Namyangju creekside Korean BBQ and giant potato pancake: 2002 Witch's Arpeggio

A Namyangju creekside outdoor table after a Catchtable wait

2002 Witch's Arpeggio is in Wabu-eup, Namyangju!! We heard the wait could be seriously long, so we zoomed over for the 5 p.m. opening! Traffic meant we looked likely to arrive around 5:20 p.m.ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Reviews said that if you miss the opening rush, you go straight into the queue, so I made a Catchtable reservation! If you cannot make it by 5, definitely reserve through Catchtable. Luckily, turnover was really fast, and we got in around 5:45 p.m.

We arrived! As expected of such a hot spot, there was a sign explaining entry and waiting!!

Thanks to booking Catchtable in advance, we got in without waiting too long, haha. And right beside the outdoor seating, the creek trickles along~~ Even though it is near Seoul, it felt like we had come away on a trip, and I loved it!!!!! Such a shame we drove and could not drink ㅠㅠㅠ

Ordering tomato-marinated pork belly and potato pancake

Ordering is easy through the kiosk at the table! We ordered two servings of tomato-marinated pork belly, added cheese, and got a potato pancake!

Write a review and you get cauldron pollock-roe fried rice for free!!

Not long after, the tomato-marinated pork belly arrived! They say it is a real tomato marinade—no gochujang (Korean red chili paste) at all!! What surprised me was the absolutely enormous portion! Hahaha, that is two servings, everyone.. It looked like more than roughly 500 g.

The table spread was incredibly generous too! The buckwheat pancake for wrapping with the pork was so memorable—I had never seen it before! And with vegetable prices so high these days, there were loads of different lettuce leaves too, haha. I was hungry, so I tried the japchae (glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables), and wow—I was shocked by how good it was! I do not usually remember the japchae served with a table setting being tasty, but this was sweet, savory, and so good!!

The giant potato pancake you have to order

While the meat cooked, of course we had to eat the potato pancake!!! I was completely shocked by its size: it came out absolutely huge, about the size of a large pizza! Hahahahahaha

We cut it with scissors and took a bite, and honestly... I was shocked at how delicious it was. The potato flavor was 100 percent alive, and it was so chewy! Literally crisp outside and chewy inside.. Can you not feel that chewiness even in the photo!!! Bambi and I ate it with our eyes wide open, hahaha. Everyone, you absolutely have to get the potato pancake!!!!!! Dip it in the soy sauce with the onions that come alongside it, and this place is heaven.

Cheesy tomato-marinated pork belly grilled by the staff

While we were marveling at the potato pancake, the pork was slowly cooking!!! A staff member came over and grilled it for us! Once it was partly cooked, they gave it a big burst of flame for that proper fire-kissed flavor.

Once the pork had cooked a little more, they covered it in a warm cheese blanket, hahahahaha. What a dreamy sight...!!! The wait for the meat suddenly felt so long ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

The pork belly was finally ready!!

Everyone, seriously.. I was shocked because it was so delicious. The meat was unbelievably tender.. The collagen in the fatty part, especially, cooked up so deliciously???!?!? It was grilled almost like braised pork, simmered deeply in the tomato marinade, and the texture was just incredible!!!!!! When I told the owner how good it was, they said the pork is aged for 48 hours, which makes it even more tender!

Pile bean sprouts on the pork, cover it with cheese, and take a huge bite—this place is heaven.

I also wrapped some in the buckwheat pancake. That had a different, special flavor too! The nutty buckwheat came through, and it was so good!

It was so good that we absolutely demolished it! Hahahahahaha It was not a flavor I was used to: sweet, savory, and spicy, all at once—just the best. Bambi and I had our faces practically in the food, hahaha. Famous places really are famous for a reason!

There were also lots of these cute, fresh tomatoes inside the restaurant, haha.

Relaxing in the creek in front of the restaurant after eating

After the two of us ate until we were bursting, we headed to the creek, haha. There is a creek right in front of the restaurant, so it would be a great place to wait too! We soaked our feet in the cool water and patted our full bellies.

Bambi was over the moon to be at the creek, hahahahaha. I cannot believe there is a place near Seoul where you can enjoy a creek and eat pork belly this delicious ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I think I will stop by every time I am near Namyangju from now on!!!! I especially recommend it for anyone with little kids. Watching the creek water trickle by, we happily wrapped things up. If you are looking for a Namyangju date spot, a Namyangju creek restaurant, or an amazing restaurant near Seoul, I totally, totally recommend 2002 Witch's Arpeggio. This has been a story full of fan love, haha.