Dangjin Korean BBQ with private rooms: aged pork belly at Hwaro 1979

After wrapping up a trip around Dangjin, my boyfriend and I — both certified meat lovers — were trying to figure out dinner when Hwaro 1979, a Korean BBQ restaurant in Yugok-ri, Dangjin, caught our eye. Aged pork belly, whole hangjeongsal (pork neck), and private rooms to eat comfortably in — we booked ahead and went. Thick cuts of meat, a huge spread of side dishes, and satisfying rice dishes made this a Dangjin restaurant I'd happily recommend for a group dinner.

Where is Hwaro 1979 and what are the hours?

Hwaro 1979 is located at 55 Yugok 1-gil, Songsan-myeon, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea, Unit 101. During the Chuseok holiday, hours were 11:00–22:00 from September 24 to 26.

* Hours can change, so double-check on Naver Place before you visit!

Getting to Hwaro 1979 in Yugok-ri, Dangjin

• Hyundai Steel / Songsan Industrial Complex: about 5 minutes by car
• Pine Stone CC: about 7–10 minutes by car
• Panasia GC / Flamingo CC: about 15 minutes by car
• Waemok Village / Seokmun Seawall: about 15 minutes by car
• Sapgyoho Lake / Solmoe Sanctuary: about 20 minutes by car

Hwaro 1979's exterior and parking

We went with a reservation. Even late in the evening, the place was full of customers. The outdoor sign had a reservation contact number in plain view, so it wasn't hard to find on our first visit.

You can park in front of the restaurant or in the space nearby! There's plenty of room around, so we parked without any trouble!

Private group rooms: how are the air conditioning and ventilation?

Each private room at Hwaro 1979 has its own air conditioning unit. I was worried a private room might not ventilate well, or get hot while grilling meat.

My boyfriend, who runs hot, was thrilled the moment we walked in, haha. Ventilation was better than expected too — considering how much meat we grilled, the smell didn't stick to our clothes badly at all.

Good for family meals, company dinners and big group bookings

Hwaro 1979's private rooms seat 6 to 16 people, and the group seating area holds up to 32.

The two group sections can be used separately, or the middle door can open them into one large space fitting about 30 people together, they told us.

The small touches in the table setting

As you'd expect from a charcoal grill place, the coals were in great shape! What surprised me most, though, was the ice water!

As you can probably tell from the photo, the refreshingly cold ice water was a big hit with us, since we both run hot, haha.

They also had gum, vitamin C, and dental floss ready — clearly thought through all the way to after the meal. A small detail, but it showed the owner's thoughtfulness.

What side dishes come with the meal?

It felt less like a BBQ place and more like a full hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) spread. There were so many side dishes to pair with the meat that we never got tired of it, right up to the end.

Hwaro 1979 menu and how to order

You order through the table-order tablet at each seat. There was a solid variety, from pork and beef to rice dishes and drinks — they even had Cass Zero.

How the aged thick pork belly and whole hangjeongsal taste

Hwaro 1979's aged thick pork belly was, true to its name, really thick, and the hangjeongsal (pork neck) came as a whole cut too! Even before grilling, the color and sheen of the meat had us even more excited to taste it.

The charcoal fire had great heat, so even the thick cuts cooked up beautifully. Because the hangjeongsal was grilled whole, it had that signature chewy texture with juices bursting out.

The thick pork belly was savory on the outside with juices still locked in inside — proper, satisfying bite after bite.

The verdict: you can keep eating forever

The meat itself was basically delicious, but having so many things to combine it with made the meal even more satisfying.

Doenjang jjigae and icy naengjjolmyeon to finish

Can't skip the rice dishes, right? Hwaro 1979's doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) came packed with solid ingredients, and the rice — a golden ratio of Dangjin Samgwang rice and Suhyangmi rice mixed 7:3 — was delicious too.

The head chef here clearly knows what they're doing across the board.

Last up: naengjjolmyeon (cold chewy noodles) packed with shaved ice! The seasoning wasn't too intense and the balance was just right. Great for a refreshing finish — I'd have regretted it if we hadn't ordered it!

Final take on Hwaro 1979

With private rooms and spacious group seating, this place suits company dinners or group gatherings really well. Each room has its own AC and ventilation, and connecting two rooms fits about 30 people, they said. My boyfriend even said he'd have come here often for work dinners if it were near his office, haha.

From the meat to the rice dishes, everything was satisfying, and the thoughtfulness carried through to the very end. If you're looking for a group dinner or gathering spot in Yugok-ri, Dangjin, Hwaro 1979 is worth recommending.