Namyangju Korean BBQ with pollock roe fried rice: 2002 Witch's

A tomato-jang pork belly specialist that has been running beside Myojeoksa Valley in Namyangju's Wabu-eup since 2002.

As autumn winds start to blow, it becomes the perfect season for a Namyangju drive and family dinner out.

After enjoying the fall scenery at Mului Jeongwon (Garden of Water) and Dumulmeori, follow the road up along Myojeoksa Valley and you'll find 2002 Witch's Arpeggio.

Arpeggio's signature dish is tomato-jang pork belly. It's different from the usual gochujang-marinated pork belly.

Arpeggio's tomato-jang is a sauce built around tomato blended with several other ingredients — no gochujang (chili paste) goes into it.

— From 2002 Witch's Arpeggio's own introduction —

2002 Witch's Arpeggio hours and parking

• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:00
• Break time: 15:30 - 17:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Parking: Available
• Notes: Group bookings possible

What is 2002 Witch's Arpeggio? A tomato-jang pork belly house by the valley

2002 Witch's Arpeggio is a tomato-jang pork belly restaurant in Wabu-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi. This is my second visit — the first time I came because the menu sounded so unusual, and it was so good I had to come back. They make the tomato-jang themselves in-house, so it's a place you can trust. There's also a creek running right alongside it, so you can eat with the sound of running water — a great view to go with the food.

The menu: a new tomato-jang kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup)

The menu isn't huge, but I heard they just launched a tomato-jang kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup)! Since the tomato-jang is such a reliably delicious sauce, I bet that's amazing too — definitely trying it next time :p

This time we ordered tomato-jang pork belly for three (₩60,000) and potato pancake (₩25,000).

What comes with the meal: the full table spread

How is tomato-jang pork belly different from gochujang pork belly?

Honestly, if nobody told you, you'd easily assume tomato-jang pork belly was just regular gochujang pork belly.

You'd want to say, 'Wait, this is made from gochujang?!' — the flavor leans more toward spicy gochujang than tomato, and it's fairly spicy. But since the owner makes the tomato-jang from scratch, you can enjoy this pork belly as a healthier option.

With the creek right beside us, listening to the water alongside the sizzle of the pork belly cooking — honestly, that's paradise right there. The staff grill everything for you, so all you have to do is enjoy the scenery^^

It takes about 10 to 20 minutes for everything to cook, and once they finish it off with a torch, it's basically done! Watching the tomato-jang bubble and sizzle away almost feels like a witch cooking up a spell — maybe that's where the name Witch's Arpeggio comes from. Such a unique dish, really. But the real point is — it's genuinely delicious♥

Whether you wrap the tomato-jang pork belly in lettuce with all the sides or just eat it plain, it's great either way. The food overall comes out clean and neat. I noticed other tables had clearly traveled from far away to be here — once you visit, you'll want to come back :p

Potato pancake, 25,000 won

I loved the potato pancake last time too, so I ordered it again. Crispy and nutty on the outside, it pairs really well with the pork belly and also makes a great drinking snack.

Pollock roe fried rice: make it yourself in the cauldron for crispy nurungji

Last time I was too full for the salted pollock roe fried rice, so this time I ordered it planning to take leftovers home if needed.

It's self-fry, so after a set amount of time you fry it yourself — mine got a little scorched on the bottom, which actually made it crispier, haha. Cooked in the cauldron, it turns into proper scorched rice.

You have to try this — it's incredibly nutty and delicious♥,♥ It's great with the tomato kimchi too, and its clean, nutty flavor makes it perfect to eat alongside the meat.