Post-workout Korean BBQ and soju in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon: Imdaejang

Where to eat meat after a workout in Dunsan-dong: Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch

Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch (임대장 대전둔산점) is a BBQ restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon, known for Hanpan Gui, meat that arrives already grilled so you don't have to cook it yourself. I finished a workout with a friend, refilled on protein, and had a pleasant evening with a cold glass of soju.

Strangely, you crave meat even more after exercising, right? That day, after working hard, we said "Let's eat properly today!" and headed to Imdaejang. What I liked most was that the meat comes out grilled, so the meal is so easy.

What is the atmosphere like at Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch?

The restaurant felt clean and warm overall, and the tables were spaced generously, so it never felt cramped. It looked good for family meals, get-togethers with friends and company dinners too.

There is even storage space inside the chairs for your belongings, so less meat smell sticks to your clothes, which I liked. At a BBQ place, small touches like this quietly add to your satisfaction.

Imdaejang menu and the medium Hanpan Gui set (610g) we ordered

The menu offered everything from the signature Hanpan Gui set to pork belly, pork neck, gabrisal (pork jowl) and pork skin. We didn't hesitate and ordered the medium Hanpan Gui set (610g).

You get pork belly, pork neck and pork skin all at once, a great mix if you like variety. Best of all, everything comes out grilled, so after a short wait you can eat it at its tastiest right away. That was a huge plus.

Basic side dishes: pickled onion, myeongina and bean powder

While waiting for the meat, pickled onion, myeongina (wild garlic chive) pickles, salt, bean powder and a special dipping sauce came out first. The lineup is simple, but everything goes really well with meat.

The pickled onion is sweet and sour and wakes up your appetite, and the myeongina cuts the richness of the meat. Just dipping in salt is tasty, and bean powder makes it even nuttier. It was fun picking whatever you like.

The grilled Hanpan Gui: what comes on the iron plate?

Imdaejang's Hanpan Gui arrives on a big iron plate loaded with golden grilled pork belly, pork neck and pork skin, plus minari (water dropwort), kimchi, garlic, seasoned bean sprouts, mushrooms and enoki mushrooms. The moment the staff set it down, my friend and I both said "Wow!" at the same time.

• Golden grilled pork belly and pork neck
• Glossy pork skin
• Fragrant minari
• Well-fermented kimchi and garlic
• Seasoned bean sprouts, mushrooms and enoki mushrooms

The plate is truly generous, and just looking at it made me happy. Since it already comes grilled to its best, you can eat right away, which was so convenient. After a workout you want to eat fast, and not having to wait for grilling was wonderful.

Juicy pork belly

I started with the pork belly from the Hanpan Gui. The outside was golden and the inside moist and juicy. With the first bite, a nutty richness filled my mouth, and the fat-to-lean ratio was good, so it stayed tender as I chewed.

It was delicious with just a light dip in salt, and you could really taste the clean flavor of the meat. Maybe because it was post-workout pork belly, it tasted even better than usual.

Pork skin dipped in bean powder

The star of Imdaejang was the pork skin. Dipped generously in bean powder, it became much nuttier. It was chewy but not tough, with just the right bounce, so I kept reaching for more.

A slightly crisp outside and chewy inside made it fun to eat. If you like pork skin, I think you'll be really satisfied.

Cheongdo minari with pork belly

Personally, what I liked most in the Hanpan Gui was the minari. It was piled high with pesticide-free Cheongdo minari, and its fragrant aroma wiped away the richness of the meat.

A piece of pork belly with minari, seasoned bean sprouts and grilled garlic was the best combination. The nuttiness of the meat and the freshness of the minari blend so well that you just keep eating.

Pork neck with the special sauce

The pork neck was thick, so I expected it to be dry, but not at all. It was cooked moist all the way through, juicy, and the nutty flavor got stronger as I chewed.

A light dip in the special sauce brought out even more savory depth, and I couldn't stop. It has a different charm from the pork belly, so alternating between them was fun.

A big lettuce wrap bite

On a lettuce leaf I piled pork belly, minari, seasoned bean sprouts, garlic, Cheongyang chili pepper and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) and took one big bite. Crunchy greens, juicy meat and the aroma of minari came together perfectly, a really satisfying bite.

Wrapping a big ssam (wrap) added to the fun and made the meal even more enjoyable.

Soju with a friend after the gym: refueling on protein

Maybe because it was a meal at Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch with a friend after exercising, it felt extra special. We laughed as we ate meat and clinked glasses of cold soju.

We worked out hard today, so let's eat without worrying.

Meat after a workout was the ultimate reward. A bite of nutty meat, a glass of cold soju. We talked about workouts and daily life for the first time in a while, and the laughter never stopped. Great food plus time with a good person made it an even happier evening.

Dessert at Imdaejang: free soft-serve ice cream

After the meal, we finished with the free soft-serve ice cream at Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch. The sweet, smooth ice cream cleaned up my palate and left me satisfied to the very end.

Getting dessert after the meat let us end the meal on a good note.

Verdict: who is Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch for?

Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch was a very satisfying place to replenish protein after a workout and spend a good time over soju with a friend. Eating at the tastiest moment without grilling yourself, the quality of the domestic pork, the generous plate, fragrant minari and varied accompaniments: nothing was lacking.

I confidently recommend it if you're looking for a company dinner spot in Dunsan-dong, a family meal, or a relaxed BBQ with friends. Next time I want to go back and try the fried rice too.