Sanho-dong, Changwon Korean BBQ half-and-half kkodeulsal: Smile Hall

I went back to Smile Hall in Sanho-dong for the frozen pork belly (naengsam) craving that hits me every so often. Everything from the meat to the meal menu was so satisfying. I visited on a date, and the retro vibe was so good I'd also recommend this Sanho-dong pork belly spot for a work dinner. ~*

• 📍 18-1 Sanhobuk 17-gil, Mansanhappo-gu, Changwon, 1F
• ⏰ 17:00–1:00
• 🚘 Curbside parking nearby or public parking lot (recommended)

Where is Smile Hall, and where do you park? (Across from NC Park)

Smile Hall sits in a Sanho-dong alley right across from NC Park, so it's a great stop after watching a Masan NC Park game. For parking, I'd recommend the Sanho-dong public parking lot or curbside (just watch out for enforcement).

Inside Smile Hall: retro tables with room for groups

The interior has a totally retro atmosphere and is kept really clean.

It's big enough to fit groups too. When I visited, there was actually a group reservation going on ~

Smile Hall menu and prices

Here's the menu board. Frozen pork belly is ₩9,000 per serving (100g). There's also a new kkodeulsal (chewy pork jowl meat) menu — I highly recommend it (pyogo's pick!). For meals, there's doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), kimchi jjigae, and bibimmyeon (spicy mixed noodles). Perfect combo with naengsam!

Ordering a set lets you try more varieties. Smile Hall was also running a review event at the time ~ Frozen mixed set ₩48,000 (2–3 people) / ₩95,000 (3–4 people), frozen texture set ₩60,000.

What five servings of half kkodeulsal, half pork belly look like

This is the basic table setting. It comes on a tray, which has a nice feel to it, right? Scallion salad, the house sauce, lettuce wraps, and even rolled egg all come as standard.

I ordered kkodeulsal and pork belly, half and half!! Five servings total, and it was plenty to fill both of us up.

The owner grills the meat for you as much as he can manage. Since we were the first customers, he had time to grill it all the way through for us. (First time at a naengsam place where they grill it for you...) Grilled with a dash of pepper on top, it was seriously delicious ~ The seasoning was absolutely perfect.

Grilling it together with garlic scapes and kimchi is next-level delicious!

We also made wraps with the scallion salad. It's genuinely savory and delicious too. Overall, this place really knows how to cook ,,, ♥️

The pork belly is soft and just melts away, while the kkodeulsal has a springy texture you have to try — not chewy or tough at all.

Are the bibimmyeon and doenjang jjigae worth adding?

We ordered bibimmyeon. It's loaded with egg and lettuce.

The noodles were cooked to a nice chewy texture. Having bibimmyeon on the menu at a pork belly spot just feels so right, haha.

And now, the star of the show... doenjang jjigae. It's the essential companion to pork belly, right? If the doenjang jjigae isn't good, I never go back — but Smile Hall's is the real deal ••• The color was so light it kind of surprised me, but the flavor is deep and so good, ㅠㅠ. I cleaned an entire bowl of rice with it ~

The verdict: Korean BBQ near the ballpark, and for a Sanho-dong group dinner

Smile Hall nailed everything from the frozen pork belly to the meal menu. Having the meat grilled for us made the meal so easy and delicious. I drove so I couldn't drink, but next time I definitely want to have it with soju and beer mixed together! I'd recommend it as a great spot near the ballpark, and it's also perfect for a Sanho-dong group dinner!