Daejeon cold pork BBQ: soy dip, unlimited cheese fried rice, Kkodeul

Kkodeul Daepae Daejeon Wolpyeong Branch (꼬들대패 대전월평점) is a BBQ restaurant in Wolpyeong-dong, Daejeon, known for its shaved pork belly naengsam and a 23-item self-serve bar. With fresh meat, big portions, a thoughtful self-serve bar and a fair price, it was a really satisfying find in Seo-gu, Daejeon.

Where is Kkodeul Daepae Wolpyeong and what does it look like outside?

The restaurant is a ground-floor shop tucked among the residential streets of Wolpyeong-dong, with a bright orange sign that stands out. The lighting is bright and the facade is stylish, so it wasn't hard to find.

From outside, the clean, stylish building gave me confidence. There's a clear sign plus photos of the menu on display, so you can see at a glance what they serve. It isn't deep in the alleys, so it's easy to find, and there's plenty of parking nearby, which makes it a convenient visit.

Inside Kkodeul Daepae: atmosphere and seating

Inside, it's a pleasant, modern space with a concrete ceiling, stylish lighting, wooden tables and leather chairs. My first impression the moment I walked in was how clean and sleek it was.

The mix of wooden tables and leather chairs makes for a comfortable mood.

Every table has its own grill, so each group can cook freely, and the tables are spaced generously, so it never felt cramped next to the neighbors. The staff moved at just the right moments, so nothing bothered me throughout the meal. The place felt well kept and well ventilated, and the restroom was easy to get to.

What does the shaved pork naengsam taste like?

The signature here is naengsam: pink pork belly shaved thin. This fresh shaved pork belly is the star of the restaurant.

As expected, the signature of this Seo-gu, Daejeon favorite is the shaved pork belly.

The fresh pink pork belly comes shaved thin, and the meat was tender with a wonderfully rich, nutty flavor. As the name naengsam (cold pork belly) suggests, it's served chilled, so you can enjoy it refreshingly even in midsummer.

It cooks quickly on the grill, which makes it easy to eat, and the portion was generous, so the value is really good. It's a perfect Wolpyeong-dong BBQ spot for family or friends.

How the shaved pork naengsam I ordered actually tasted

I dipped the naengsam in soy marinade and also laid it over rice, and I was happy with both. I could feel the freshness from the very first bite.

The meat wasn't tough at all and melted softly in my mouth, which made it fun to chew. Eating it with the soy marinade gave it a deep flavor, and it was really good on top of rice too.

The side dishes were neat and tidy too, and eating the meat with the different ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste) and seasoned vegetables I picked from the self-serve bar gave me a new flavor with every bite.

What's in the 23-item self-serve bar?

The self-serve bar at Kkodeul Daepae Wolpyeong has 23 side dishes and sauces, including ssamjang, soy sauce, chili seeds, doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), several kinds of seasoned vegetables, bean sprouts and saengchae (shredded fresh vegetable salad). The most impressive part was definitely the bar itself.

You pick from 23 different side dishes and sauces yourself. With so much variety, every bite tasted different. It was a lot of fun to grill the meat and choose whatever side dish I felt like eating.

How do you make the unlimited cheese fried rice?

After you finish the meat, you can make cheese fried rice in unlimited amounts with the cheese and seaweed flakes from the self-serve bar. This fried rice is the real highlight. Stir-fry rice in the leftover marinade and meat juices, top it with cheese and sprinkle on seaweed flakes, and you get the perfect finishing dish.

Even when I thought I was full, this fried rice had a magic that kept me picking up my spoon. That it's unlimited at no extra cost is honestly the biggest charm of Kkodeul Daepae.

Kkodeul Daepae Wolpyeong: final verdict

Kkodeul Daepae Daejeon Wolpyeong Branch serves fresh shaved pork naengsam at a reasonable price, and adds a 23-item self-serve bar and unlimited cheese fried rice, which makes it a really good-value spot in Seo-gu, Daejeon. The meat quality was good, the portions generous, and the care put into the self-serve bar made it a very satisfying meal.

If you're looking for a BBQ place in Wolpyeong-dong, I strongly recommend Kkodeul Daepae. It's easy to visit in any situation, whether with family, a group of friends or on a date. It's the kind of meat restaurant I'd want to eat at again.