Hwaseong butcher restaurant dinner with soft pork: Morakmorak

Morakmorak in Hwaseong: location and dinner parking

We visited in the evening, and the restaurant had a roomy parking area out front for more than 10 cars, which was so convenient. Even though the lot was quite large, it was already packed with cars, so I could sense this place had a real presence before we even went in.

Once inside, the space was very large and comfortable. It was around 6 PM, still a little early for dinner, but there were already customers there. All the side seats along the wall were reserved.

There were also well-appointed private areas, perfect for families coming together or friends who want to relax in their own space.

The lunch offering here also looks incredibly generous. They say fried eggs and ramen noodles are unlimited, while dessert ice cream, hot tea, and Americano come as basic service. I definitely need to come back for lunch sometime.

What were the self-service bar and table setting like?

After sitting down and checking the kiosk, I saw they were also running an event that gives you ice cream for writing a Naver review. It would be just right as a cool dessert after the meal, wouldn’t it? The kiosk also listed rice, pot-cooked rice, steamed egg, naengmyeon (cold noodles), and a range of alcoholic drinks. I thought people who enjoy a drink would really love it.

The table was set, and the lineup of side dishes was beyond what I expected.

• Fresh yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) included in the basic setting
• Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) simmered in the center of the grill
• Clean, refreshing muksabal (acorn jelly soup)

In particular, the flavorful shredded scallion salad was so good that my younger sibling finished an entire bowl.

Even the small plates came in special dishes holding ssamjang, salt, and wasabi all together, so it felt neat and rather well looked after.

They also served a more premium water rather than the usual bottled water restaurants provide, which showed the thoughtful attention to detail.

I also looked around the self-service bar, and it was kept hygienically clean. There was plenty to choose from, from bracken fern to grill to several kinds of kimchi and pickled radish wraps. Unusually, there was even a corner where you could make your own tacos, which was so interesting.

On one side, they had even prepared pots and gas burners so you could cook ramen yourself.

Choosing your own meat, then enjoying it pre-grilled

This is a butcher restaurant, so you look over the fresh meat display and choose the meat yourself. When I headed to the meat corner, my jaw dropped at the sheer variety.

• Premium Korean beef selections including ribeye, brisket, striploin, and chuck flap
• Great-value Korean pork selections including pork belly, pork neck, and skirt meat

Chuseok holiday gift sets were also displayed, and their generous contents made them look excellent for gifting. After some deliberation, we decided to try pork belly and pork neck. Being able to check the quality ourselves and take the meat over made it feel even more trustworthy.

Once you hand over your selections, they pre-grill them first, then a staff member quickly slices them right in front of you. Their knife skills were truly something else, so it was fun to watch.

Crisp outside, tender inside: pork belly and pork neck

The pre-grilled meat came out and was placed straight onto the hot grill.

From the moment it hit the heat, I could tell the meat itself was wonderfully soft and tender. Since the outside had already been lightly cooked, it finished much faster on the grill, which I loved.

I took a bite of the beautifully browned pork belly, and honestly, I was impressed.

It was clean-tasting without being greasy, yet deeply savory and nutty. It was tender and delicious enough to rank in my top three pork belly meals ever. Wrapped with lightly grilled kimchi, the combination was incredible.

The steamed egg we ordered separately surprised me with how deep the earthenware bowl was. The portion was much more generous than at other restaurants, and it was fluffy and absolutely delicious.

The doenjang-jjigae bubbling away in the middle of the grill was packed with ingredients and perfectly seasoned, so I simply couldn’t put my spoon down.

Next, we grilled the pork neck. It was even softer and more tender than the pork belly, going down beautifully. If the value line is this good, I can’t help looking forward to how delicious cuts like ribeye or chuck flap might be on my next visit.

If you are looking for a Hwaseong City Hall-area meat restaurant with a generous spread and kind service, I wholeheartedly recommend stopping by.