Daytime Korean BBQ in Gwangalli, Busan: pork loin cap at Donbegi

Why we came to Donbegi for daytime BBQ on a rainy day in Gwangalli

Donbegi Gwang-an Branch (돈베기 광안점) is an aged pork BBQ restaurant in Gwangalli that opens at noon with no break time. We left work early and met up in Gwangalli, and honestly we had planned to drink in the daytime with an ocean view. But the sky was gray and the rain started, so we just decided to find some really good meat, and we stumbled on this place. Total jackpot! It was so delicious, this Gwangalli BBQ spot, Donbegi.

Where is Donbegi Gwang-an Branch, and where do you park?

Donbegi Gwang-an Branch sits a little past Gwangalli Beach, in the middle of the Millak alleys, which are full of quietly hidden good restaurants. For parking, use the Centum Premo lot right across from the restaurant, and they register your plate when you leave, so getting out was quick and easy! Parking in Gwangalli is kind of hell, so this was really convenient.

The place is big, spread over two floors, very spacious, and the exterior looked stylish too. It runs from 12:00 with no break time, so daytime meat is totally doable!

Seating at Donbegi Gwang-an Branch: floor 1 hall and floor 2 rooms

Floor 1 is the hall and floor 2 is rooms, so when you walk in the staff ask "Where would you like to sit?" It was 4 pm and still quiet, so we decided on floor 1. The pentagonal table that matches the grill makes you really want to sit down, haha.

There are regular square tables too, so you can sit wherever you like.

Looking for a BBQ place with private rooms in Gwangalli? Donbegi's floor 2

I was curious, so I went up to scout floor 2, and it's all rooms, totally private. Some rooms already had guests eating meat, and with the rooms it looked great for a quiet gathering or a company dinner. I peeked into an empty room: it fit up to 6 people and felt calm and upscale.

Donbegi menu: from pork omakase to sets and single items

The Donbegi Gwang-an Branch menu has everything from a pork omakase (chef's-choice course) to lots of different set combinations, so we studied it for a good while. Single items are available too, and the meal dishes are solid as well.

What the three of us ordered

• 600g set ₩57,500 (French rack 400g + pork neck 200g)
• Chamisul soju ₩5,000
• Cass beer ₩5,000
• Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) ₩5,500
• Steamed rice ₩1,000

I thought the Donbegi grill was really unusual: it also works as a raised-level table. The side dishes are arranged all around it, and that actually made eating easier.

Donbegi side dishes and sauces

The side dishes at Donbegi Gwang-an Branch go perfectly with meat. First comes a refreshing bean sprout soup.

The pajeori (spring onion salad) was loaded with dressing, and the tangy, spicy seasoning was delicious.

Gungchae (stem lettuce) salad, kelp, seasoned radish, plus ssamjang (dipping paste) and rinsed kimchi.

The pickled chili strips were so good.

Pollock roe garlic oil dip! The moment my friend, a true food connoisseur, saw this, she was already planning to order rice and make bibimbap, haha.

The sauces in the three-section dish come one per person: shiitake wasabi, wasabi and pink salt. When they brought the side dishes, the staff told us we can use the self-service corner if we run short.

The 600g set: French rack 400g + pork neck 200g

Donbegi's 600g set comes with bone-in French rack, thick pork neck and sliced sirloin cap meat (deotsal), with mushrooms, shishito peppers and green onion on the side. They said they'd light the fire and start grilling once the grill heats up. Meat is best when someone else grills it, haha.

We ordered soju and beer and made somaek (soju-beer mix) right away.

How was the staff grilling service?

At Donbegi Gwang-an Branch, the staff grill in the order sirloin cap, French rack, then pork neck. They carefully pace the grilling to how fast you eat, but we wanted to dig in fast, so we asked them to grill everything together.

Our first time meeting sliced sirloin cap

I figured the thick meat would take a long time, but the sliced sirloin cap cooked super fast, perfect for a quick bite. Wow, I'd never met sirloin cap cut like this! It was light yet tender and nutty, melting in my mouth. Thicker than thin-sliced pork but thinner than regular cuts, and really appealing. One bite and I knew: this place is the real deal???

French rack, cooked only 80%

They said Donbegi's French rack is already aged, so it's best cooked only 80% of the way, and if you want it well done they'll grill it longer.

We're obedient, so we ate it at 80% as told, and wow, it's so thick yet melts in your mouth. So good! All three of us were thrilled!!

For a clean, light bite, go with pollock roe, garlic and wasabi. The bite of the shiitake wasabi and the spicy kick at the end, this is how meat should be eaten.

Meanwhile the pork neck landed lightly on the grill. The staff grilled quickly and precisely, and everyone was so kind that our satisfaction went way up!

Let's go with the shishito peppers and dried radish too. The meat is so good that it tastes great however you eat it.

Please don't let anyone find out that grilled green onion is delicious. I want it all to myself, haha.

Finishing with DIY doenjang rice and pollock roe bibimbap

For the meal, after agonizing over kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), we ended up choosing doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew, ₩5,500). After meat, doenjang jjigae is the most classic combination!

They thoughtfully set it right on the grill, so it was piping hot with deep savory flavor, like gukbap (rice soup), haha.

I tasted the broth first, then dropped the rice in right away. It feels like curing a hangover while you're still drinking. You absolutely have to make it into DIY doenjang rice soup!

We ordered one more rice and made pollock roe bibimbap with the pollock roe garlic oil too. Tender aged pork and a hearty meal, we ate really well again today.

Donbegi Gwang-an Branch: overall verdict

The combination of staff grilling and tender meat said to be aged for 480 hours hits you the moment you try it. I'd absolutely recommend it as a Gwangalli BBQ spot.