Jeongwang-dong charcoal BBQ: cubed deotsal and meljeot dip at Samstar

I went to Samstar Charcoal Grill (삼스타숯불구이) in Jeongwang-dong, a pork belly place full of charcoal aroma.

Today's story is about some really good pork belly I had in Jeongwang-dong. If you love meat, this is a place I'd like you to visit at least once: Samstar Charcoal Grill. I'm a big pork belly fan, so whenever I find a new BBQ place I have to try it, and this one was great in everything from meat quality to charcoal aroma, side dishes and meal menu. It's also a shop that brings back old-times nostalgia, haha. The flavor of meat grilled over charcoal was wonderful, and there's a mixed set where you can enjoy several cuts at once, so I ate very happily.

Samstar Charcoal Grill: location, hours and parking

Samstar Charcoal Grill is at 47 Jungsimsangga-ro, Unit 102, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi, and is open Monday to Saturday, 17:00–23:00 (last order 22:30). It's closed every Sunday, and for parking you can use the Sihwa parking lot behind the building, free for 2 hours.

What's the atmosphere at Samstar Charcoal Grill like?

The moment I walked in, the place looked clean, and the tables were spaced generously, so I could eat comfortably. It looked good for family meals, get-togethers with friends and company dinners too. Hodori (the 1988 Seoul Olympics tiger mascot)? was greeting me, I miss you Hodori, haha.

Self-serve zone for extra side dishes

Another plus at Samstar Charcoal Grill is the self-serve zone for extra side dishes. When eating meat you keep wanting more lettuce wraps and banchan (side dishes), and it was nice to just grab them myself without calling a staff member. I could take as much as I needed without feeling awkward, and the dishes were kept neat. I could enjoy plenty of side dishes with the meat, which made the whole meal comfortable.

What did I order at Samstar Charcoal Grill?

This time I ordered the Samstar Mix (Paldo pork belly, cubed deotsal, juicy cheonggyeop), plus perilla oil buckwheat noodles and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), one each chosen from the options. I wanted to taste a variety of cuts, so I picked the Samstar Mix, and it was a good choice, haha.

• Samstar Mix
• Paldo pork belly
• Cubed deotsal (extra-meaty pork cut)
• Juicy cheonggyeop (thin-layered pork belly)
• Perilla oil buckwheat noodles (choose one from the options)
• Doenjang stew (choose one from the options)

Basic table setting at Samstar Charcoal Grill

The basic table setting at Samstar Charcoal Grill comes with wasabi, ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste), meljeot (salted fish dip), raw garlic, lettuce, pickled garlic and scallion salad, plus kimchi and mushrooms that you grill together on the grill. I think side dishes matter at a BBQ place, and this lineup really brought out the flavor of the meat. With crunchy vegetables, assorted pickles and sauces, I could pair things however I liked, and when the meat started to feel heavy, the side dishes cleaned up my palate, so I enjoyed it even more. Dipping the meat lightly in the meljeot really boosted the savory depth, so delicious. And being able to grill the kimchi and mushrooms on the grill was even better.

Pork belly dipped in tonkatsu sauce and tonkatsu powder

Personally, the most intriguing highlight at Samstar Charcoal Grill was the tonkatsu sauce and tonkatsu powder. Dipping the meat in crispy tonkatsu powder and adding tonkatsu sauce gave it a different charm, and it went together better than I expected, so it was fun to eat.

How is the charcoal at Samstar Charcoal Grill?

The charcoal at Samstar Charcoal Grill had a stable yet strong heat that cooked the meat quickly, and the charcoal aroma soaked in subtly. From the moment the charcoal came in, my expectations shot up. I think charcoal is one of the key factors deciding a BBQ place's taste, and places with good charcoal often have good meat too. Samstar was the same, with very good charcoal.

Samstar Mix: pork belly, cubed deotsal and juicy cheonggyeop

Finally the main dish of the day, the Samstar Mix, arrived. It came with pork belly, cubed deotsal and juicy cheonggyeop, and the look of it alone was amazing, my mouth was watering. The meat looked fresh in color and had a good thickness, so I was excited before even eating. Eating just one item is fine, but the real plus is enjoying several cuts at once, haha.

Pork belly: crispy outside, juicy inside

From the Samstar Mix, I grilled the pork belly first. The sizzling sound the moment it hit the grill was so good. The nicely browned pork belly was rich in juices, crispy outside and moist inside, with a great texture. The charcoal aroma was subtly infused, so it clearly had a different charm from meat cooked on a regular grill, and the nutty flavor filled my mouth and kept me reaching for more. It was delicious wrapped in lettuce, and just dipped in salt it was plenty good. Pork belly really is a no-fail menu anytime.

Cubed deotsal: the most memorable cut

Personally, the most memorable cut in the Samstar Mix was the cubed deotsal. It showed a distinct presence just from the thick-cut look. Cut into bite-size pieces, it had a nutty meaty flavor the more I chewed, and a pleasant springiness that made the texture really good. It wasn't tough at all, both tender and chewy, and it was juicy too, so the meat flavor filled my mouth with every bite. Even if you usually eat only pork belly, I hope you'll try the cubed deotsal once. I immediately understood why it's a popular cut.

Juicy cheonggyeop: best lightly dipped in salt

The juicy cheonggyeop, whose name alone builds expectations, was really tasty too. As it grilled, the fat rendered off just right and made it look even more appetizing, and one bite really was full of juices like the name says. It was outstanding in nuttiness and tenderness, and the flavor deepened the more I chewed. Combined with the charcoal aroma it was even more appealing, and personally I liked it best lightly dipped in salt. The natural taste of the meat came through so well that I could enjoy it plenty without any seasoning.

The charm of meat with charcoal aroma

The most satisfying part of Samstar Charcoal Grill was, of course, the charcoal aroma. Meat grilled over charcoal definitely tastes different. The outside was nicely grilled and the inside held plenty of juices, so the more I chewed, the happier the taste. The meat quality and the charcoal heat were both good, so I could enjoy it to the very end.

Meal menu at Samstar Charcoal Grill: buckwheat noodles and doenjang stew

The gochujang buckwheat noodles (makguksu) at Samstar Charcoal Grill had a sweet-and-sour sauce that soaked well into the noodles and really woke up my appetite. The chewy noodles and spicy gochujang sauce went well together, and eating them after the meat cut the greasiness cleanly. The spiciness was moderate, not harsh, so I could enjoy it without strain, and it was even better with the pork belly.

The doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) had a much deeper, richer savory flavor than I expected. The refreshing broth from the blue crab and the nutty doenjang flavor blended well, and my spoon kept going back. It was packed with ingredients, so it was very satisfying, and it was just right to have after the meat. The broth was not salty but moderately rich, a hearty meal dish that made me empty a bowl of rice in no time.

Why I want to go back to Samstar Charcoal Grill in Jeongwang-dong

Samstar Charcoal Grill in Jeongwang-dong was good in everything: meat quality, charcoal aroma and meal menu. The pork belly was juicy and nutty, and the cubed deotsal impressed me with its chewy texture and deep meaty flavor. The juicy cheonggyeop had abundant juices just like its name and a perfect match with the charcoal aroma, and with the buckwheat noodles and doenjang stew added, it was a complete meal. If you're looking for a good pork belly place in Jeongwang-dong, I recommend Samstar Charcoal Grill. You can truly enjoy the rich flavor of charcoal-grilled meat here, so if you love meat, please visit once :)