Pork barbecue restaurant in Suyeong, Busan: Geobugi Dongne

I had ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly), hangjeongsal (pork jowl), and samgyeopsal (pork belly) at Geobugi Dongne (거북이동네) Busan Namcheon Branch. There were plenty of sides to have with the meat, and the sofa seating, high chairs, and children’s screening room made it stand out as a place for a family meal.

How far is it from Namcheon Station, and where did I park?

The restaurant is on the first floor at 414 Suyeong-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan, and is a three-minute walk from Namcheon Station. There is no dedicated parking. I used the nearby paid Samik Parking Lot.

Are there seats and facilities for dining with a baby?

The interior was spacious and clean, and all the seats were sofas, so I ate comfortably. During my visit, the usual greasy smell and smoke of a barbecue restaurant did not bother me much.

High chairs were available, and there were many family groups. There is also a separate children’s screening room, which is useful to know when visiting with children. There were spacious group room seats for larger parties as well, which looked suitable for family gatherings or work dinners.

How do you order, and what is at the salad bar?

I ordered through the kiosk at my table. The menu included pork, beef, shabu-shabu, set menus, and several meal options.

The salad bar was generously stocked, so I helped myself to vegetables and side dishes to eat with the meat. The vegetables were fresh, and the side dishes were neatly maintained.

There was a wide variety of kimchi, pickled vegetables, and sauces, so I could enjoy the same meat differently depending on the side dish. I was happy with the taste of the sides too.

How did the ogyeopsal, hangjeongsal, and samgyeopsal compare?

I first ordered 400g of ogyeopsal and 200g of hangjeongsal. Once the sides were set out too, the table was full.

What texture and pairings worked well with the ogyeopsal?

Ogyeopsal is the cut I order every time I visit Geobugi Dongne. Because the skin is attached, it was chewy and crisp when grilled.

After grilling it until nicely browned on the grill, the outside was crisp while the inside stayed moist. I liked the combination of chewy skin, savory fat, and tender meat.

It paired well with garlic or sauce in a wrap. I also liked grilled white kimchi with wasabi.

How rich and textured was the hangjeongsal?

The hangjeongsal gave off a savory aroma as soon as it hit the grill. Its tender meat had a chewy, almost crisp texture, which made it feel different from the ogyeopsal.

It was fattier than the other cuts, but to me it was savory rather than greasy. With salt or wasabi, I could really taste the hangjeongsal itself.

How was the extra order of samgyeopsal?

I added another 200g of samgyeopsal. The total amount of meat we ordered for two people was 800g.

As the samgyeopsal browned on the grill, it gave off a savory aroma. I was satisfied with its juices and the rich flavor of the pork.

How long did the sotbap take, and how did I finish the meal?

I ordered sotbap (rice cooked in an individual pot) as well. It is cooked as soon as it is ordered, so it took about 15 minutes to arrive. I ate the warm rice with the meat and finished with nurungji (toasted rice crust).

I cooked doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) directly at the table. Its savory, rich broth paired well with rice and the meat. After the meal, I had savory, sweet milk ice cream.