Pork belly BBQ near Dongseongno, Daegu with chewy ramen: Hubaldae

What is Hubaldae Daegu Jongno Branch like?

Hubaldae Daegu Jongno Branch (후발대 대구종로점) is a pork belly and beef daechang (intestine) BBQ restaurant at 50 Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, on the 1st floor. Hours are listed as 17:00–23:30. It's a Jongno spot close to Dongseongno, and I went on a weekday evening.

Here's the outside of Hubaldae. The pink exterior seems to be inspired by the pink of fresh pork, with a white sign as the accent.

This is the poster for Hubaldae Jongno's signature menu, standing out front.

What are the interior and seating like?

Inside, the tables run in long rows, and even on a weekday evening every seat was taken. Proof enough that it's a Daegu favorite, right?

I only noticed after taking the photo that a staff member was flashing a V sign :)

Next to each chair there's a basket for your belongings and a blanket. It's a thoughtful basic touch for guests.

A Hubaldae poster inside says SINCE 2010, so it seems Hubaldae first opened in 2010.

There's also a poster on how to enjoy Hubaldae pork belly even more.

There are men's and women's restrooms inside, which is handy.

There are traces of Samsung Lions players having visited too. I spotted signatures from Lee Seung-min and Kim Ji-chan, who have been doing well out of the bullpen lately.

What's on the menu at Hubaldae Daegu Jongno Branch?

The menu is really simple: just pork and beef daechang BBQ. Two items, betting everything on flavor, and we ordered the red clay raw pork belly.

What side dishes come with the pork belly?

The side dishes land as soon as you order, starting with basil, chili and potato. As the signature poster shows, you grill the potato on the grill and wrap it with basil and the sauce.

These are shishito peppers, garlic, mushrooms and sundae (Korean blood sausage) to grill alongside the meat, plus pajeolgi (seasoned scallion salad).

Ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) and wasabi, the BBQ essentials, come too.

This is Hubaldae's own signature sauce and oil dip.

Myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic-chive leaves) and kimchi stew, nicely cut for easy eating. The kimchi from the stew wrapped with golden, well-grilled pork belly is a fantastic combination.

How was the 3 servings of red clay raw pork belly?

The 3 servings of red clay raw pork belly we ordered had the light pink color typical of red clay pork, with a good amount of fat.

I took a photo of the whole spread on the table. It still looks so delicious!

Potato, shishito peppers, mushrooms, sundae, garlic and the meat go on the grill and the grilling begins. Look at that golden pork belly coming along.

The well-cooked meat is cut into bite-size pieces and grilled a bit more, and the pieces that finish cooking while we eat are stacked to one side with the potato.

Recommended pork belly combo: potato, myeongi namul and kimchi with the signature sauce

I wrapped pajeolgi, potato, myeongi namul and a piece of kimchi from the kimchi stew together and ate it with the signature sauce. The meat had no gamey smell at all, with just the right juiciness, and the clean flavor filled my mouth. Honestly, it was art.

I also tried a piece with wasabi and myeongi namul. It goes wonderfully with the most basic combination too.

How is the ramen at Hubaldae Daegu Jongno Branch different from regular ramen?

The ramen I ordered after finishing the meat is different from ordinary ramen. Think of it as halfway between rabokki (ramen with spicy rice cakes) and regular ramen, and the noodles were so chewy and delicious.

How was the staff service?

When we finished eating, a staff member came outside, kindly sprayed us with fabric deodorizer, and even took a commemorative photo for us. Thanks to the really delicious meal and the staff's warm kindness, the day ended warm and happy.

Hubaldae Daegu Jongno Branch: pros at a glance

• Distinctive pork belly. The pork itself was great, but rather than relying on pork belly alone, Hubaldae wins on flavor with a variety of combinations.
• Convenient because the staff grill the meat. Skilled staff grilled it really well, so we could eat in total comfort.
• The staff are incredibly kind. When you're tired it usually shows on your face, but even though they must have been exhausted, they kept smiling and looked after us carefully, which stayed with me and made the day a happy one. It reminded me again that busy restaurants have a different mindset.