Cheonan Buldang-dong BBQ: self-made fried rice at Teolbo Samchon Jip

I've been going to Cheonan and Asan a lot lately, and every time I'm on my way there or back I find myself searching hard for a truly good restaurant. That's how I ended up at Teolbo Samchon Jip in Bulmyeong-dong, Cheonan — a place already famous around here as a Bulmyeong-dong hotspot with a loyal regular crowd. I went in with high expectations, and I had such a great time that I have to share the review!

Teolbo Samchon Jip Main Branch: hours and parking in Buldang-dong

Teolbo Samchon Jip Main Branch is open weekdays from 16:00 to 24:00, and weekends from 12:00 to 24:00. There's building parking, and both reservations and group bookings are possible.

• Hours: Weekdays 16:00–24:00 / Weekends 12:00–24:00
• Also: Building parking, reservations, group bookings available

Parking was easy — you can pull straight into the building's parking lot!

I visited late in the evening and the place was already packed with customers! It gave off serious hotspot energy right away ˖ ࣪ ★ The tables were also spaced generously apart, making it a really comfortable environment for eating and chatting.

What comes in the signature Deodeok Han-sang set?

Once we sat down, there was no need to think twice — we ordered the restaurant's best signature menu, Deodeok Han-sang. Just looking at the menu, I instantly understood why it's called the best value set in Bulmyeong-dong. Haha.

The Deodeok Han-sang set comes generously loaded with thick-cut pork belly and special neck cut totaling 510g, sweet-and-spicy seasoned grilled deodeok (bellflower root), and fresh minari (water parsley) bursting with fragrance — all served together.

First, the thick pork belly and special neck cut were grilled sizzling and delicious on the well-heated grill.

Just as the savory fat started flowing out, they grilled the seasoned deodeok alongside it in that golden fat, and the harmony of these three ingredients was absolutely incredible.

The savory, chewy juiciness of the pork belly, the crunchy texture of the spicy deodeok, and the fresh, refreshing scent of the minari all came together in my mouth, cutting through the richness of the meat completely — I couldn't stop eating!!

With every bite, the juices and flavor just burst out — genuinely delicious!! I kept exclaiming over it and devoured everything in a storm. The meat quality itself was so good, with zero off-flavor and a savory taste that got better with every chew.

The kimchi and bean sprouts grilled alongside were so good too... 🤤 Looking at the photos while writing this, I want to eat it all again!!!

Adding pork jowl and kkodeul-sal: how the cuts compare

Having lit the fire with the Deodeok Han-sang, so to speak, we didn't stop there — we went ahead and ordered pork jowl (hangjeongsal) and kkodeul-sal (chewy pork cartilage cut) on top. The pork jowl had that distinctive slightly firm, tender texture with bursts of savory fat, and was so delicious, while the kkodeul-sal, ordered as something special, lived up to its name with a chewy, springy texture that got more addictive the more you chewed.

Each cut had a noticeably different texture and flavor, so comparing them one by one as we ate was a lot of fun. Haha. And of course, no meat meal is complete without the highlight: fried rice!

How does self-made fried rice at Teolbo Samchon Jip work?

At Teolbo Samchon Jip, the fried rice is run as "self-fried rice," which turned out to be a hidden fun element and a huge perk unique to this place (the self-bar was also really clean and tidy).

If you order plain rice separately, you can go to the self-bar set up on one side of the restaurant and take as much well-fermented kimchi, gochujang, savory sesame oil, and roasted seaweed flakes as you like, then fry it all up on the grill exactly to your own taste!

We added kimchi and rice into the savory meat fat still left on the grill, drizzled on plenty of gochujang and sesame oil, and stir-fried it — and just the smell alone was already incredible. We pressed it down until a little crust of nurungji (scorched rice) formed on the bottom of the grill, then scooped up a big spoonful, and let me tell you, familiar flavors hit hardest — it was pure happiness in every bite. Getting to mix the ingredients however I wanted made it perfect right to the last mouthful!

Is Teolbo Samchon Jip a good group dinner spot in Buldang-dong, Cheonan?

On the way out after a delicious meal, I couldn't skip the free ice cream — one per person! Cool and sweet, it was the perfect way to cleanse the palate and end the meal on a happy note. ᡣ𐭩

With excellent meat quality, insanely good value, and the fun of making your own self-fried rice, Teolbo Samchon Jip in Bulmyeong-dong has it all covered! If you want to experience the fantastic trio of hearty, delicious pork belly with deodeok and minari, I highly recommend giving it a visit.

With plenty of parking and a spacious interior, I'd also strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a group dinner spot. And best of all, the prices are so reasonable 😚 our meeting budgets matter too, right~~~ haha. I'm planning to visit Teolbo Samchon Jip again soon to enjoy that chewy, delicious pork belly and pork jowl once more!