Daejeon gamjatang with fried mandu and icy cold noodles: Yeonam

Where is Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang?

Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang is a pork bone grill and gamjatang (pork bone stew) restaurant located on the 1st and 2nd floor of 37-9 Jungang-ro130beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon, near Jungangno Station on Line 1. I heard it's a hot new spot getting buzz right after opening, so today I'm bringing you an honest, sizzling review.

Even the exterior stops you in your tracks — clean, solid, giving off serious presence. Just looking at the standing signboards crowding the entrance already had my stomach growling and my heart racing. Will this become the new food mecca of the Jungangno area in Jung-gu, Daejeon? Let's dig in together.

Yeonam's hours, address and how to get there

• Name: Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang
• Address: 37-9 Jungang-ro130beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon, South Korea (1st and 2nd floor)
• Directions: About 257m on foot from Exit 3 of Jungangno Station (Exit B-8 of the Jungangno underground shopping center is convenient if arriving by subway)
• Hours: Daily 11:30–24:00 (last order 23:30)

Open every day of the year until late at night, it's great for a drink after work or for a hearty lunch.

What's on the menu board outside Yeonam

Even before you step through the door, Yeonam's signature dishes on the standing signboards outside grab your attention and bombard your appetite. The featured menu items on the signboard are Yeonam Gamjatang, charcoal-grilled pork backbone, and crispy potato pancake.

• Yeonam Gamjatang — a deep, rich broth with bones piled up like a mountain
• Charcoal-grilled pork backbone — the temptation of spicy, smoky special sauce

• Crispy potato pancake — shredded potato grilled crisp, a delicacy with a fantastic texture

So which of these did I order today? You can look forward to it!!

Crispy fried mandu: crunchy outside, juicy inside

While waiting for the main dish, I couldn't resist ordering a side — golden, deep-fried mandu (dumplings). They arrived first alongside the basic side dishes.

The outside is fried so crispy it crackles when you pick it up with chopsticks, and a nutty scent of oil brushes past your nose the moment you lift one.

Split one in half and you'll see the inside packed full of fresh ingredients like chives and meat.

Crispy outside and juicy inside, with the meat juices bursting with every bite — there's no better warm-up before the real feast begins.

What does Yeonam Gamjatang taste like?

The Yeonam Gamjatang arrived so generously portioned it overflowed the ttukbaegi (stone pot). Large bones filled the pot to the brim, topped generously with ground perilla seeds, chopped scallions, and red chili — the picture of appetizing.

The well-simmered meat is so tender that just a slight touch with chopsticks separates the meat from the bone. It melts the moment it hits your mouth — not a trace of dryness anywhere.

Mix white rice into the deeply infused, spicy, nutty broth and every second is pure bliss — nothing left to envy in this world.

Icy mul naengmyeon ordered alongside the gamjatang

The perfect match for hot gamjatang: mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) piled high with shaved ice. It arrives bowl and all, ready to blast away the summer heat.

The broth is chilled through so thoroughly it's almost chill-inducing just looking at it — that refreshing feeling. Topped generously with spicy dadegi (chili paste), it's sweet and tangy while also carrying a sharp, spicy kick.

Slurp up a mouthful of the chewy noodles and it works as the ultimate cheat code, cleanly resetting your palate after the hot, rich gamjatang.

Final verdict on Yeonam in Daehung-dong

If you want to properly enjoy pork backbone grill, gamjatang, and a variety of sides near Jungangno Station in Daejeon, Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang isn't optional — it's essential. You'll fall for the generous portions once, and fall again for the deep flavor that melts in your mouth.

If you're thinking about a spicy, rich broth with a shot of soju or a hearty meal tonight, I strongly recommend paying a visit!!