Siji, Daegu Korean BBQ: rainy-night pork belly for two, Dugeundugeun

On rainy days I crave pork belly with that rich fat and charcoal aroma. It was exactly that kind of day, so my husband and I headed out to Nobyeon-dong in Siji! This time we visited Dugeundugeun Sutbulgalbi (두근두근숯불갈비), a Siji BBQ place known for fresh pork belly and great side dishes.

Dugeundugeun Sutbulgalbi hours and parking

• Hours: daily 16:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• Closed: Wednesdays
• Parking: near Nobyeon Park and on the side streets

Dugeundugeun Sutbulgalbi exterior and interior in Nobyeon-dong, Siji

The restaurant is in a long, horizontal building with a white sign, so it was easy to spot on Nobyeon-ro in Daegu. The shape of the building and the white sign meant we didn't get lost.

Inside, there are more than 10 tables for four. Even though it was early evening, there were quite a few group diners. It was roomier and more pleasant than I expected, and cozy and clean, perfect for grilling meat while listening to the rain outside the window.

Dugeundugeun Sutbulgalbi menu and pork belly price

Pork belly here is ₩12,000 per 150g serving, which is a reasonable price. The menu was solid, from the signature marinated galbi (seasoned short ribs) to pork belly and raw pork neck!

They also have Korean beef brisket and Korean beef ribeye, so you can enjoy both Korean beef and Korean pork. For meals there are mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup), bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), kimchi-mari guksu (kimchi noodle soup) and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). On a rainy day like this we ordered raw pork belly without a second thought!

What side dishes come at Dugeundugeun Sutbulgalbi?

Once you order, they set out geotjeori (fresh kimchi), a fried egg, seaweed and sauces, and you fetch lettuce wraps, garlic stems and kimchi from the self-serve bar. The side dishes here really are great!

A generous serving of geotjeori and a fried egg, plus lettuce wraps, garlic stems and kimchi we could easily grab from the self-serve bar!

Seaweed and a dipping sauce come out too. The side dishes felt so homestyle that I almost regretted ordering only one bowl of rice each for my husband and me.

Grilling the fresh pork belly and how it tastes

The raw pork belly comes thick, and they brought a dipping sauce for it as well. The ratio of lean meat to fat was just right and the quality was obviously fresh at a glance, which made my mouth water.

Once the pork belly went on the hot grill, the strong heat cooked it quickly. On a rainy day, pork belly means soju, right? We had plans afterward, so we couldn't drink any.

Free soft tofu stew with the basic table setting

What made up for it was the sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew) that comes with the basic setting! It was my first time at a BBQ place that serves tofu stew for free, so I thought they'd brought it by mistake! Haha!

Even though it's free, it's packed with egg and soft tofu. It's no secret that it tastes better than the tofu stew at many dedicated tofu stew restaurants!

The broth is spicy, almost like instant ramen seasoning, and it was totally my taste. I even thought it would be delicious with a bowl of rice mixed in.

Fresh pork belly with real charcoal flavor

The pork belly is grilled golden, cut into bite-size pieces and infused with charcoal smoke. The charcoal heat is strong, so the outside was crisp and the inside juicy, grilled really well.

From the first bite there was no gamey smell at all, just savory juices filling my mouth. It satisfied my rainy-day pork belly craving 200%.

Best ways to eat pork belly: garlic stem wraps, meljeot (anchovy sauce), seaweed and rice

The garlic stems from the side dishes were tangy and salty, cutting right through the richness of the pork belly. I put garlic stems and pickled onion on lettuce, dipped it in plenty of ssamjang (wrap sauce) and took a bite! My husband loved it.

I also had bites dipped in meljeot (salted anchovy sauce) and in sesame oil with salt.

I alternated with rice wrapped in seaweed and dipped in sauce. The side dishes were so good that it felt like grilling pork belly at a great Korean home-cooking restaurant.

On the way out I noticed they also have yogurt and candy for dessert.

Verdict: is this Siji pork belly spot good on a rainy day?

I went because I was craving pork belly on a rainy day, and Dugeundugeun Sutbulgalbi delivered: quality thick raw pork belly, plus neat, generous side dishes like fried egg and garlic stems that made it feel as warm as a home-cooked meal. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants savory raw pork belly and plentiful side dishes on a atmospheric rainy day!