Jeongwang-dong Korean BBQ: aquarium-aged pork belly, 10+ sides, Hamdon

What is Hamdon, a Jeongwang-dong Korean BBQ restaurant, like?

Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch (함돈 본점) is an aged-pork Korean BBQ restaurant with a white exterior in central Jeongwang-dong. Walking through the middle of Jeongwang-dong, that clean white facade really stands out, and the phrases under the Hamdon sign, full of devotion to meat, caught my eye.

That's why my expectations were already high before the visit even began.

Hamdon's aquarium aging and dining room

At the entrance there was also a notice for a lunch special kimchi stew set, so it felt like good value too. Stepping inside, the place was full of lively energy.

The brass-colored hoods hanging from the ceiling were neatly kept, which gave me trust from the first impression. Every seat has a tablet, so it was easy to pick the menu at leisure. The window side feels open, so you can eat without feeling stuffy.

On one side of the table there was a guide on when to grill the meat. The staff step in first, and then you can finish it to your own taste, which was a thoughtful system.

What side dishes and self-serve bar does Hamdon offer?

The basic setting at Hamdon comes on an octagonal tray holding more than 10 side dishes, and if you run short you can fetch more from the self-bar.

The self-bar is piled high with ramen noodles, which people ordering stew will surely be happy about.

Aaah~~~ so good, great value, I admit it!

I was honestly shocked when the basic setting arrived. More than 10 side dishes came neatly arranged in an octagonal tray.

They say everything from the pickles (jangajji) to the kimchi is made in-house, and you could really taste the homemade touch.

On top of that, a whole plate of fresh minari comes along. There was plenty to lightly cook in the meat fat or eat raw as a wrap. There's even a friendly guide on how to enjoy minari wraps properly.

How thick is Hamdon's aquarium-aged pork belly?

Hamdon's pork belly is overwhelmingly thick, and they say the domestic meat is aged in an aquarium. When the meat I ordered finally arrived, the carefully trimmed belly, shaped to bring out the chewiness typical of Jeju pork, looked wonderful. As promised by the aquarium aging, the color of the meat was really vivid.

The balance of fat and lean was just right, so I was looking forward to the texture once grilled.

Looking at the whole spread, it felt like a feast fit for a king, and I was quite proud of it. Each side dish boosts the flavor without overpowering the meat.

Hamdon pork belly with meljeot and minari

At Hamdon, boiling the meljeot (salted fermented fish dip) served with the pork belly on the grill doubles the savory depth.

When I put the meat on the heated grill, it sizzled and a nutty aroma hit my nose. The meljeot that came with it, bubbling away on the grill as you eat, doubles the savory depth.

With the grilling done so carefully to lock in the juices, there's no way it could taste bad.

The stew simmered in pork bone broth also had a wonderful depth, so I kept reaching for it.

One bite of the well-cooked pork belly, and the deep flavor of aged meat and the bursting juices were really something.

If you're looking for a meat restaurant in Jeongwang-dong, I hope you enjoy a hearty meal with your loved ones at Hamdon.