Dongtan BBQ with antibiotic-free ogyeopsal and grilling: Gogigaondang

Why we picked Gogigaondang Dongtan Branch for dinner

The day we got back from a trip was one of those... don't-want-to-cook days, haha. So the place I found was a cauldron-lid pork belly restaurant in Bansong-dong, Dongtan — Gogigaondang Dongtan Branch.

Honestly I'd eaten a huge breakfast and snacked at lunch so I wasn't even hungry. But I had to feed my daughter, so I asked what she wanted to eat! And oh, she said meat, haha. So off I went to search.

That's how I found Gogigaondang (고기가온당). The restaurant name is so cute. My daughter kept playing with it, saying things like "pig-gaondang, rice-oondang," haha. Definitely a memorable name.

Where Gogigaondang Dongtan Branch is and where to park

Gogigaondang Dongtan Branch is located in 1-Dongtan. Honestly if this were right in front of my house it would be my go-to samgyeopsal spot every single time. It's actually close from 2-Dongtan too — maybe 10 minutes? And best of all, no parking worries since there's a dedicated lot!

The interior is genuinely clean and well-organized. Look at how squared away the chairs are, haha.

Antibiotic-free raw ogyeopsal: is this price for real?

The main event at Gogigaondang Dongtan Branch is raw ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly)! And it's antibiotic-free!! Owner, you seriously need to advertise this more!

Selling antibiotic-free pork belly at regular samgyeopsal prices... what is going on with this pricing? Even buying antibiotic-free pork belly at the supermarket costs about the same. This needs to be shouted from the rooftops!

Homemade side dishes with Korean ingredients, tofu included

They said all the side dishes are made with Korean ingredients too. Genuinely hard to find a place like this these days... even the tofu is Korean-made, apparently. No wonder it tasted so good.

They're genuinely honest about ingredients. Because the flavor tastes exactly like homemade side dishes — no MSG aftertaste at all! It tasted like the home-style banchan (side dishes) my mom used to make when I was a kid! The owner deserves so much support for this... where else does a BBQ place like this exist?

Same-day butchered pork and the table-side grilling service

Look at the color on this meat... they said it's brought in same-day slaughtered. No wonder the meat had such a nice color... zero gamey smell whatsoever.

They also have a grilling service here... affordable, and combined with meat that has zero off-smell... plus they grill it for you... for this, I'd go even if it were pricier, haha.

Grilling service is basically essential for families with kids, right? Mom too busy feeding the kid to eat, dad too busy grilling to eat... with a grilling service, everyone gets to actually enjoy the meal. My husband and I now only go to places that offer it!

And kimchi on the cauldron lid is just the national standard, right? Haha. Seriously so good... the meat was crispy outside, juicy inside! We ate so well.

Myeoljeot (fermented anchovy dipping sauce) with no fishy smell

I normally don't like myeoljeot, but this one is genuinely delicious! I usually avoid it because of the fishy smell, but this had none! Truly amazing. A perfect match with the meat!

Loaded egg custard for 4,000 won, muksabal and home-grown lettuce

Gogigaondang Dongtan Branch also serves up a loaded egg custard, and honestly, ₩4,000 for egg custard in this era of inflation... every menu item feels like it's priced five years in the past.

Then muksabal (acorn jelly soup) on top of that... this place is truly a flavor paradise.

Since it's genuinely grown in-house, even the lettuce is adorably fresh. Feels like it's been ages since I had lettuce this fresh! Honestly!? Everyone living in Dongtan needs to go to Gogigaondang!!

How a wasabi devotee ended up asking for more ssamjang

I'm normally a wasabi-with-pork-belly person, but the ssamjang here was so good I went back for a refill... genuinely delicious. Didn't touch the wasabi once. My husband can vouch for this! When we grill pork belly at home I always go for wasabi... but jang made in an actual jangdokdae (traditional sauce crock) really is the best. I wanted to buy some to take home, haha.

Finishing with cheese fried rice and a torch fire show

Last but not least, fried rice! Not too salty, seasoned just right. We added cheese and got a torch fire show on top, haha.

This place is genuinely crazy... they really deserve to be showered with business. If you're reading this, trust me and go!! A pork belly place like this... is genuinely hard to find. Felt like we ate healthy!!

It was so good we cleared out even the side dishes! Everyone should go! My husband and I have already decided — whenever we crave samgyeopsal, it's Gogigaondang. A restaurant where both kids and adults can eat healthily! My intent to revisit is 100000000000000%! A place I genuinely want to recommend to everyone around me!