Cheongju pork BBQ with scored pork rind: Baeksan Hwarro

I was looking for a barbecue place to have dinner with my mom in Songjeol-dong, and we ended up at Baeksan Hwarro Cheongju Branch (백산화로 청주점). We ordered an assorted pork platter so we could try several cuts, plus kimchi cheonggukjang, pot rice, and mul naengmyeon.

The pork jowl and gabrisal were delicious too, but the pork rind was what I remembered most that day, haha. For anyone looking for a good restaurant in Songjeol-dong, I’ll round up what we ate and the parking situation.

Location and parking

Baeksan Hwarro Cheongju Branch is in the Techno Polis area of Songjeol-dong, Cheongju. The address is 101, 1F, 7-12 Songhwa-ro 166beon-gil, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk. It is about a three-minute walk from both the Gangseo 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center and Songhwa-ro bus stops.

There is a dedicated parking lot right beside the restaurant for up to 14 cars. It was fairly spacious, so it was convenient when my mom and I drove over. If it is full, I heard that parking at Gangseo 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center, about a five-minute walk away, is free after 6 PM.

Hours and the dining room atmosphere

From Friday through Wednesday, it is open from 11:30 AM until 1:00 AM the next day, with last orders at 12:30 AM. On Thursdays, it is open from 2:30 PM to 11:00 PM, with last orders at 10:30 PM. The restaurant was more spacious and pleasant than I expected.

It can accommodate up to 60 people, and the tables can be arranged for group sizes, so it looked like a good option not only for family dinners but also for company dinners or group gatherings in Songjeol-dong.

There was even a small supply of emergency medicine on one side. It was my first time seeing that at a restaurant, and it made me feel that they were thoughtful about their guests.

The small assorted platter and charcoal

My mom and I ordered the Baeksan Small Assorted Platter. It costs ₩43,000 and includes 530g of scored pork jowl, gabrisal, large salt-grilled pork, and scored pork rind.

The grill was shaped like a square brazier, which I thought was interesting. They use a specially made brazier and hardwood charcoal, so a subtle charcoal aroma developed as the meat cooked.

Baeksan Hwarro says it dry-ages carefully selected pork for 48 to 72 hours. Having tried it myself, the meat was tender rather than tough, and it held onto its juices well.

How the pork jowl and gabrisal tasted

I really like pork jowl, but at other barbecue places it is often expensive or not on the menu at all. The owner told me that because they receive whole cuts and trim each section in-house, they can offer quality specialty cuts at relatively reasonable prices.

The scored pork jowl had fine cuts across the surface, so its nicely browned exterior went beautifully with its chewy, savory texture. The gabrisal and large salt-grilled pork were clean-tasting too, without any off smell.

Each cut had a different texture, so if two people are visiting, I think ordering the assorted platter and comparing them all would be a great choice.

The scored pork rind I remember most

The thing I enjoyed most that day was definitely the scored pork rind. Fine cuts run across its surface, and once grilled over charcoal, it had a golden exterior while staying wonderfully chewy inside.

It was hardly tough or smelly at all, so my mom and I kept saying how good it was as we ate. Out of all the pork rind I have tried so far, this was the best, haha.

The assorted platter includes pork rind, but if you love it, I do not think you would regret ordering an extra portion.

Mixing pot rice into kimchi cheonggukjang

Along with the meat, we ordered kimchi cheonggukjang and pot rice. The kimchi cheonggukjang had both the spicy edge of kimchi stew and the nutty, deep flavor of cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew).

I mixed the pot rice into the kimchi cheonggukjang, like doenjang sulbap, and the combination worked so well. The spicy, savory broth soaked into every grain of rice, making it hard to put down the spoon even when I was full, haha.

The kimchi cheonggukjang is ₩7,900, and the pot rice for two is ₩3,000.

Mul naengmyeon to finish

To finish, we ordered mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth). Rather than the heavily seasoned, bold kind of naengmyeon, it was closer to the mild and clean style of Pyongyang naengmyeon.

The broth seemed mild at first, but its subtle flavor came through more and more as I ate. Adding charcoal-grilled meat to the noodles brought together the meat’s savory richness and the cool broth really nicely.

What I would order when I return with my mom

With parking right beside the restaurant and a spacious interior, Baeksan Hwarro Cheongju Branch made for a comfortable meal with my mom. The pork jowl, gabrisal, and large salt-grilled pork were all good, but I would definitely order the scored pork rind again.

I would also recommend mixing the pot rice into the kimchi cheonggukjang for a filling end to the meal. If I came back with my mom, I would order the assorted platter, add pork rind, and get the same kimchi cheonggukjang and pot rice again, hehe.

If you are looking for a family dinner spot in Cheongju Techno Polis or a Songjeol-dong barbecue restaurant with convenient parking, I recommend Baeksan Hwarro Cheongju Branch~!