Goseong-dong, Daegu after-work BBQ with pork skin: Sangnok Hoegwan

Work's been a lot lately and the stress has been piling up, so I've been missing the smell of meat grilling on my way home haha 😭 You know those days when going straight home after work just feels like a letdown? So after a long while, I went to Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan Gui Goseong Branch for a cold beer and some good pork! This place already has a lot of buzz around it, so I went in with high expectations.

Where is Sangnok Hoegwan Goseong Branch, and what are the hours?

• Location: 39 Goseongbuk-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, South Korea
• Hours: 5 PM – midnight
• Parking: available in the space in front of the restaurant

Walking inside, there were so many people who'd clearly come to soothe their tired workday with good food! Office workers who looked like they'd just clocked out were tipping back cold beers, and that warm, lively charcoal-grill pocha (street-tent bar) atmosphere had me buzzing already haha.

Ordering the 600g pork set for two

After looking over the menu, we decided to order the 600g pork set at Sangnok Hoegwan Goseong Branch to eat well as a pair! Once we ordered, clean basic side dishes came out along with a hot charcoal fire in no time. Meat really does taste best grilled over charcoal — it just soaks in that smoky flavor perfectly 🤤

Kiosk ordering, self-bar kimchi and marshmallows

You can order easily through the kiosk at each table, and the self bar was kept hygienically clean too. Oh, and there's kimchi at the self bar that isn't included in the basic side dishes, so make sure to grab some! While we waited for the meat, they brought out marshmallows — I only usually have those camping, and it's rare to find a place that serves them. Melting them over the fire was a great way to spike the sugar levels before the real meal even started haha.

What comes in the 600g set: samgyeopsal and hangjeongsal

And finally, the 600g meat set made its appearance! The cuts were thick, and the bright pink color made it obvious how fresh it was. The moment the meat hit the charcoal grill, it started sizzling and the smell spread everywhere — my mouth was watering like crazy 💥

I picked up a piece of samgyeopsal (pork belly) and dipped it in salt — crispy on the outside, juices bursting inside. No wonder it's famous as the go-to samgyeopsal in Goseong-dong!

The 600g set mostly comes with fattier cuts like hangjeongsal (pork jowl) and pork skin, so it'd be perfect for anyone who loves the fatty parts.

Grabbed a bite with some scallion salad too, ah ~

The grill was piled high with meat ~_~

Ordered a cold beer right away, clinked glasses, and took a sip — all the fatigue from the day just melted away. Isn't this exactly what after-work happiness looks like? 🍺

Pork skin dipped in soybean powder is the surprise here

And everyone! The thing I really fell for in this set menu is the 'pork skin'! ❤️ It comes as part of the set, grilled over charcoal until golden and almost fried — the crispy yet chewy texture was next-level. That stuff on the chopsticks isn't dirt, it's clean soybean powder (^-ㅠ) Dip it right in and the nuttiness doubles! No gamey smell at all, and it gets chewier the more you bite — truly the best partner for beer. I think I'll be back again just for this pork skin.

Bibim naengmyeon to finish, served mul-bibim style

To cleanse the palate, we had bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) — they gave us plenty of cold broth on the side, so we enjoyed it mul-bibim style! It's still a little warm out, and after all that meat, the noodles cooled everything right down, making room for even more meat.

A group-dinner spot with seafood as well as pork

While eating, I noticed the table next to us was enjoying seafood like shrimp! Turns out Sangnok Hoegwan doesn't just sell great pork from this Goseong-dong restaurant — they also serve shrimp and other seafood 🦐

When you've got meat lovers and seafood lovers in the same group, there's no need to argue — everyone can enjoy it all at one table, which makes it perfect for a large group dinner or work gathering!

Close to Bukgu-cheong Station and easy for a second round

The restaurant is also close to Bukgu-cheong Station, and it's on the Goseong-dong strip where a bunch of cute, cozy bars and pubs cluster together, so the flow from a filling first round of grilled meat here into a second round elsewhere is really convenient! For anyone wanting to unwind after work with good food, or looking for a spot near Bukgu-cheong Station for a group gathering or work dinner with a variety of menu options, I highly recommend Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan Gui Goseong Branch. Everyone, go treat yourselves to good meat and a cold beer 💛