Changwon BBQ with sesame sauce and cold noodles: Hanpanjip

Gaeumjeong Market, Changwon / Hanpanjip — a grill house in Gaeumjeong Market where the pork comes already cooked

When my husband and I went to Changwon and wanted dinner, we were looking for a Korean BBQ place. We found one inside Gaeumjeong Market where the meat comes out fully grilled, so we went to check out the market and eat at the same time. Here's my honest review of Hanpanjip Gaeum Branch's location, parking, atmosphere and taste.

Where Hanpanjip Changwon Gaeum Branch is and where to park

Hanpanjip Gaeum Branch is located inside Gaeumjeong Market. You can park at the Gaeumjeong Market parking lot, and it's a 4-minute walk to the restaurant. :)

We walked into Gaeumjeong Market. A BBQ restaurant inside a market like this??

Here it is — Hanpanjip, a must-visit spot in Gaeumjeong.

Is there a wait early on a weekend evening?

We visited at 5:20pm on a weekend. It was a weekend, but still — this many customers this early?

The small, cozy restaurant was packed, and we grabbed the last open seat. Right after us, a waiting list started forming.

Inside Hanpanjip: atmosphere and seating

The interior had a friendly, homey feel, a small restaurant with 7 round tables. You can tuck your bags inside the chairs. :)

Hanpanjip's menu and what we ordered

• Minari pork platter (small) ₩39,900
• Doenjang jjigae ₩5,000
• Mul naengmyeon ₩6,000
• Rice ₩1,000

The side dishes and six sauces arrived right away — ssamjang, garlic salt, curry powder, teriyaki sauce, breadcrumbs, and sesame sauce. All prepared as combinations that pair well with the pork.

The free steamed egg at Hanpanjip

Here's the steamed egg that came as a free service.

Savory and soft — the kind of flavor that makes you want rice with it. Haha.

Doenjang jjigae that tastes more like gochujang stew

I love eating doenjang jjigae with rice while having meat, so we ordered it in advance.

The doenjang jjigae came out generously, but it wasn't the flavor I typically expect from doenjang jjigae — it tasted more like a gochujang (red chili paste) stew style. There was well-cooked meat in it too, so my chopsticks kept going back for more.

The minari pork platter (small), grilled in the kitchen

The great thing about Hanpanjip is that the pork comes out completely grilled already.

The aged pork was carefully grilled, and all you have to do is cut it into bite-sized pieces. The pork neck comes slightly underdone to preserve the juices, so you can eat it as is, or grill it a bit more depending on your taste.

The taste of pork wrapped with minari (water dropwort)! 💚

The pork belly was also chewy and savory! Grilled just right, so it was delicious.

We also ate it on rice topped with pickled radish. Trying it with the various sauces that came alongside the meat was fun, too. Among them, the combination of sesame sauce and pork was the best for me.

Finishing with mul naengmyeon

We were full, but refreshing mul naengmyeon was calling!!

Eating naengmyeon while having pork cleanses your palate — so refreshing!!

The combination of hot pork and cold noodles is a delicacy in itself!

Coffee and plum tea are also available for dessert.

A cozy BBQ restaurant with 7 tables. The warm, market-inside atmosphere felt comfortable, and the owner and staff were friendly. After the meal, exploring the market too — two birds with one stone!

Why not grilling the pork yourself makes the meal easier

It was nice not having to grill the meat at the table ourselves, since there was no worry about the smell soaking into our clothes or dealing with a hot grill plate. Maybe that's why I saw two tables of families with young kids there too. :) If you're looking for a delicious pre-grilled BBQ restaurant in Changwon, I recommend Hanpanjip in Gaeumjeong.

Worth visiting together — (right in front) Gaeumjeong Market

Hanpanjip Changwon Gaeum Branch: the verdict

• Restroom is shared with the market building (key required)
• Meat comes fully grilled, which is convenient
• Great course: eat meat, then explore the market
• When orders pile up, the meat may take a while to come out

That was my review of Hanpanjip in Gaeumjeong, Changwon — the minari pork platter, doenjang jjigae, and naengmyeon.