Korean BBQ in Galma-dong, Daejeon: pork nape & bomdong bibimbap

Three seconds after walking in, the atmosphere is 100% overheated.

Today I visited Yeongolyeontanjip Daejeon Galma (연골연탄집 대전갈마점), a briquette-grill pub in Galma-dong, Daejeon, full of smoky flavor, charm and heart! It's known for the deep fire flavor of briquette grilling and a range of special cuts, and it already has a big reputation among Galma-dong locals. It's near Galma Station, Galma Church and the Galma police substation.

What's the atmosphere like at Yeongolyeontanjip Galma?

Yeongolyeontanjip Daejeon Galma is a retro BBQ place with the cozy feel of an old-style briquette grill house, and every wall of the restaurant is filled with murals and drawings. The vibe was different from the moment I arrived at the front. It's less a neat, trendy BBQ restaurant and more an old-school briquette grill joint!

Walking in surprised me even more 👀 The whole interior is covered in murals and pictures, like stepping into an alley from old memories. It's not just one decorated wall; the entire place is painted, so there's something to look at wherever you turn. Waiting for the meat was fun thanks to that 😆 It felt like traveling back in time to an '80s–'90s street-food tent bar, a perfect place to share drinks and old stories with friends.

What's on the menu at Yeongolyeontanjip?

The signature dish is kkomjangeo (hagfish), and there are also meats like dwitgogi (pork nape and other back cuts) and makchang (pork intestine), plus grilled quail, mackerel and cuttlefish, all cooked over briquettes. They normally focus on Canadian hagfish, but because of recent supply problems they were selling Korean-caught hagfish instead.

Korean hagfish is a bit smaller than the Canadian kind but pricier, and the restaurant had posted a notice about it, which was helpful for customers. Still, hagfish isn't the only charm of Yeongolyeontanjip 😎

Is the briquette smoke or smell a problem?

The Galma branch is certified as using gas-free, clean-burning briquettes 🔥 Some people worry about smoke and smell with briquette grilling, but using clean briquettes reduces unwanted gas and keeps the meal more comfortable. The big plus is that you keep the deep smoky flavor of briquette fire while grilling cleanly!

What we ordered and how much it cost

• Dwitgogi (pork nape), 2 servings: ₩14,000 x 2
• Soju: ₩5,000
• Steamed rice: ₩1,000
• Mul naengmyeon (cold noodles): ₩6,000

What free extras and self bar items do you get?

After you order, before the meat arrives, they bring free chicken heart skewers, and they were a better treat than I expected. A perfect warm-up before the real meat feast ♥️

The self bar was pretty solid too ✨ Beyond the basic setup, you can help yourself to extra side dishes and lettuce wraps, which made the meal much easier.

Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) also comes free, so soup lovers will be happy. I grabbed rice cakes, potatoes, dumplings and other things to grill from the self bar, and the table got even fuller.

How does briquette-grilled pork nape (dwitgogi) taste?

Sadly, on the day I visited the signature hagfish was temporarily off the menu because of supply problems. Missing the signature dish was a bit disappointing, but the dwitgogi (pork nape) I ordered made up for it nicely!

Dwitgogi is pork neck, a special cut with only a small amount per pig, and its texture is really appealing! As soon as it started grilling over the briquettes, the smoky aroma crept up, and it felt like I'd already eaten half of it 🔥

The outside turns golden while the inside stays moist, so savory juices come out with every bite, and the chewy, springy texture typical of nape was fun to eat. If you like a clean yet richly flavored style rather than greasy pork belly, I totally recommend the dwitgogi.

With the sizzle of meat, the faint scent of briquettes and the mural-filled retro mood, you automatically start calling for a drink 🍻

Making bibimbap with the bomdong salad side dish

One side dish in the basic spread quietly catches your eye from the start: bomdong muchim (seasoned spring cabbage salad) 🥬 Anyone who knows the recent bomdong bibim trend will light up at it!

It's not just a side dish; it's practically an unlimited bomdong bibimbap factory, haha. Put a piece of meat on rice, add lots of bomdong salad, mix in a little sauce and stir...

Finishing with mul naengmyeon: Yeongolyeontanjip verdict

After the meat, the doenjang stew and the bomdong bibim vibes, you can't skip mul naengmyeon (cold noodles, ₩6,000) to finish. In one line, Yeongolyeontanjip is a retro briquette pub in Galma-dong where you get happily drunk on the mood and the drinks follow naturally. If you want atmosphere, smoky flavor and a proper drink, come to Yeongolyeontanjip in Galma-dong.