Korean BBQ in Sinjungdong vs its Jongno original: potato slices, Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Sinjungdong vs the Jongno flagship: how does it compare?

Cham Dwaejitgan (참돼짓간) Bucheon Sinjung-dong Branch is a Jirisan black pork and Boseong pork Korean BBQ place that followed the Jongno flagship into Sinjungdong, Bucheon. These days the quality at most BBQ restaurants has leveled up, but the Jongno pork belly place I really loved was Cham Dwaejitgan. When I saw the Sinjungdong branch open to take on Bucheon's pork belly scene, I went to check it out.

Conclusion first: the Bucheon branch has it all, from a clean, spacious, comfortable dining room to staff who grill for you and great meat quality. I get now why they expanded from the Jongno flagship to Sinjungdong. I was really happy here, so here comes my honest review!

Cham Dwaejitgan Bucheon Sinjungdong: hours, location and parking

The restaurant is open 24 hours, every day, with a break from 08:30 to 11:30. The address is 68 Jungdong-ro 262beon-gil, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor).

It's about a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinjungdong Station, on the Lotte Department Store side. It's in the alley between McDonald's and KFC, so it wasn't hard to find even on a first visit. The place is big and comfortable, so I imagine lots of people come for family meals and big company dinners.

Parking isn't available, so keep that in mind.

Black-toned interior with roomy table spacing

The whole restaurant was spacious and clean. The interior is sleek in black tones, and it felt more like a premium restaurant than a noisy BBQ joint. The tables are big with generous spacing, so it's easy to chat comfortably, which works for company dinners, family meals or meeting friends. Best of all, the ceiling ventilation ducts work well, so even at a grill table it felt less stuffy.

Self-serve bar and free extras

From the self-bar to all the free services, you can really feel the owner's care.

• Kids' tableware
• Candy for dessert
• Disposable aprons
• Plastic bags for your clothes
• Wi-Fi
• Dental floss, toothpicks and mouthwash
• Deodorizer spray
• Free phone charging
• Glasses wipes and hair ties

Cham Dwaejitgan menu and review event

Jirisan black pork and Boseong nokdon pork are the signature menu here. I'd loved the black pork in Jongno last time, so this time I ordered pork belly too. I also added steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) for some filling protein.

If you post a Naver review and an Instagram story, you get one free canned drink or fried rice.

Which side dishes can you grill with the pork at Cham Dwaejitgan?

What I like most, at both the Jongno flagship and the Sinjungdong branch, is the side dish lineup. You get minari, bean sprouts, kimchi, garlic, cabbage salad, scallion salad, garlic stems, chili peppers, mushrooms and potato slices as standard, all ready to grill right with the pork belly.

The sauces were great too: ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), spicy sauce, mushroom wasabi, salt and wasabi, so you don't have to eat it just one way. My younger sibling barely touches pork belly without stir-fried kimchi, and here the kimchi, bean sprouts and minari are all free, so the value felt even better!!

Jirisan black pork ogyeopsal: how does it taste grilled by staff?

The first dish out was the Jirisan black pork ogyeopsal. The tables are big and a staff member grills for you, which made it even more comfortable. They started grilling it together with tempting kimchi, bean sprouts and minari.

And if you order alcohol, you even get milk thistle, a liver supplement, a thoughtful touch!! When I chatted with the owner in Jongno, I felt both passion and warmth, and that same feeling was right here too.

Not just kimchi and bean sprouts but fragrant minari too: wrapped together in a lettuce wrap, they turn the heavy fat of the black pork ogyeopsal clean and fresh. You can taste the meat itself, but there was another reason I love Cham Dwaejitgan.

Why I love Cham Dwaejitgan: the grilled potato slices

Potato slices!!!! I worried they might be too heavy, but they add texture between bites of meat, plus the potato's natural sweetness made it even more satisfying. Honestly, people seek this place out as a Bucheon pork belly spot not just because the meat is good, but because the whole combination works.

How were the Boseong pork belly and steamed egg?

The Boseong nokdon pork belly had a slightly firmer bite than the ogyeopsal, with a nice springiness. Because the staff grill it, it comes out slightly crisp outside with juices left inside, so it tasted even better. If you're looking for Bucheon pork belly, do visit Cham Dwaejitgan once. One note: among the free-refill sides, minari is excluded!!

The steamed egg was moderately soft and also had a bit of spring. Moist but not too wobbly, it was a great side to eat alongside the meat.

Cham Dwaejitgan Bucheon Sinjungdong Branch: final verdict

Cham Dwaejitgan Bucheon is a solid Sinjungdong spot with good meat texture and great pairings. Above all, the place is clean and spacious, ideal for group gatherings, and since the staff grill for you there's nothing to fuss over. On top of that, you can eat quality meat with a variety of sides and sauces.

If you're looking for a Bucheon pork belly spot or a BBQ place for a Sinjungdong company dinner, give it a visit. On the days I really want proper pork belly, this is where I'll come back in Bucheon.