Sanbon BBQ restaurant: aged pork four cuts and nurungji sungnyung

I was heading home after work when I suddenly got a huge craving for meat. My husband and I have a go-to BBQ spot we visit often, and it popped straight into my head, so I changed direction immediately.

It's less than five minutes' walk from Sanbon Station Exit 3, so it's really easy to get to.

Where is Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch, and what is the room like?

Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch is on the 2nd floor of a building within 5 minutes' walk of Sanbon Station Exit 3. Head up to the second floor and you're greeted by a wide, open space.

The tables are spaced generously so you can sit comfortably.

Ordering the couple set at Geobugi Dongne: what you get and what it costs

Our couple's go-to combo — today it's this again

There's no real deliberation over the menu. We ordered the same combo we always get whenever we come, straight from the kiosk.

• Couple set 500g ₩32,500
• Freshly cooked cauldron rice (2 servings) ₩4,000
• Doenjang jjigae ₩4,000
• Extra mushrooms ₩3,000
• Table setting fee ₩5,000

There's a ₩5,000 table setting fee per table. Given how generous and varied the service is, it's not a waste at all.

The couple set comes with 200g of pork belly plus 100g each of jowl, gabrisal and neck meat, along with mixed mushrooms, so you can enjoy a variety of cuts all at once.

What is on the self-serve bar: wrap greens and side dishes

Loaded up properly at the self-serve bar, ready to eat

Before the meat arrived, we grabbed a good mix of lettuce wraps and side dishes from Geobugi Dongne's self-serve bar.

There are lots of options, but I'd recommend taking just enough to eat at first — you can always go back for more if you run out.

We set up mushrooms, lettuce and perilla leaves for wraps, and put the garlic in a small silver dish with sesame oil drizzled over it, placed at one side of the grill.

The self-serve bar is always kept clean and well stocked, which is very satisfying every time we come.

How do the four 336-hour aged pork cuts taste?

336-hour aged pork — each cut has its own charm

The pork is aged for 336 hours using patented technology, apparently. As soon as it hits the grill, there's no gamey smell and the juices are still alive.

Pork jowl (hangjeongsal)

The pork jowl has a distinctively chewy texture, and the more you chew, the more savory flavor rises up.

This is personally my favorite cut. Before you know it, one piece after another is just gone.

Gabrisal (pork collar cap)

The gabrisal has beautiful marbling, and as it sizzles on the grill, the fat melts away smoothly.

The texture is soft and a rich flavor spreads through your whole mouth.

Pork neck (moksal)

The pork neck has less fat, so it's light and tender — I really like it.

It's clean-tasting without being greasy, which makes it especially good wrapped with mountain garlic leaves or radish wraps.

Pork belly and grilled kimchi

Pork belly is, of course, the classic BBQ order. The outside gets crispy while the inside stays juicy, so one bite naturally draws a satisfied sound out of you.

Eating it together with kimchi grilled on the pan makes for a really delicious combination.

You can also grill potatoes, fish cake and rice cakes, which makes for a fun meal with lots of texture variety.

Cauldron rice, doenjang jjigae and a nurungji sungnyung finish

Cauldron rice and doenjang jjigae — the combo that doubles the flavor of the meat

Geobugi Dongne's cauldron rice (2 servings, ₩4,000) arrives right on time if you order it in advance, timed perfectly with when you're eating the meat. Lift the lid and it's glistening — freshly cooked, sticky, with plump grains that taste great even on their own.

Because the rice is so good, the meat and the doenjang jjigae taste even better too.

After scooping out the rice, we poured water into the pot, and by the end of the meal it made an amazing sungnyung (scorched rice tea).

The doenjang jjigae has cheongyang chili in it for a sharp, spicy kick that blends beautifully with the deep, savory flavor of the soybean paste. When you're getting a bit greasy from the meat, one spoonful cuts right through it — and somehow makes you crave more meat. It's a magic stew like that.

After the meal, finishing off with sweet soft-serve ice cream puts you in a great mood. I have zero talent for stacking ice cream neatly, haha...

After a tiring day at work, a meal like this feels like it brings you back to life. If you're looking for good pork BBQ in Sanbon, I'd definitely recommend Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch.