Mangwon Korean BBQ with family-mill perilla oil: Dwaejibangatgan

What kind of Korean BBQ is Dwaejibangatgan near Mangwon Station?

Dwaejibangatgan (돼지방앗간) is a pork belly and pork neck BBQ restaurant a 5-minute walk from Mangwon Station. It's a handy spot to stop by after wandering around Mangwon.

Dwaejibangatgan atmosphere and group seating

The restaurant is on the 2nd floor, so the view by the windows is pretty nice, and the space stretches long toward the back, so groups are absolutely no problem. It's a good Mangwon BBQ place for gatherings and company dinners.

The natural light is amazing too, so the mood was great. We came as a group this day as well, and I had reserved 6 seats in advance.

Dwaejibangatgan menu: pork belly, pork neck and perilla oil jjapaghetti

Dwaejibangatgan stubbornly sticks to just two cuts: pork belly and pork neck. All the meat is seared over an open flame first, so it arrives with a good amount of the fat already rendered off.

The sides are perilla oil jjapaghetti (black bean instant noodles), mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup), bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), hangover soft tofu stew and injeolmi (rice cake) ice cream, and honestly, seeing that perilla oil jjapaghetti is pretty much why I booked here. Jjapaghetti at a BBQ place, and made with freshly pressed perilla oil? I can't resist that...

Why is it called Dwaejibangatgan ("pig mill")?

It seems the name comes from the fact that the owner's parents have run an oil mill (bangatgan) themselves since 2008, and the restaurant is built around ingredients brought in from there. Which means the perilla oil must be something special.

What comes with the table setting at Dwaejibangatgan?

The grill is an ordinary coated grill plate, but since the meat comes pre-seared, it already carries that open-flame aroma.

You get salt, wasabi, zira (cumin seasoning) and ssamjang (dipping paste), with pickled onions, dongchimi (radish water kimchi) and gat kimchi (mustard leaf kimchi) as side dishes.

On top of that, myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic leaves), lettuce wraps and garlic all get spread out, sides that go perfectly with the meat.

We ordered drinks ahead of time too. You can only see cola, but we ordered alcohol as well, haha. It's been ages since I've seen bottled cola, too.

This is the hangover soft tofu stew (sundubu jjigae) that comes free to every table as an opening event. It's thick and hearty, and so rich in flavor that you'd want to toss rice into it. Delicious.

Dwaejibangatgan pork belly: price and taste

One serving of meat is 200g and costs in the mid-₩10,000s, so the value is good compared with any BBQ place in Mangwon. This is the pre-seared pork belly and pork neck.

It comes with green onions, bean sprouts and kimchi, which are great grilled together with the meat.

Since the meat is seared over open flame once before it arrives, it has a subtle smoky aroma. It's still bright pink, though, so let's finish cooking it on the grill.

Personally, I love pork belly grilled over charcoal, but I think it's best like this, just on a coated pan with kimchi and bean sprouts on top.

My meat, getting nice and golden brown. It comes neatly cut, so you don't need scissors at all at Dwaejibangatgan in Mangwon.

The meat is almost done, so of course it's time for a drink. Drinking this early in the evening feels like daytime drinking, and I love it!!!

I wrapped up neat ssam, grilled the kimchi and ate it all, practically inhaling it. The meat has a deep pork flavor yet is clean and mild, so it's a Mangwon BBQ place where you don't get tired of it even after eating a lot.

Is the perilla oil jjapaghetti at Dwaejibangatgan a must-order?

The perilla oil jjapaghetti at Dwaejibangatgan is a side made with a generous pour of freshly pressed perilla oil, plus egg and stir-fried meat. This is what I came to Dwaejibangatgan in Mangwon for.

The perilla oil aroma in this jjapaghetti is insane. The noodles are nicely chewy, and with perilla oil, egg and even stir-fried meat mixed in, it was one of the best jjapaghettis I've had in my life. If you go to Dwaejibangatgan, I recommend ordering a side made with perilla oil or sesame oil.

A great BBQ spot near Mangwon Station that I really enjoyed. It has a story behind it, and the sides made with perilla oil brought in from the family mill are excellent, so it was a delicious day all round. Thanks for the meal!!