Korean BBQ near Seomyeon Station: Hanjae minari wilted on pork, Don J

What kind of pork BBQ restaurant is Don J Busan Seomyeon?

Don J Busan Seomyeon (돈제이 부산서면점) is a BBQ place near Seomyeon Station that grills minari (water dropwort) pork belly on a cauldron lid. While hunting for a good pork BBQ spot around Seomyeon Station, I found this place and the look of it got me so excited. Minari pork belly grilled on a cauldron lid? That's definitely a different breed from your average pork belly joint.

What are the exterior and atmosphere like?

With rows of earthenware jars on both sides of the entrance, Don J Busan Seomyeon looks like a countryside wooden platform hut and stands out right away in the Seomyeon alleys. The exterior felt different from the start. Jars line up on both sides of the door, and the straw, wood and plaster walls give off a rustic hut vibe. On a Seomyeon street full of neon signs, it really catches your eye.

Even late in the evening it was packed and customers kept coming in. The mood was so cozy and nice, and I liked that the place didn't smell heavily of meat.

What are the menu and prices at Don J Busan Seomyeon?

At Don J Busan Seomyeon, pork neck-belly, pork belly and pork neck are all 600g for ₩38,000, and extra meat is ₩13,000 per 200g. Picking up the analog-style menu, I found a really solid lineup. Distinctive sides like Hoengseong deodeok salad (deodeok is a bellflower-family root), Cheongdo Hanjae minari and the deodeok + minari set caught my eye. The meal menu was full of dishes with names and stories: bangatgan yeolmu naengmyeon (cold noodles with young radish), perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles), village doenjang stew, giant apple snail jjabaki ssamjang, Daepo-dong steamed egg, Mom's-hand fried rice and more.

We ordered on the tablet at the table: the pork neck-belly and the deodeok + minari set.

The cauldron lid on the table totally grabs your eye.

They brought soju and beer to the table stuck in a bucket packed with ice. That one scene really lifts the mood!

What banchan (side dishes) come with the meal?

Before the meat arrives, Don J Busan Seomyeon sets out sauces, side dishes, bracken and wrap vegetables all at once on a big round stainless steel tray. The spread was genuinely surprising. There were various sauces and sides, bracken too, and the wrap vegetables were very fresh.

Is the deodeok + minari set worth ordering?

The deodeok + minari set pairs Cheongdo Hanjae minari with spicy-sweet seasoned deodeok, a side that cuts the richness of pork belly. When the set I ordered separately arrived, my eyes lit up. The Cheongdo Hanjae minari, fresh in a red basket, had thick stems and a strong aroma, on a totally different level from the minari at ordinary supermarkets.

The deodeok salad came on a wooden plate, spicy-sweet and well seasoned. Eaten with pork belly, deodeok's signature bittersweet aroma cuts the greasiness of the meat, a superb match. This pairing is hard to find at other pork BBQ places around Seomyeon Station.

How was the quality of the meat?

The pork neck and pork belly at Don J Busan Seomyeon came side by side in a stainless steel bowl, with noticeably good thickness and marbling. The meat finally arrived! The mushroom in particular was branded with "Don J SINCE 1988" like a stamp, so you can tell it's a brand with a long history. The color of the meat looked vivid and fresh, which made me trust it.

How does the minari-on-the-lid grilling work?

At Don J Busan Seomyeon, a staff member grills the meat on a cast-iron cauldron lid, and once it's partly cooked, lays Cheongdo Hanjae minari on top to wilt it slightly. The moment the meat hit the iron, the sizzling started. The pork belly cooked with just the right amount of fat rendering out, while the pork neck grilled up thick, spreading a nutty aroma. Kimchi, bean sprouts and bracken grilled alongside, adding more fragrance.

The staff grilled everything with such care, so it was super easy for us. They even grilled salted shrimp off to one side, which was so unusual!

Once the meat is mostly cooked, the minari goes on top to wilt slightly, and the timing was just brilliant. The scent when the Cheongdo Hanjae minari heats up and releases its aroma was seriously amazing. The green makes it look much more lavish too. That whole spread filling the iron lid was one of the best-looking pork BBQ scenes around Seomyeon Station.

When I lifted a well-grilled slice of pork belly with the tongs, I could see the golden-brown outside and the juicy inside in the cross-section.

It goes well with salt and egg sauce too, and the juices just burst in your mouth.

Sauce and side combinations

Another charm of Don J Busan Seomyeon is the variety of sauces and accompaniments. Pair the meat with sides like minari, deodeok and bracken and it tastes even better.

They bring out tonkatsu sauce and breadcrumbs, and with a bit of magic the pork turns into high-quality tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) in no time.

Is bangatgan yeolmu naengmyeon a good way to finish the meal?

Bangatgan yeolmu naengmyeon, cold noodles in iced broth topped with a soft-boiled egg, chili and young radish greens, was just right for cleansing the palate after the meat. After a hearty meat feast, this was the closing dish. Ice floated in the broth, and the soft-boiled egg, chili and young radish greens on top looked so appetizing. One big gulp of the broth was cool and refreshing, wrapping up that evening neatly.

Don J Busan Seomyeon goes beyond a simple pork BBQ meal near Seomyeon Station; every ingredient has a story. Ingredients with clear origins, like Hoengseong deodeok, Cheongdo Hanjae minari and highland kimchi, coming together on the iron lid is not something you find easily. The vibe is rustic but warm, the side dishes are solid, and with 600g of meat it's filling enough to bring a big group. If you're looking for pork BBQ near Seomyeon Station, do stop by Don J Busan Seomyeon.