Ilsan pork BBQ where pork cheek beat kkodeul-sal: Dokbul Janggun

What kind of Korean BBQ restaurant is Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok?

Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok Branch (독불장군 일산백석점) is a special-cut pork BBQ restaurant in Baekseok-dong, Ilsan, known for Jeju grade-1 kkodeul-sal (chewy pork neck-area cut). It lets you try a variety of pork cuts that are hard to come by otherwise.

Have you all tried kkodeul-sal?! Pork belly and five-layer pork belly are tasty too, but sometimes I crave that crunchy, chewy texture. While hunting for a special pork place, I ended up at Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok Branch! I was extra excited because kkodeul-sal is a rare cut, only about 10% of a pig!? Today I'll honestly share what I ate, plus the taste and texture of kkodeul-sal and the atmosphere of the place.

Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok: location, hours and parking

The restaurant is at 65-6 Baekseok-ro 72beon-gil, Ilsan Dong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (1st floor), South Korea, and it is open daily from 15:30 to 23:30. For parking, use the street near Baekseok Catholic Church.

• Name: Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok Branch
• Location: 65-6 Baekseok-ro 72beon-gil, Ilsan Dong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (1st floor)
• Hours: Daily 15:30 - 23:30
• Parking: Street parking near Baekseok Catholic Church

Atmosphere, outdoor tables and dog policy at Dokbul Janggun

The indoor seating was spacious and comfortable! Above all, I really loved how wide the spacing between tables is... 🤍

Best of all, there are outdoor tables, which are a must in this weather! 🍂 Outdoor BBQ seating is so rare... ( ˶˙° ˙ ˶)⑉♥ You can't resist grilling meat in the cool breeze.

Dokbul Janggun is also a dog-friendly BBQ place!?🐶 Only small dogs are allowed, and a carrier bag or leash is required. A cute little beast was proudly guarding the shop. It doesn't bark and is gentle, but it never comes over first, a total cool-girl dog haha

Dokbul Janggun menu and corkage policy

The menu centers on Jeju grade-1 special pork cuts, with plenty of sides and an especially varied highball list. Corkage is available too (paid, no limit on bottles), so it's apparently already a holy ground for drinkers... ✨

Jeju grade-1 pork in Ilsan, and rare special cuts at that...!

Free cheonggukjang (soybean stew) and side dishes

We settled in at an outdoor table and the side dishes were all set! The free cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) came out. Is this really a free stew... It was packed with big chunks of tofu, and they didn't skimp on ingredients, so it felt like a real dish. The savory depth of cheonggukjang, need I say more ⑉♥

Dokbul 72 Aged Jeju Platter 600g: how big and how much?

The Dokbul 72 Aged Jeju Platter 600g costs ₩56,000, and I ordered it as a combo platter with three cuts: kkodeul-sal, cheek-cut hangjeong (볼항정) and nakyeop-sal. With two women, it was a huge amount that could easily feed up to three people.

It looks generous and fresh at first glance...! Thick slices piled up in layers, I love this sight... Jeju grade-1 meat... at this price... what a bargain ⑉♥

With the juices rising from the thick meat and the savory smell spreading as it grilled, it looked like I couldn't wait to grab a piece...

Kkodeul-sal: chewy pork that gets nuttier as you chew

From the Dokbul Janggun platter, I started with kkodeul-sal dipped in salt! This is why I love it... it has such a different charm from pork belly! The more you chew, the more nutty pork flavor and subtle fat come through. It doesn't feel greasy but clean, with a definite chew, and the crunchy bite was so delicious.

Bol-hangjeong (pork cheek): the surprise that beat my top pick

Kkodeul-sal was always my number one, okay? But the cheek cut at Dokbul Janggun was so much better than I expected and came charging in. The fat doesn't feel excessive, and the juices and savory flavor spread naturally, so if you like hangjeong (pork neck), it's a must! It suited my taste perfectly ⑉♥

Nakyeop-sal: thick like a pork steak

The last cut, nakyeop-sal! It was thicker than I expected, so it looked like proper meat the moment it hit the grill. I cooked the outside well, and it was golden outside and moist inside, a great contrast of textures. A bit like pork steak... 🤭

I wrapped it in lettuce, ate it with grilled kimchi, and tried it with a little fresh wasabi... I went into full mukbang (eating show) trance... 🥵

Review event bonus: honeycomb pork rind

Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok Branch gives you honeycomb pork rind (벌집껍데기) for free if you write a Naver review...! At a thick 6-8mm, crispy outside and chewy inside, you absolutely have to try it. Dip it in the soybean powder that comes with it and that nutty taste... you all know it, right... ♥

Verdict: special-cut pork BBQ near Baekseok Station

If you want something beyond common pork belly near Baekseok Station and want to really enjoy special Jeju grade-1 pork cuts, I recommend Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok Branch! Kkodeul-sal, cheek-cut hangjeong and nakyeop-sal each had a different texture and flavor, so picking between them was fun, and above all the portion is huge...

It suits company dinners and gatherings, and any day you want a hearty meat meal. Run there before outdoor-table weather ends...