Third visit for pork belly, ₩2,000 stew at Jeonju House, Yuseong

Whenever I crave pork belly in Yuseong, Daejeon, one place always comes to mind: Jeonju House (전주하우스).

This visit was already my third. It's not easy to keep going back to a place even after one good meal, but Jeonju House is somewhere I keep craving — the meat and the kimchi in particular. I especially loved the combination of pork belly grilled on the cast-iron lid with aged kimchi.

Jeonju House location, hours, and parking

• Address: 36 Oncheon-ro101beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea, 1st floor
• Hours: 09:00 - 22:20
• Last order: 21:20
• Closed: Closed on major Korean holidays
• Parking: White-line parking available in front of the restaurant

There was space to park right in front of the restaurant.

Why I came back for a third time

The reason I've visited Jeonju House three times is that the fundamentals were solid. When you're looking for pork belly in Yuseong, Daejeon, the condition of the meat and the side dishes both matter. Jeonju House delivered on both fronts. The exterior had a homey feel, with earthenware jars placed around it giving it a traditional atmosphere.

Inside, the space was spacious and spread across two floors.

Cast-iron-lid fresh pork belly — how was the meat?

This time again I ordered the fresh pork belly.

When the meat arrived, the thickness alone looked appetizing.

The ratio of lean meat to fat suited my taste well. Once it went on the cast-iron lid, the fat rendered out naturally.

The surface browned nicely and a savory aroma started rising. If you're after pork belly in Yuseong, Daejeon, the quality of the meat matters a lot.

Even across three visits, I never felt let down by the meat. One of the reasons I love Jeonju House is the kimchi.

Domestic kimchi and grilled aged kimchi

The kimchi is domestic, so it tasted great even on its own.

The seasoning paired well with the meat too. Notably, the kimchi grilled here is aged kimchi (묵은지). After the pork belly rendered its fat, the aged kimchi was placed on top and grilled with it. Soaking up the fat, it browned beautifully. Its tangy, savory flavor went perfectly with the pork belly. Honestly, I looked forward to the grilled aged kimchi almost as much as the meat. If you care about the kimchi as much as the pork belly when looking for a restaurant in Yuseong, Daejeon, this place will suit you well.

Basic banchan and the self-serve bar

The basic side dishes came in a good variety.

Anything running low could be topped up at the self-serve bar. Small plates and tongs were also available there.

The portions of banchan were generous from the start. They paired well with the meat throughout the meal, and I kept going back and forth between the two. This time I also ordered the doenjang stew.

₩2,000 doenjang stew — how big was it?

At ₩2,000, the portion was bigger than expected. Given the price, you might picture a tiny stew pot, but in reality it was substantial enough to share among several people. The flavor was savory with a bit of a kick. When I craved something soupy while eating the pork belly, this hit the spot perfectly. If you're visiting for pork belly in Yuseong, Daejeon, I'd recommend ordering the doenjang stew alongside it.

Cast-iron-lid fried rice — minari only in spring

After finishing the meat, I ordered the fried rice too. Fried rice cooked on the cast-iron lid is always a special treat. On a previous visit, the fried rice came with minari (water dropwort) mixed in, so I was expecting it again this time. But this time there was no minari. When I asked a staff member, they told me minari is only added in spring. It seems the recipe changes with the seasons.

Wrapping up the third visit

Even on this third visit, I was still satisfied. The fresh pork belly was good quality, and grilling it on the cast-iron lid brought out even more of its savory flavor. The domestic kimchi was delicious, and grilling the aged kimchi alongside the pork belly made for an especially good pairing. The ₩2,000 doenjang stew was generous in portion too. Finishing with the fried rice made for a hearty, satisfying meal.

If you're looking for pork belly in Yuseong, Daejeon, this place is worth a visit. Since this was already my third time, I suppose the fact that I keep returning is review enough. I'm sure I'll be back the next time I crave pork belly.