Minrak-dong BBQ restaurant, Busan: cold kimchi kalguksu at Donbegi

Today I want to introduce a hidden gem in Minrak-dong, Gwangalli: the aged-meat restaurant Donbegi.

Donbegi Gwang-an Branch hours, parking and dog policy

• Hours: Daily 12:00–23:30 (last order 23:00)
• Parking: Seohee Star Hills Centum Primo underground lot (2 hours free)
• Dog-friendly (vaccination certificate required)

It's tucked in an alley in Minrak-dong, Gwangalli. It's a two-story building — clean-looking exterior, right?

Inside, the space is divided into the first floor, second floor, and private rooms. The first floor is open with group seating in the back. The second floor has individual private rooms for a more private meal. It seems great for company dinners or club gatherings in Gwangalli, and also for small get-togethers or a foodie date course.

Donbegi's specialty is aged meat. They say they prioritize thorough meat selection and use a patented aging method to bring out the best in the raw meat. I'm getting excited about how good it'll be haha.

What we ordered at Donbegi and how the table is set

[Order] ✔️ Ogeopsal (pork belly) ✔️ Marinated skirt meat ✔️ Steamed egg ✔️ Cold kimchi kalguksu

A generous spread with a wide variety of side dishes.

Green onion salad, bean sprout soup, salted pollock roe, pickled chili, seasoned radish, and kelp — wrapping the meat with these various side dishes let us taste a bunch of different flavors and made it even more delicious.

What to pick up at the self-serve side dish bar

There's a self-serve bar too, so you can casually grab more of any side dish you're low on. Lettuce for wraps and chili-garlic aren't part of the default table setting, so make sure to grab those yourself and eat well!

Marinated galmaegisal and ogeopsal, grilled by the staff

The charcoal comes out~ Meat is definitely best over charcoal.

[Marinated skirt meat] I've been craving marinated meat lately so I picked the marinated skirt meat. Looks tender, right?? Dipped in that magic sauce, it's amazing~!

[Pork belly] My husband said he wanted thick-cut meat these days, so this ogeopsal (pork belly) was his pick. Maybe because it's aged, it's not chewy at all — savory and tender. They grill it all the way for you so you can just relax and wait ^_^

They grill it so skillfully. Sizzle sizzle~~ the best sound in the world, the sound of meat grilling haha.

They grill the marinated skirt meat and pork belly well and plate them ready to eat. Then all I have to do is enjoy it.

Pork belly wrapped with pickled chili is spicy and refreshing, so you never get tired of it — genuinely delicious. It's also great with the asparagus and mushrooms that come alongside. And the skirt meat dipped in that magic sauce makes you unable to resist ordering rice. My favorite pick of the day was the marinated skirt meat!

Why we came back: the cold kimchi kalguksu

Honestly, the reason I came to Donbegi was this cold kimchi kalguksu (noodle soup)! I had it on a previous visit and it was so good. Isn't it amazing that the noodle soup has slushy ice floating in it? It's truly cold, refreshing, and tangy-sweet. A cold kimchi kalguksu specialist haha. Wrapping it with the meat is amazing.

Steamed egg is a standard, of course.

This is how we finished up. Both the meat and the sides were amazing!!

By the time we left, the place was packed. I'd recommend making a reservation before you go.

How to book a room at Donbegi Gwang-an Branch

Donbegi uses the Naver Reservations system. Even on the weekday evening I visited, most seats were already booked. Reservations are available as follows:

• Hall (1–35 people)
• Room (1–6 people)
• Group room (7–22 people)
• Birthday party room (1–10 people)

Is Donbegi Gwang-an Branch worth a visit?

True to an aged-meat restaurant, Donbegi's meat is tender and savory. Eating it alongside all the various side dishes is fantastic. I rarely go back to a place I've already visited once, but this must be a real gem since it's my nth visit. If you're looking for a company dinner spot, a gathering place, or a great meat date course in Gwangalli, I highly recommend Donbegi!