Daejeon BBQ near Jungangno Station: pork bones with rice balls, Yeonam

Trying to decide what to eat for dinner near Jungangno Station in Daejeon, I ended up at Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang! I love spicy pork bone grill, so this time I had dinner at Yeonam, located in Daehung-dong, Daejeon. It was a weekday evening, but the place was packed with customers. We ordered the small charcoal-plate pork bone grill and rice balls. Here's how our hearty meal of spicy pork bones with rice balls went.

Where is Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang, and what are its hours?

• Address: 37-9 Jungang-ro 130beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon, South Korea, 1F and 2F
• 257m from Jungangno Station Exit 3
• Hours: daily 11:30–24:00 (last order 23:30)

Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang is located in Daehung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. It's a great spot for a dinner appointment near Jungangno Station or a meal after wandering around Eunhaeng-dong and Daehung-dong. The name itself tells you this place specializes in charcoal-grilled pork bones and gamjatang. What really caught my eye was that, unlike a typical gamjatang restaurant, they serve pork bones grilled with a charcoal aroma. If you're looking for a spicy dinner option near Jungangno Station in Daejeon, this place is worth checking out. The restaurant uses both the 1st and 2nd floors, so it seems good for groups too!

What is Yeonam like on a weekday evening?

The interior of Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang was clean but had a comfortable restaurant vibe — great for a casual dinner or drinks with friends. What impressed me most was how busy it was even on a weekday evening. Tables were full of diners, giving the whole place a lively atmosphere, and I noticed groups of friends and couples too. This would suit people who prefer eating good food in a bustling setting over a quiet restaurant. Since it can get crowded during peak dinner hours, I'd recommend going a bit earlier if you want a more relaxed visit :)

What we ordered at Yeonam and what it cost

• Charcoal-plate pork bone grill (small) ₩32,000
• Rice balls ₩5,000

This time we ordered the small charcoal-plate pork bone grill and rice balls. Yeonam has all kinds of menu items beyond pork bone grill, including gamjatang and pork bone hangover soup, but what I was most curious about this time was the pork bone grill with all that charcoal aroma. Since pork bone grill alone felt like it might not be quite enough, we also ordered rice balls.

How was the small charcoal-plate pork backbone grill?

Finally, the charcoal-plate pork bone grill we'd been waiting for arrived! The moment I saw the pork bones coated in that appetizing sauce, my appetite shot up. Unlike a typical gamjatang, where the bones sit in broth, pork bone grill lets you enjoy the flavor of the seasoning and meat much more directly.

And the complimentary sample cup of gamjatang broth that came out..!! Hot and comforting, so good.

As the name suggests, Yeonam's charcoal-plate pork bone grill is defined by its charcoal aroma and rich seasoning. Picking the meat off the bone, the savory taste of the meat combined with the umami of the sauce made me instantly want rice. The spicy yet savory seasoning was especially appealing. It wasn't just spicy for the sake of being spicy — you could really taste that distinct flavor where smoky char and seasoning come together.

Picking the meat off the bone piece by piece was fun too. Personally, I find this kind of pork bone grill tastes even better when you dip the picked meat into the sauce one more time. We ordered the small size, but with the rice balls added, it made for a satisfyingly hearty dinner. If you're in Daejeon looking for something different from gamjatang, I recommend the charcoal-plate pork bone grill :)

And of course, no way we could skip the drinks~~

Why order the rice balls with the spicy pork backbone?

The rice balls we ordered alongside the pork bone grill! I think rice balls are an essential side when eating spicy pork bone grill. They're bite-sized and easy to eat in between bites of pork bones. Especially after a bite of the richly seasoned pork bones, a bite of rice ball smoothly mellows out the spiciness — the combo really works.

I also recommend dipping the rice balls lightly in the pork bone sauce before eating! The spicy seasoning mixed with rice made for a combo I kept reaching for, bite after bite. The pork bone grill is delicious on its own, but adding rice balls made the whole meal even more satisfying. If you visit Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang, I recommend ordering rice balls alongside.

Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang isn't just a place to eat — it also suits dinner plans with friends or a drink or two. Spicy pork bone grill eaten with rice makes for a hearty dinner, and it also works well as an anju (drinking snack) with beer or soju. Anyone who likes richly seasoned pork bone grill should be quite satisfied here. Ordering rice balls alongside also lets you control the spice level while eating even more heartily, which was a nice touch.

Is Yeonam worth it for dinner in Daejeon?

Dinner near Jungangno Station in Daejeon at Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang! Even on a weekday evening it was lively with lots of customers, and the combo of charcoal-plate pork bone grill and rice balls was satisfying. The richly seasoned pork bones with that added charcoal aroma had a completely different charm from regular gamjatang. It tasted even better paired with rice balls, so next time I'd order this same combo again. Next time I'd also like to try the gamjatang or other menu items!