Korean BBQ near Siheung City Hall for a company dinner: Gongdan

A meat day near Siheung City Hall in Janghyeon-dong

The Janghyeon-dong area around Siheung City Hall has tidy streets and easy transport, so on weekday evenings and weekends it is full of people wrapping up the day with a hearty meal. The streets are packed with restaurants serving all kinds of menus, but nicely grilled meat and rich Korean dishes are the number one eating-out choice for just about everyone, young or old. I heard about a spot that has been gaining word of mouth among locals and office workers for good-quality meat and original specialty dishes, so I went to fill my belly. That place is Gongdan Gamjatang Samgyeopsal Siheung Main Branch (공단감자탕삼겹살 시흥본점), a well-loved restaurant near Siheung City Hall with a distinctive meat lineup and deeply savory dishes.

Good for a company dinner? Atmosphere and seating

Stepping inside Gongdan Gamjatang Samgyeopsal Siheung Main Branch, I was immediately struck by the open, airy space and the thoroughly clean interior. Tables are spaced generously so that groups, families or coworkers can eat in comfort, and we settled in easily.

The overall mood is calm yet friendly, and I thought it was an excellent place for a Siheung City Hall company dinner, chatting with colleagues and shaking off the day's fatigue. The menu covers a wide range of grilled main dishes through to filling meals, which felt reassuring just to look at. To try the signature items and a quirky specialty together, we ordered the meat platter, then added the rice-bowl spicy pork (gonggi jeyuk) and the fiery cold noodles (mot-ijeo bul-naengmyeon), and waited for the food with excitement.

800g meat platter: pork belly and back-leg-style pork

The meat platter here comes with 800g of pork belly (samgyeopsal) plus back-leg-style pork, a very generous amount. Soon after we ordered, neat side dishes and fresh vegetables were set out on the table. There was plenty of lettuce, perilla leaves and other wraps that looked as if they had just been picked from the field, which made eating together such fun and got my hopes up before the first bite. Then the main meat plate arrived beside the grill. When the thick, rosy cuts hit the hot grill, a nutty smoky aroma spread all around and made my mouth water.

I dipped a golden-brown piece in sesame oil dip (gireumjang) and tasted it. Crisp outside and full of juice inside, it was nutty and clean-tasting the more I chewed. The chewy cut and the melt-in-your-mouth pork belly complemented each other perfectly, and compliments kept coming. I piled meat, garlic and the house sauce onto fresh vegetables for one big wrap, and the savory flavor just burst. As befits a Siheung City Hall pork specialist that carefully selects its raw meat, the freshness and depth of flavor stood out. Together with the tidy side dishes and fresh spread, it felt like a proper Korean meal.

Gonggi jeyuk: spicy pork served in a rice bowl

Midway through the meat, the quirky side dish I'd been curious about arrived. The rice-bowl spicy pork (gonggi jeyuk) caught my eye right away: spicy pork and tofu served in a rice bowl, which was so fun it made me smile. Sweet-and-spicy braised pork stir-fry and soft, mild tofu fill the small cute bowl to the brim, and mixing it with rice or pairing it with the grilled meat was great fun. The original concept and deep seasoning were charming, and it holds its own against specialties at other restaurants around Jeongwang Station.

How spicy is the mot-ijeo bul-naengmyeon?

The mot-ijeo bul-naengmyeon is a cold broth noodle dish (mul-naengmyeon), perfect for summer, topped with spicy sauce and almost 3 Cheongyang chili peppers' worth of heat. It was seriously spicy, but I liked it! This noodle dish, meant to finish the meal cleanly, made a strong impression too. The spicy seasoning on top looked fiery just from the look of it, sitting on broth with floating bits of ice. The bone-chilling coolness of the broth and the sharp kick of the spice made a perfect team, ideal for resetting the palate after fatty meat. It was spicy yet clean and addictive, and I finished every last strand.

Final thoughts

The generous amount of meat, the original side dish and the cleanly spicy noodles all came together without a weak spot, and I had a great time right up to the end of the meal. The quality of the food and the generous portions stood out, so next time I crave a hearty meat meal I'll head back without hesitation. The space is wide and comfortable, so it works well for a relaxed gathering with people you care about or a after-work Siheung City Hall company dinner with coworkers. The tidy, clean presentation also gave me a real taste of authentic Korean food in Siheung.

Leaving the restaurant pleasantly full, I felt properly treated to a meal made with care. The great meat quality and thoughtful menu have a strong pull that would turn anyone into a regular after one visit. If you are looking for a good grilled-meat restaurant around Siheung City Hall in Janghyeon-dong, or want a real taste of Siheung City Hall pork belly, I recommend Gongdan Gamjatang Samgyeopsal Siheung Main Branch without hesitation. With flavor that holds up against the leading restaurants near Jeongwang Station and friendly service, it is clearly a place that offers a happy meal.