Dangha-dong BBQ with mom and sister: stew on nurungji, Dwitgolmok

How was Dwitgolmok Ddotgalbi Geomdan Main Branch for a weekday family dinner?

I went to Dwitgolmok Ddotgalbi Geomdan Main Branch (뒷골목 돗갈비 검단 본점) on a weekday evening with my mom and younger sister, and the short version is: total success. All three of us would get up in our sleep for meat, so we agonized over where to go and ended up choosing this place, which has been getting buzz in Seo-gu, Incheon as a Jeju pork spot. It was a rare evening when all our schedules lined up, so it felt cozy.

We arrived around 6 pm, and even on a weekday the place was already lively, full of the smell of good meat and plenty of customers. This was the restaurant picked by a fussy daughter in her 30s, and I was really satisfied!

Location and atmosphere

The restaurant is on the first floor at 1093-4 Dangha-dong, Incheon. It's in the Geomdan new town area, so access is good, and the sign stands out, so it was really easy to find.

Inside, the decor was clean and stylish. The tables are spaced widely, so it seems perfect for family gatherings or company dinners. Baby chairs and big tables are well provided, so I think it's popular not only with adult families like ours but also with groups bringing kids.

What kind of meat is the 1% Cheongjeong-area Jeju pork ribs?

The signature dish, the 1% Cheongjeong-area Jeju pork ribs (jeju dotgalbi), is ₩16,000 per serving, and we ordered 3 servings first. According to the restaurant, it is Jeju pork belly on the bone, the tastiest cut, aged with a method built on 10 years of know-how.

• Menu: 1% Cheongjeong-area Jeju pork ribs (₩16,000)
• Feature: bone-in Jeju pork belly, the tastiest cut, aged with a method built on 10 years of know-how

I hear the aged Jeju black pork ribs and the special cut of neck meat (teukmoksal) are the popular items here. The moment the meat arrived, my mom and sister and I all went "Wow~" at the thick cut and fresh rosy color. Pork belly on the bone — how could that not be good?

Do the staff grill the meat for you?

Yes! At Dwitgolmok the staff grill the thick ribs for you, so all you do is wait. When you eat meat, someone usually ends up stuck grilling and barely eats, right? No worries here! We just chatted comfortably and waited.

The staff grilled it golden brown with real expert flair, and their skill at keeping it crispy outside and juicy inside so the juices don't escape is no joke. I dipped a well-cooked piece of ribs into meljeot (salted anchovy sauce), and the flavor was so great it felt like sitting in front of the blue sea in Jeju. The chewy skin and the nutty lean meat went together beautifully.

Are the Jeju pork kimchi stew and nurungji worth ordering as sides?

The 1% Cheongjeong-area Jeju pork kimchi stew (₩8,000) and the earthenware pot nurungji (scorched rice, ₩5,000) were great sides to eat with the meat. Eating only meat felt like a waste, so we ordered a solid round of side dishes.

• 1% Cheongjeong-area Jeju pork kimchi stew (₩8,000): It was packed with Jeju pork, with no skimping. The broth was rich and spicy, cutting the greasiness of the meat perfectly.
• Earthenware pot nurungji (₩5,000): I ordered the nurungji my mom always likes, and it came out properly boiled, with a toasty aroma that spread through the restaurant.

Putting some kimchi stew ingredients on a spoonful of hot nurungji made me so happy, you know? My sister and I also happily ordered a bottle of soju to share, and with such good food to go with it, the drinks just kept going down smoothly.

Other side dishes and the service

There are other sides too, like meat noodles (gogi guksu) and seafood doenjang stew. We were too full to try them all, but seeing the next table eating the meat noodles, they looked so authentically Jeju that I decided we have to try them next time.

The staff were all so kind, and the banchan (side dishes) came out neat one by one, so I felt well taken care of. Mom said, "I finally had proper meat after a long time," and she was happy, so bringing her was worth it.

Verdict: would I recommend Dwitgolmok for a family dinner in Dangha-dong?

Dwitgolmok Ddotgalbi Geomdan Main Branch was a top-notch Dangha-dong, Incheon BBQ place where you can enjoy high-quality aged Jeju meat in a comfortable atmosphere. The texture of the thick ribs, the convenience of staff grilling, and the hearty sides left nothing lacking.

If you're looking for a special family dinner or a fun get-together with friends, I recommend it without hesitation. I'm planning to come back soon with a group of friends too! :)