Uijeongbu pork belly and kimchi cheese fried rice: Cheonpo Hoegwan

Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch is a pork belly restaurant in Uijeongbu that grills minari (water celery) and kimchi right on the same pan as the meat. It's close to Uijeongbu Station, so it was easy to find.

Cheonpo Hoegwan, a well-known spot near Uijeongbu Station — here's how our minari pork belly meal went.

Close to Uijeongbu Station, we arrived right at opening

I was meeting a friend in Uijeongbu after a while, and while we were debating what to eat, she mentioned a place with great minari pork belly, so we headed to Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch. We arrived right at opening time so we could eat at a relaxed pace. The plan was to fill up here and then take the kids to play at Uijeongbu Shinsegae Department Store. Cheonpo Hoegwan is close to Uijeongbu Station too, so it was easy to get to. If you're looking for pork belly in Uijeongbu, this is a good one to know about.

(The menu board at Cheonpo Hoegwan, a well-known Uijeongbu pork belly spot)

2 servings of pork belly and stone-pot rice, with beef tartare among the sides

The first thing we ordered at Cheonpo Hoegwan was 2 servings of pork belly and stone-pot rice. The sides that came standard included doenjang dip, lettuce wraps, and even beef tartare.

We started with 2 servings of pork belly and stone-pot rice, and the kids ate so much better than expected that we ended up ordering a third serving. While waiting for the pork belly, we checked out the side dishes and were a little surprised to see doenjang dip, lettuce wraps, and even beef tartare included.

The stone-pot rice had an unusual color. Pour water into the pot and wait while you eat, and by the end you'll have tasty sungnyung (scorched rice tea).

Two dipping sauces: doenjang and garlic-scallion — but the doenjang isn't refillable

For dipping, they give you doenjang dip and a garlic-scallion sauce. (The doenjang dip isn't refillable.) Personally, I loved adding that doenjang dip to every wrap I made. It has bits of chili in it but wasn't spicy at all.

At this Uijeongbu meat restaurant, beef tartare comes as a standard side, which really woke up our appetite before the meat arrived. It's mixed with finely chopped minari too, so it had a fragrant, crisp bite.

Pork belly grilled together with minari and kimchi

Cheonpo Hoegwan is known in Uijeongbu for its minari pork belly. They grill the meat together with minari and kimchi on the same pan, and the savory smell as everything cooked was really good. The minari wilts slightly and turns fragrant, while the kimchi gets nicely browned — such a perfect combo with pork belly. A combination I'd recommend to anyone looking for good food near Uijeongbu Station.

Self-serve kimchi pancake corner

Cheonpo Hoegwan has a self-serve pancake corner where they give you the batter and you fry it yourself. It's a fun little touch — the self-serve pancake station. They set you up with the batter so you can fry your own pancake. At home I always end up with torn, messy pancakes, but somehow it turns out well here haha. I was pretty pleased watching our nicely shaped kimchi pancake come together.

A juicy, satisfying meal

The nicely grilled meat was delicious on its own. It had a good thickness with a satisfying bite, and with the minari and kimchi added, it felt less greasy, so I kept reaching for more. This must be why people looking for Uijeongbu pork belly seek out places that serve it with minari.

The wraps were especially amazing. I put kimchi in a lettuce leaf, added a piece of meat, then topped it with the doenjang dip — wow, so good. The savory meat, the tang of kimchi, the fragrant minari, and the mellow doenjang dip all together made for a rich, full bite. Definitely make a wrap when you visit this Uijeongbu meat restaurant.

The kids ate so well we added another serving

The kids came along that day and ate the meat so well. At first I thought 2 servings of pork belly would just be enough for the adults, but the kids ate more than expected, so we added a third serving. It's such a relief for a mom when the kids eat well. Everyone enjoyed the meal, and the kids eating happily made the whole atmosphere so much more relaxed. If you're looking for a family meal spot with kids in Uijeongbu, this place seems like a solid choice.

Finishing with kimchi cheese fried rice

The meal at Cheonpo Hoegwan wrapped up with kimchi cheese fried rice. With cheese and egg mixed in, it was soft and not too intense in flavor.

Even though we were already stuffed, you absolutely have to finish with the kimchi cheese fried rice 😁 If you're Korean, carbs at the end are basically mandatory.

Well-fermented kimchi and rice, topped with melted cheese, made for a savory, salty flavor that really hit the spot. It wasn't an intense or overpowering style. With the cheese and egg mixed in, the fried rice had a soft texture. You have to eat this too before you can call the meal properly, satisfyingly finished.

Recommended for family meals or group gatherings in Uijeongbu

Cheonpo Hoegwan, a pork belly restaurant in Uijeongbu that also serves great stone-pot rice, had plenty of table space and an overall comfortable atmosphere for dining. This meal was really filling from start to finish, and the combination of eating minari and kimchi together with the pork belly was a great pairing. If you're looking for a good pork belly restaurant near Uijeongbu Station, Cheonpo Hoegwan is worth considering.

Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch info

• Name: Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch
• Address: 21 Beomgol-ro 145beon-gil, 1st floor, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00
• Parking: Available in front of the restaurant