Grilled deodeok and pork skin at Jeonju BBQ spot World Naengsam Uwa

Before heading up to Wonju, I was looking for somewhere to grab an early dinner, and that day I was craving thin, savory-grilled naengsam (frozen pork belly) rather than thick pork belly slices. So I visited World Naengsam Uwa, a well-known pork belly spot in Jeonju.

Parking and the room at World Naengsam Uwa

World Naengsam Uwa doesn't have a dedicated parking lot, so I parked in the alley near the restaurant and walked over.

On the way in, there was a big menu board near the entrance, so I could check what they served before even stepping inside.

Inside, the tables were neatly arranged. The floor wasn't slippery and everything felt well kept overall, making it a comfortable place to eat.

There was also a coat rack off to one side, which is great if you're the type who worries about your clothes smelling like grilled meat.

World Naengsam Uwa menu and prices

• Frozen pork belly (naengsam) ₩14,000
• Pork skin ₩11,000
• Gochujang frozen pork belly ₩15,000
• Grilled deodeok ₩9,000
• Hanwoo chadolbaegi (beef brisket) ₩18,900

Besides frozen pork belly, they also sold pork skin, grilled deodeok, and hanwoo chadolbaegi. There were also good side dishes and drinks to pair with the meat, so you could order according to your taste.

Side dishes and what comes free with the meat

After ordering, we didn't wait long before a whole table of banchan (side dishes) arrived — kimchi, scallion kimchi, various seasoned vegetables, and all sorts of accompaniments. Sauces, garlic, chili, and shredded scallions to go with the naengsam came out too. Seeing the colorful old-school metal tray full of banchan really set the pork belly restaurant mood.

According to the sign posted in the restaurant, ordering meat gets you a free jjigae (stew) and steamed egg. It's provided once per meat order, and extra orders are charged separately.

Grilling three servings of frozen pork belly

Our three servings of naengsam arrived. We were told to wait three minutes before putting the meat on, letting the grill heat up first before laying it down.

They piled it high on the grill, and the thinly sliced naengsam looked really generous.

Because the meat is thin, it started cooking almost as soon as it hit the grill, and the staff flipped it to get it golden brown. With mushrooms and pink sausage also loaded onto the grill alongside the naengsam, it looked mouthwatering just to watch.

Once the meat was mostly cooked, they sprinkled on some pepper.

Thinly sliced naengsam sizzling away — it really looked delicious.

You can't have naengsam without pajeori (spicy scallion salad). I piled a generous amount of the tangy, spicy scallion salad onto a piece of golden-grilled naengsam.

I also tried wrapping naengsam in lettuce with some scallion kimchi added. The crisp texture of the lettuce, the savory naengsam, and the deep, spicy umami of the scallion kimchi all came together. The scallion kimchi especially cut through the richness of the naengsam, so I kept reaching for more.

Grilled deodeok, 9,000 won: the side to order with naengsam

I noticed grilled deodeok (bellflower root) on the menu, so I ordered that as an extra.

Grilled on the pan, the deodeok turned golden brown and released a subtle fragrant aroma. Slightly charred at the edges, chewy on the outside and soft inside, it had a fragrant yet pleasantly bitter taste — a great bite to have between pieces of meat.

Free kimchi jjigae and steamed egg

No pork belly meal is complete without kimchi jjigae. The complimentary kimchi jjigae was loaded with pork belly, tofu, and plenty of other ingredients.

There was plenty of pork belly in it, so I scooped out a piece along with some kimchi. After eating meat, a spoonful of the hot kimchi jjigae broth warmed me right up.

The steamed egg caught my eye — it was piled up so high and puffy it looked almost like an erupting volcano! Digging in with a spoon, the fluffy, cloud-like steamed egg was really soft.

Doenjang jjigae with freshwater shrimp

World Naengsam's doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) wasn't your basic version either.

It was generously peppered, and loaded with freshwater shrimp and zucchini, giving the broth a subtle sweetness from the shrimp along with the pepper. The clean, deep flavor from the freshwater shrimp made the broth quite rich.

Pork skin takes 15 minutes, so order it early

Even though I was really full, I couldn't skip one menu item — pork skin. My stomach was packed, but if you're at a pork belly restaurant, you've got to have the pork skin too, haha 😆

The pork skin came out with soybean powder and a spicy sauce on the side.

Dipped in the savory soybean powder, it had a clean, nutty flavor, and dipped in the spicy sauce it took on a whole different, tangy-spicy character. The pork skin is cooked to order and takes about 15 minutes, so if you want it, I'd recommend ordering it early.

From naengsam to a variety of side dishes, World Naengsam Uwa let me enjoy it all. Even full to the brim, I made sure not to miss the pork skin before heading out.

World Naengsam Uwa: hours, address and parking

• Address: 1F, 9 Ua-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, South Korea (Ua-dong 3-ga 747-55)
• Hours: 17:00 - 24:00
• Closed: Every Sunday