Busan pork barbecue, staff-grilled: Donbegi Gwang-an Branch

While I was in Gwangalli, I stopped by Donbegi Gwang-an Branch (돈베기 광안점). I had three portions of snowflake pork belly with kimchi stew and steamed egg, and the staff grilled the meat and explained how to eat it, so I could enjoy the meal comfortably.

Where is it, and is parking supported?

Donbegi Gwang-an Branch is on the first and second floors at 34 Millakbondong-ro 11beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. At the time of my visit, the posted hours were daily from noon to 11:30 PM, with last orders at 11 PM. The restaurant stated that it supports one hour of parking when you park at the Seohui Starhills officetel in front.

Is there seating for group dinners or dates?

The inside and outside of the restaurant had an antique yet cozy feel. It is divided into a dining room and private rooms, with plenty of tables, so I thought it would suit group dinners or gatherings. There are also rooms for two, which looked suitable for an anniversary date.

It is a pet-friendly restaurant, and it also had chairs for pets.

What did I order?

The meat was available à la carte or in sets, and there was also a varied selection of meal dishes.

I ordered three portions of snowflake pork belly, kimchi stew, and steamed egg. I could order using the tablet at the table.

How were the meat and side dishes?

After ordering, charcoal and banchan (Korean side dishes) were set out. The side dishes tasted neat and went well with the meat. I especially liked that the myeongran (seasoned pollock roe) did not taste fishy.

For ssam (leaf wraps), I simply took as much as I wanted from the self-service bar. The other side dishes could be refilled there too.

How was the staff-grilled snowflake pork belly?

I ordered three portions of snowflake pork belly, and it felt like a fairly generous amount. After eating it with the meal dishes, I was very full.

As the staff grilled the meat themselves, they kindly explained the accompaniments and how to eat it. Following their guidance, I tried it with salt, then separately with mushroom sauce, myeongran, and wasabi.

The restaurant says it dry-ages its meat in-house for 480 hours. When I ate it, it was juicy, and the crisp grilled parts had a rich flavor. It was thick with a satisfying chew, and it also paired well with the various accompaniments.

Were the kimchi stew and steamed egg worth having too?

The kimchi stew contained meat, and the broth tasted deep and rich. The kimchi was tender, making it good with rice. The steamed egg was soft and seasoned to my taste, so I alternated it with the kimchi stew.

How can you make a reservation?

Naver reservations are available. When the original post was written, there was also a notice that visitors who followed Naver notifications and wrote a review would receive naeng-kimchi-kalguksu (cold kimchi noodle soup). If you want to use this offer, it is best to check whether it is still running and confirm the conditions before visiting.