite.

It had plenty of crunchy vegetables for good texture, and the noodles were chewy, so my chopsticks kept going back. Above all, eating it with the pork belly wiped away the greasiness, and the combination was the best. Eating one piece of meat, then one bite of jjolmyeon, over and over, I never got tired of it. It's clearly not the signature set for nothing, and I was so satisfied that I'd order this combo again next time haha

How was the pork belly at Geobugi Dongne?

The pork belly is thick and juicy, and it was delicious with just a light dip in salt. The pork belly on the grill was impressively thick haha Watching it turn golden brown, all I could think was that I wanted to eat it already lol One bite and I could taste the freshness of the meat itself.

The skin was chewy and nutty, and the lean meat was soft and moist. Eating it with grilled kimchi, gosari and seasoned bean sprouts was such a good combination. It was great wrapped in lettuce, great with the jjolmyeon, and no matter how I ate it, it never failed. Having tried it myself, I fully understand why so many people recommend Geobugi Dongne as a pork place in Sanbon haha

Revisiting Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch: the verdict

On my second visit, Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch again gave me nothing to complain about: a spacious, pleasant dining hall, a well-kept self-bar, quality pork belly, and jjolmyeon that went far better with it than I expected. I was happy the first time too, but this time it was even better than I'd hoped haha My husband liked it so much that he suggested coming back with the family, and the staff were kind throughout, which made the meal even nicer.

It's close to Sanbon Station, so it's easy to reach, and I'd happily recommend it for a date, a family meal or a company dinner haha If you're looking for a great pork place in Sanbon, I really recommend a pork belly meal at Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch!