Yangjae Korean BBQ with juicy pork neck, briquette fried rice: Gamdol

Nostalgic briquette-grilled meat and gochujang bulgogi

I was looking for a good pork belly place near Yangjae Citizen's Forest and, for the first time in a while, found a proper briquette-grill BBQ restaurant: Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch (감골연탄집 양재시민의숲점).

There are plenty of charcoal grill places these days, but somewhere you can really taste that special briquette smoke is rarer than you'd think. The old-school interior hits you the moment you walk in, and it even brought back memories of eating out with my family as a kid.

Getting to Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch, and parking

The restaurant is a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Yangjaesiminuisup Station, and you can park behind the building. Easy to get to.

How is briquette grilling different from charcoal grilling?

The biggest draw here is, of course, the briquette (yeontan, a coal briquette). The gentle smoky aroma that spreads while the meat cooks really gets your appetite going. It's a deeper scent than charcoal, and it soaks naturally into the meat. With the very first bite I understood why so many people seek out briquette grilling.

The briquette holds a high heat steadily, so the outside turns golden while the inside stays moist, with little juice lost. That's why both the pork belly and the pork neck kept their tender texture.

Gamdol's pork belly: much more tender than expected

The pork belly had a good balance of fat and lean. The briquette smoke was present without being overpowering, which let the meat's own richness come through. Juices spread with the first bite, crispy outside and moist inside, and I was really happy with it. It's good with just a dip in salt, and still flavorful wrapped in lettuce (ssam).

The thick cut made it fun to chew too, so anyone who loves pork belly should be perfectly satisfied with the quality.

Pork neck that breaks the "dry" stereotype

Personally, the pork neck impressed me more. It's a cut that easily turns dry if grilled badly, but Gamdol's was surprisingly tender. Rich in juice and pleasantly chewy, it was as satisfying as the pork belly. The juiciness honestly surprised me. The soft texture was excellent.

If you prefer lean, clean-tasting meat over fatty cuts, I definitely recommend the pork neck.

Briquette gochujang bulgogi that brings back memories

One dish you shouldn't skip at Gamdol is the briquette gochujang bulgogi (spicy marinated pork).

The spicy-sweet marinade plus briquette smoke naturally reminded me of the gochujang bulgogi we used to grill over briquettes when I was little.

Thanks to the smoky flavor the marinade isn't heavy at all, and the savory depth stays alive. Eat it with rice and a bowl disappears fast. The heat isn't harsh either, so people of all ages can enjoy it.

Details from a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef

Gamdol reportedly pays attention to meat trimming, aging and cooking details, based on the cooking experience of a Le Cordon Bleu graduate. Maybe that's why it's not just the briquette aroma: the quality and texture of the meat itself felt very consistent.

Thickness, doneness and juice retention are all well done, so even someone picky about meat should be satisfied.

Nostalgic interior at the Yangjae Citizen's Forest branch

The interior of this branch is impressive too.

With retro props and a homey mood, it felt like stepping into an old neighborhood briquette BBQ joint.

It has a comfort that's different from trendy café-style spaces, so it suits family meals and get-togethers with friends. Photos come out nicely moody too, great for social media shots.

Finishing with briquette-shaped fried rice and steamed egg

For the finish, fried rice, of course! Gamdol serves it stir-fried in a cute briquette shape, and it tastes good too.

The steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) was top-notch too. Nothing falls short here, and there's a reason it's opening up all over the place these days.

Why I recommend Gamdol near Yangjae Citizen's Forest

If you're looking for a proper briquette-grill BBQ restaurant near Yangjae Citizen's Forest, I think Gamdol is a satisfying choice. It has tender pork belly and pork neck, nostalgic briquette gochujang bulgogi, a gentle smoky aroma and a comfortable retro mood.

It's not just a place to eat meat; you get to revisit old memories too, and that's Gamdol's biggest charm. If you're searching for a BBQ place in Yangjae, give this one a look.