Korean BBQ with a kids' playroom in Hyeonpung, Daegu: Galbijeong

I went to Hyeonpung with my kids a while back and we were looking for somewhere to have dinner. I searched for good restaurants in Hyeonpung and found the perfect spot. It's right next to the Daegu National Science Museum, so it's a great location to visit after the kids have had fun playing at the science museum on a weekend. Let me tell you about my visit to Galbijeong, a well-known restaurant in Hyeonpung, with its grilling service, various events, playroom and parking.

Galbijeong in Hyeonpung: location, hours and free parking

Galbijeong is on the 2nd floor of a building at 110 Techno-sangeop-ro, Yuga-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, South Korea. It's open daily from 11:30 to 22:30 (last order 21:40), with a weekday break time from 14:30 to 16:30 — no break time on weekends or holidays. Open year-round, no days off!

Parking: come down to the underground parking lot entrance next to Smile Kkwabaegi in the building for convenient free parking.

I really appreciated the sign that said "focus on time with your family." Honestly, taking kids to a barbecue restaurant usually means you're too busy grilling and watching the kids to actually eat properly. I walked in already looking forward to it.

The free side dishes: yukjeon and seasoned raw crab

After we sat down and ordered through the tablet, the basic side dishes arrived. Appetite-whetting yukjeon (beef pancake) and seasoned crab came as standard side dishes, along with minced garlic and minced scallion sauce that go well with the meat.

Yukjeon and seasoned crab as basic side dishes — perfect for nibbling on while the meat cooks.

Ordering raw pork belly, pork neck and pork ribs all at once

Since our family loves raw pork belly, pork neck and pork ribs, we ordered all three to try a bit of everything.

Galbijeong says it only uses premium domestic Korean pork, drawing on more than 10 years of experience studying ribs.

The raw pork belly and pork neck grilled up crispy outside and juicy inside, the fat bursting with savory flavor, and it came with bracken fern to grill alongside — delicious.

The pork ribs had a seasoning that let the natural flavor of the meat shine through — perfect as a side dish for the kids' rice.

Grilling service: staff cook the meat from start to finish

As soon as the meat arrived, a staff member kindly put it on the grill and cooked it with care from start to finish, at just the right timing.

The subtle aroma of charcoal made everything taste even better, and my husband and I could focus on actually enjoying the meal while looking after the kids, instead of being stuck grilling the whole time.

Thinly sliced potatoes grilled in a bowl with garlic stems and garlic didn't burn, and picked up a subtle garlic aroma — crispy and delicious. We also made sure to properly pick apart the bone-in ribs at the end.

Pork skin, naengmyeon and kimchi jjigae to finish

The naengmyeon (cold noodles) was delicious, and we also tried the pork skin — its signature chewy texture was intact and the seasoning had soaked in well, so dipping it in soybean powder was a thumbs-up moment!

The kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) was genuinely excellent too. The meat was tender, the broth was rich and savory, and even though we were already full, we finished the whole pot with rice.

How Galbijeong looks after kids, and what's in the playroom

This was something I really appreciated while eating — seeing our kids, the staff brought over some seaweed and yogurt for them without being asked. That kind of thoughtfulness! No wonder this place is so popular as one of the best restaurants in Hyeonpung.

A barbecue restaurant with a playroom is a rare find. Telling the kids they can play in the playroom before the meat is grilled, or after finishing their rice, actually makes them eat better.

Can Galbijeong host family or group gatherings?

Galbijeong has a VIP room, so it's also great for group visits. They said the room can be booked for all kinds of group gatherings — family get-togethers, work dinners, first birthday parties (doljanchi), birthday parties, club meetings and more.

It can seat up to 80 people, has a playroom ready, and since staff grill all the meat for you, you can relax and enjoy the meal during a gathering. Baby chairs are also provided. If you're planning a group event, it's worth contacting the restaurant directly.

Birthday, multi-child and pregnancy perks at Galbijeong

While we were eating, I glanced at the tablet screen and saw a whole range of event perks.

• Birthday event: visit on or the day before your birthday, show ID, and get a free bottle of wine!
• Multi-child & pregnancy service: families with 3 or more children, or pregnant guests, get a grilled cheese service!
• Naver review perk: get grilled cheese or grilled fish cake service!

Since we're a multi-child family, we got the grilled cheese service.

The vegetable self-bar and potatoes grilled on the table

On one side there was a neatly set-up vegetable self-bar. The vegetables were kept really fresh, and it was nice being able to take as much as you needed.

The kids said the grilled potatoes were delicious, so we went back for refills and grilled some more.

We will repay you with a true, upright and kind heart, free of deceit, as a person rightly should.

You could feel genuine dedication to the meat throughout the restaurant, and a real willingness to give generously to customers.

The staff were genuinely kind, the underground parking was convenient, and with the room, playroom and fresh self-bar all well set up, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a good barbecue restaurant or a family gathering spot in the Techno Polis area — I think you'll be satisfied!