Naju Korean BBQ with floor seating for families: Chamsutjip

A day when you feel like having meat in Bitgaram-dong, Naju!

A spacious Naju Innovation City BBQ restaurant with the kids

While looking for a BBQ restaurant we could comfortably visit with the kids, we went to Chamsutjip Naju Innovation City Branch (참숯집 나주혁신도시점), a Korean BBQ spot in Naju Innovation City.

When going to a restaurant with the kids, I tend to avoid places where the seating is too cramped or it is too hectic.

This place is spacious, has lots of seats, and offers both table and floor seating—picked!!!

It was roomy enough to accommodate large groups, so it looked great not only for family meals but also for company dinners and gatherings.

We reserved for 5:30 that day and arrived then. Customers were just starting to come in. Seeing group guests come in too, I thought this must definitely be a popular spot for company dinners and gatherings. The restaurant itself was wide open, so even as it filled up, it did not feel particularly stuffy. The air conditioning was blasting, so we were not hot during the meal. Best of all, not much smoke built up indoors while grilling, so we could eat comfortably.

Banchan and the self-service bar

Once we sat down, the banchan (Korean side dishes) began arriving one by one: seasoned scallion salad, cucumber-and-acorn-jelly salad, marinated raw crab, corn salad, kimchi, and pickled gungchae. There was a nice variety of sides to enjoy with the meat.

If you run short of anything while eating, you can freely help yourself at the self-service bar^^

Among the side dishes... the marinated raw crab that I absolutely loved!! I mean hahaha, is it okay for marinated raw crab to be this delicious at a BBQ restaurant? Seriously, from the very first bite, it tasted good enough to sell on its own... I feel like I could finish a whole bowl of rice with just this.

The wureong doenjang-jjigae (soybean-paste stew with freshwater snails) that came with it was delicious too. There were quite a lot of snails in it, and even just sipping the broth gave a savory yet refreshing taste. A spoonful of doenjang-jjigae broth in between bites of charcoal-grilled meat... ahhh.

From pork belly to pork neck and pork skin

That day, we ordered two portions of ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly), one portion of pork neck, one portion of pork skin, a bowl of rice, and mul-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth). When several people go together, I want to try different meats, so we chose one of each.

As soon as the side dishes arrived, they brought out the charcoal.

We grilled the ogyeopsal first. The meat looked to be in quite good condition, and once grilled, its pleasantly chewy texture was really nice.

Its distinctive rich flavor and springy texture really came through, so it was delicious even on its own.

But dipping it in meljeot (fermented anchovy sauce)... there is nothing more to say. Ogyeopsal plus meljeot is honestly unfair. You do not need anything else ㅠㅠ

And personally, my favorite meat that day was the pork neck. It was fairly thick, so I was a little worried at first. Especially since the kids were eating with us—when meat is thick, it can be too tough for them. But... it was so much more tender than expected. It definitely had thickness, but rather than being tough or dry when chewed, it was juicy and moist. So if I return next time, I think I will definitely order the pork neck again.

We ordered mul-naengmyeon for dessert, and it was perfect for finishing after the meat. One piece of meat, one chopstickful of noodles!

The last thing we ordered was pork skin! But look at this. The thickness of the pork skin is no joke, right? Hahaha. When I first saw it, I wondered, “Isn't this going to be super tough?” But again, that worry was unnecessary. It was quite chewy yet tender for its thickness. Above all, the kids ate this well too. They kept asking for more because it was delicious, so our kids really had their fill of meat that day hahaha. From ogyeopsal to pork neck and pork skin, we were satisfied with the meat overall. By the time we finished and were leaving, there was a group that seemed to be having a company dinner, and they had brought white wine to enjoy with their meat. White wine with meat...

Free corkage and a marinated galbi promotion

I also really liked that Chamsutjip offers free corkage. Usually there is a charge or certain conditions, but at Chamsutjip it is free!!!

They say Chamsutjip is also known for its marinated galbi (beef short ribs). When I visited, they happened to be running a 2+1 marinated galbi promotion. We had already eaten ogyeopsal, pork neck, and pork skin that day, so we were far too full to add galbi... but I thought I would have to come back for the marinated galbi next time hahaha. Since the 2+1 promotion is on too, people who love marinated galbi might want to visit at this time. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable, so it seemed like a decent place not just for dinner but also for anyone looking for a Bitgaram-dong lunch spot. If you are looking for a BBQ restaurant for a group company dinner or a family meal in Naju Innovation City, Chamsutjip, let's go!! In particular, for anyone seeking a BBQ restaurant where they can eat comfortably with kids, the large space and floor seating make it seem like a good choice. I will be back next time for the marinated galbi! 🤎🥩