Seogwipo pork BBQ dinner: black pork belly, neck and skin compared

When you visit Jeju Island, you have to eat black pork at least once, right? I was staying at Jeju Shinhwa World, and when I got hungry and started looking around for something to eat, I found Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon, a Seogwipo black pork specialty restaurant nearby. Today I'll walk through everything for anyone looking for Seogwipo black pork — location, interior vibe, menu, and how the pork actually tasted!

Where is Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon, and how do parking and pickup work?

Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon Shinhwa World Branch is near Sinnammot Reservoir, about a 7-10 minute drive from Jeju Shinhwa World. We also started from Shinhwa World, and since it wasn't far, getting there for dinner was easy. There's parking for about 7-8 cars in front of the restaurant, and Shinhwa World guests can get pickup and drop-off service too, which I'd recommend if you're planning to drink.

Inside Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon: round grill tables seating up to 70

Inside Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon there are round charcoal tables. I liked that both the tables and the whole space were kept neat and tidy. Apparently you can push the round tables together for up to 70 seats total. It looked like a good fit not just for couples or family meals but also for group trips with several people.

Menu and prices: 600g of black pork for 66,000 won

We ordered 600g of black pork for 66,000 won, kimchi stew for 9,000 won, and cucumber glass noodle salad for 8,000 won. You can order both black pork and white pork here. They also have raw galbi (short rib), and even pork cutlet for kids, which I liked. For meals, there were menu items that pair well with the meat, like stew, makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) and ramyeon.

The side dishes that came with the meal were varied and paired really well with the meat. Kimchi, pickled onion, perilla leaves, shredded scallion, and pickled radish — alternating between the meat and these sides, you barely notice how much you're eating before it's all gone!

The cucumber glass noodle salad is tangy and pairs well with the rich meat. It felt like eating jjolmyeon (chewy noodles) — the noodles were chewy, and the cucumber gave it a nice crunch.

The thick-cut black pork came out as belly and neck cuts, and it looked so good! The owner takes the meat and grills it for you personally, so there's no worry about the grill smell soaking into your clothes — you just wait and eat comfortably. They clearly care about freshness, using domestic ingredients and carefully selected meat, which was reassuring.

How the black pork tastes: neck vs belly vs grilled skin

I was worried the neck at Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon might be dry given how thick it was cut, but it was moist and so tender. The first bite dipped in salt let the natural flavor shine through, clean and good!

You can feel the grain of the meat and the chew is satisfying, with a deep, clean richness. It's even better wrapped with fresh lettuce.

The belly had a good balance of fat and lean meat, moist and tender. Biting into it, the juices were packed in and the savory flavor unique to Jeju black pork came through strongly — so good!

Dipping the meat in maeljeot (fermented anchovy sauce) with cheongyang chili on top cut through the richness nicely. Wrapped in lettuce with scallion and garlic, the spicy kick and crunchy texture worked so well together that I couldn't stop eating!

The skin was wonderfully chewy, a whole different appeal. If juicy tenderness is the belly, and savory bite is the neck, then chewy texture is the skin. If you're deciding on black pork near Jeju Shinhwa World, I'd recommend Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon.

Kimchi stew for 9,000 won, rice included

Eating black pork nonstop can get greasy, and that's when the spicy, punchy broth of the kimchi stew cleaned up my palate. The stew was packed with kimchi and meat, so there was fun in fishing out all the good bits too!

Taking a spoonful of broth between bites of meat, it was delicious right to the last bite — a total rice thief. The kimchi stew comes with rice included, so there's no need to order extra.

Verdict: a dinner pick while staying at Jeju Shinhwa World

Today I introduced Heukdonsibaekdonmyeon, a black pork specialty restaurant and one of the good Jeju Shinhwa World restaurants. From the black pork to the kimchi stew, everything was so tasty and filling — I'd recommend it. It's about 7-10 minutes by car from Shinhwa World, and parking is convenient too, so if you're staying there and unsure what to have for dinner, give it a try. (Pickup is available if driving isn't an option.)

• Hours 11:30 - 22:30, last order 21:10
• Closed every Tuesday
• Parking for 7-8 cars in front of the restaurant
• Pickup available from Jeju Shinhwa World