Sinnonhyeon Korean BBQ even fat-haters love: Jeju 5-layer pork belly

One rainy day I was craving pork belly, so my husband and I headed to Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang (더바른정육식당), a Korean BBQ place in Sinnonhyeon. The inside is clean and spacious, and the high-quality meat is all grilled for you, which made it even tastier. Here's the full review :)

Where is Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang, and how is parking?

Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch is at 482 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (1st floor), a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station, so it's easy to reach by public transport. Hours are 11:00–23:00 Monday to Friday (break time 14:30–16:30) and 12:00–22:00 on Saturday (no break time). It's closed every Sunday.

If you're coming by car, there is parking in front of the restaurant, but it's a tight space that fits only about 3 cars. If it's full, the staff will valet-park your car at another lot for ₩5,000 for 2 hours, so keep that in mind. It's a Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon restaurant, so the taste is pretty much guaranteed :)

Right at the entrance you can see aged 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) and Jeju black pork,

and even though it's a meat specialist, they have abalone and lobster too! I think being able to enjoy seafood as well makes it even more popular.

Seeing the walls full of celebrity autographs, the popularity made sense all over again. They also have a wide selection of wine to go with the meal.

Seating inside and the weekday wait

Inside, the tables are spaced widely and the seats are mostly sofas, so it was comfortable to sit for a long time. It's pleasant and well ventilated, and there wasn't much of a grilling smell.

On the left there are room-style tables, and a group room at the back, so it looks good for group gatherings or company dinners too. We came around 8pm on a weekday and were second in the waiting line.

There are chairs out front for waiting, so it was comfortable, and a table opened up after 5 minutes. We were guided to a seat toward the back.

What's on the menu?

The menu is built around various cuts of 1++ hanwoo and Jeju black pork,

with lobster and abalone seafood dishes, side dishes like stews and naengmyeon (cold noodles), a lunch special that's a bit cheaper, and hearty meals like bibimbap and bulgogi. There's also a long list of premium soju such as Hwayo, plus wine and whisky, so you can pair them to your taste.

What the two of us ordered

• Jeju black pork belly 170g
• Jeju black pork neck 340g
• Jeju black pork bone-broth kimchi stew
• Cheese corn steamed egg
• 2 bowls of rice

Charcoal grill and side dishes

Deo Bareun uses real charcoal to bring out the flavor of the meat. The heat is strong, so the meat cooks quickly.

The side dishes are set out right away. The salad with black sesame dressing was especially nutty and delicious, and the white kimchi and green onion kimchi were both great for lifting the flavor of the meat. And the fresh lettuce geotjeori (quick-seasoned salad) was piled high!

Jeju black pork belly and neck, grilled by staff to the end

Our Jeju black pork belly and neck arrived. The neck can only be ordered for 2 servings or more, so between the two of us we ordered 3 servings in total. The quality was good, and the thick cuts looked extra tempting +.+

The staff grill everything from start to finish, so all you have to do is eat comfortably. Maybe because the meat is scored, it cooked through to the inside nicely even though it's fairly thick. Finished pieces are moved onto the plate so they don't burn, and every table has ssamjang (dipping paste), wasabi and salt, so you just put a little on your small plate.

Black pork means meljeot (salted anchovy sauce), right?! Meljeot, lettuce geotjeori, green onion kimchi, myeongi namul (pickled wild greens), white kimchi and more, every combination had its own charm, but the combos were amazing. The more bites I took, the more my appetite woke up, you know?

Can someone who dislikes fat enjoy the pork belly?

All the meat at Deo Bareun was crispy outside and moist inside, with amazing juiciness. I don't usually like fat, but the pork belly had a good ratio of meat to fat, a chewy texture like eating pork skin, and didn't feel greasy, so I really enjoyed it. The neck was tender and clean-tasting, a sure win as always.

Bone-broth kimchi stew and cheese corn steamed egg

The Jeju black pork bone-broth kimchi stew came with a burner, so we could keep it hot while eating, which was nice. It's loaded with tofu, kimchi and meat, and it's pleasantly spicy, so the rice goes down easily.

We also added a steamed egg for protein. The soft egg has corn kernels in it that pop in your mouth, and the cheese flavor was amazing.

Maybe because it's a butcher-style restaurant, it was a good place to eat quality meat at good value, and the staff were kind too, so overall I was satisfied with Deo Bareun in Sinnonhyeon. Why not give it a visit? :)