Yeonnam-dong Korean BBQ pork set for two with nearby parking: Hwaseol

Looking for a weekend date spot, we headed to Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom (화설 연남본점), a Yeonnam-dong favorite known for both its food and atmosphere. We went as a couple on a Saturday around 4pm and got to eat at a relaxed pace.

This is the place featured on Julseoneun Sikdang 2, where plenty of influencers and celebrities show up. Staff grill the meat for you, and you can try both pork and beef here!

Parking at Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom: the public lot 5 minutes on foot

Only one car can park in front of Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom, so during peak hours you'll likely miss out. Luckily there's a public parking lot nearby, so let me show you where.

It's about 350m away, roughly a 5-minute walk, and even at 4pm on a Saturday there was plenty of space. If you're driving, just park here!

Calm interior, and the best time to arrive without waiting

From the entrance, the clean, upscale interior stands out even from a distance, so it's easy to find. Since it aired on tvN's Julseoneun Sikdang 2, the taste is basically guaranteed, so we walked in with high expectations!

The restaurant itself is smaller than I expected. It keeps a calm, modern mood, which makes it a good pick for couples looking for a Yeonnam-dong date restaurant, and the tables are mostly set up for four, so you can sit comfortably.

There's always a wait during peak hours, so visiting at a relatively quiet 4pm on the weekend gave us breathing room. By around 5pm, a steady stream of people came in for dinner. If you want to eat unhurried, avoid peak hours or reserve ahead!

One wall is covered with traces of the many celebrities who've visited — comedians, singers, athletes, all kinds of well-known figures, which shows the taste here is well recognized. Being a weekend, there were also a lot of families in for gatherings.

Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom menu, prices and QR ordering

There's no paper menu — each table has a QR code you scan with your camera to order. The screen was clean and the menu was clearly organized, easy enough for older guests to order too. There's also a review event running, so join in and enjoy a bigger spread :)

It's a corkage-free restaurant, and the signature dish is the Hwaseol Handon Assorted Set. If it's your first visit, start with the assorted set to sample everything, then order more of whatever cut you like.

The signature menu list at Hwaseol

• Hwaseol Handon Assorted Set ₩69,000
• Galbi pork belly 150g ₩17,000
• 1% Black Beef Set ₩109,000
• 1% Wagyu Kkotsal (flower cut) ₩35,000
• Boiled pork salad (Suyuk Muchim) ₩25,000
• Kkotsal Cake ₩200,000

What two people paid: the receipt

• Hwaseol Handon Assorted Set ₩69,000
• Hotpot rice ₩3,000 x2 = ₩6,000
• Cold noodles (Mul Naengmyeon) ₩8,000
• Truffle Jjapaguri ₩10,000
• Total ₩93,000

Is the Handon Assorted Set good value? Pork belly, neck and skirt meat

The banchan (side dishes) that came out as soon as we ordered were varied. There were 4 kinds of sauces plus sides meant to go with meat, and we finished every last bit.

The set is a good visual size for two people to share. You get to try pork belly, pork neck, and skirt meat all at once, so it's a good pick for first-timers — after that, just order more of whatever you liked.

The set comes with a stew, so there's no need to order one separately. It was packed with ingredients and had a deep doenjang (soybean paste) flavor — perfect for filling up while the meat grilled.

At Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom, staff grill the meat for you so it's served at its best — all you have to do is eat. They started with the pork neck first. This cut is usually on the drier side, but it was surprisingly juicy and tender! To enjoy the natural flavor, dip the first few pieces in salt only.

Pork belly has a higher fat ratio than pork neck, giving it a richer flavor. They grilled it a bit more than the neck — crispy outside, juicy inside. As always, my favorite cut, and it was delicious. Try it with the shredded scallions or pickled onions served as banchan.

We finished with the chewy-textured skirt meat (galmaegisal). If tenderness is your metric, this cut wins hands down — a solid choice if you're visiting with parents for a family gathering.

Sides worth adding: truffle jjapaguri and cold buckwheat noodles

This is the truffle jjapaguri (₩10,000) we ordered as a side. It tasted noticeably different from the version you'd make at home — there was a real aroma, and some hidden ingredient gave it a spicy kick too. If you want to finish a rich meat meal with something spicy like a true Korean, order this!

You can't skip cold noodles (mul naengmyeon, ₩8,000) on a hot day! The chewy noodles and tangy broth are exactly what you crave in weather like this. It's great as dessert, but you can also order it early and eat it alongside the meat.

Final verdict on Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom

As one of Yeonnam-dong's go-to restaurants, the meat quality was genuinely good. As two people, we got the assorted set with three cuts in one go, and each cut had its own charm — first-time visitors should definitely order it :)

The interior is understated and upscale, making it a solid pick for a couple's date course, and with tables mostly set for four and staff grilling the meat for you, it's also great for family dinners or small gatherings — I'm planning to go back next month for a get-together!