String-lit patio Korean BBQ in Gangnam: grilled kimchi, Daepae Market

The evenings have gotten quite a bit cooler lately.

On days like this, grilling meat outdoors just feels better than sitting inside, right? While looking for a 24-hour BBQ spot in Gangnam, I found Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch, which has outdoor tables.

What are the outdoor tables like at Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon?

Arriving at the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was the outdoor space lit up with string lights. It had a comfortable yet lively feel, like a street food tent, perfect for meat and a drink after work. Since the weather was cool, we chose an outdoor table without hesitation.

Address, hours and how to find Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon

• Name: Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch
• Ordered: thin-sliced pork shoulder, doenjang jjigae, mul naengmyeon
• Self-serve bar fee: ₩2,000 per person
• Features: 24-hour operation, outdoor tables, self-serve bar with a variety of vegetables and side dishes
• ※ Please check hours and prices with the restaurant before visiting.

Grilling thin-sliced pork shoulder with shredded green onion

This time we ordered Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch's thin-sliced pork shoulder (daepae mokssal). Grilling meat on the pan while feeling the outdoor breeze gave me a more relaxed mood than usual. Meat eaten outdoors somehow tastes even better, maybe because of the atmosphere.

The thinly rolled pork shoulder came out in a generous portion, and it cooked quickly the moment it hit the pan, so we didn't have to wait long before eating. Cooking fast is really the charm of daepae (thin-sliced) meat.

The nicely browned pork shoulder was thin yet packed with a savory flavor. Adding shredded green onion brought a crunchy texture and tangy seasoning that made it even tastier.

On one side of the grill we added kimchi, bean sprouts, bracken, enoki mushrooms, and garlic. As the fat from the pork shoulder cooked into the kimchi and vegetables, it created a combination that practically begged for rice.

What the 2,000-won self-serve bar includes

Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch, a Nonhyeon BBQ spot, charges ₩2,000 per person for the self-serve bar. It's stocked with lettuce, perilla leaves, and napa cabbage, plus minari (water dropwort), chili peppers, garlic, onion, bean sprouts, enoki mushrooms, kimchi, and more — plenty of options to pair with the meat.

It was convenient to grab as many vegetables and side dishes as we wanted, and with so many wrap options, it was fun mixing and matching combinations.

We wrapped pork shoulder and green onion in lettuce, and also tried perilla leaves with grilled kimchi and garlic. I also liked that vegetables good for grilling, like minari and bracken, were available.

Finishing with doenjang jjigae and mul naengmyeon

After eating meat for a while, I started craving something warm and soupy, so we ordered doenjang jjigae too. The stew, served in a stone pot, was filled with tofu, zucchini, onion and other ingredients. The savory, warm broth balanced out the richness of the meat and paired well with the pork shoulder.

Eating a bite of meat followed by a spoonful of doenjang jjigae felt like the full BBQ restaurant experience. The familiar, comforting flavor would also be filling enough with rice. The last dish was mul naengmyeon.

The icy, slushy broth came with noodles, cucumber, boiled egg, and seasoning sauce. After eating warm meat, the cold noodle soup felt even more refreshing.

I saved a piece of pork shoulder and wrapped it in the naengmyeon — and as expected, that combination never fails. Alternating between the savory meat and refreshing noodles cleaned up my palate and let me enjoy the meal to the very end.

This time I had pork shoulder, but I noticed pork belly on the sign and menu too, so I'd like to try it next time. If you're looking for a good pork belly spot in Nonhyeon, it might be worth checking the menu and choosing the cut that suits your taste.

Between the pork shoulder, doenjang jjigae, and mul naengmyeon, this turned into a very hearty meal. But most of all, what stuck with me was the atmosphere of grilling meat outdoors in the cool weather.

If you're looking for a 24-hour BBQ spot in Gangnam you can visit anytime, or a Nonhyeon BBQ restaurant with outdoor tables, consider checking out Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch.

Visiting on a nice evening and grilling meat while feeling the outdoor breeze made for an even more enjoyable experience.