Uijeongbu Korean BBQ with minari pork belly: Cheonpo Hoegwan

Lately, I've been having so much fun seeking out good pork belly places. This time, I visited Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Branch (천포회관 의정부점), near Uijeongbu Station.

Cheonpo Hoegwan near Uijeongbu Station: location and parking

Outside the restaurant

The location was one thing I liked right away. It is really close to Uijeongbu Station and in the newer part of town, so it was easy to find.

For anyone driving, about three cars can park in front of the restaurant, so that is good to know.

Personally, when I make plans in Uijeongbu, whether a place is easy to reach by public transportation matters more than you might think. This place had decent access, so it seemed worth considering for a gathering too.

A spacious, tidy interior with group rooms

Inside the restaurant

As soon as I walked in, I was a little surprised by how spacious the interior was.

Everything was neatly arranged overall, and the tables did not feel cramped together.

There were also rooms for group gatherings, so I thought it could work well for work dinners or family meals. If you are looking for a meat restaurant near Uijeongbu Station, it seems like one to keep in mind. It would be an especially good fit if you are looking around Uijeongbu City Hall or the new town area for somewhere a group can go.

Ordering pork belly and the complimentary sides

Menu

We ordered two servings of pork belly, one pot-cooked rice, and one bowl of rice.

While waiting for the meat, I tried the complimentary sides one by one, and the spread was more generous than I expected, which made me happy. There were wrap vegetables, all kinds of sauces, a minari kimchi pancake, yukhoe (Korean seasoned raw beef), and whelk soybean paste stew. I especially loved the minari kimchi pancake, yukhoe, and whelk soybean paste stew that came as sides.

A minari kimchi pancake you grill yourself

Rather than bringing out a finished pancake, they let you grill the minari kimchi pancake yourself, which was surprisingly fun. It tasted even better eaten hot after cooking it myself. The minari had a subtle fragrance, and the kimchi really got my appetite going before the meat arrived.

The yukhoe was not just ordinary yukhoe either—it came tossed with minari, and the fresh herbal fragrance worked better than I expected. The beef itself was tender and not at all heavy, so I kept reaching for it before the meat even came out.

And the whelk soybean paste stew was one of those flavors that seems simple but keeps coming back to mind. It went so well tucked into a wrap. By then, the meat had not even arrived, but I was already getting excited.

Thick pork belly with minari and kimchi

When the pork belly finally arrived, my first thought was: this meat is seriously thick. It looked delicious from the start, and watching it turn golden on the grill made me want to eat it right away.

Cheonpo Hoegwan says it focuses on fresh ingredients, precise aging procedures, and thorough hygiene management. After trying it, I could see why it emphasizes those points. There was almost no off smell, and the thickness gave it a great chewy texture. Golden on the outside and moist inside, it was good even on its own.

They also serve minari and kimchi alongside it, and that is another highlight. Grilling them with the meat adds minari's fragrance and kimchi's tang to the rich flavor of pork belly, so I kept reaching for more.

Best of all, the minari and kimchi can be refilled as often as you like. If you run short while eating the meat, you can add more without feeling self-conscious. So I think anyone who likes minari pork belly would be quite pleased. I already love the pork belly-and-minari combination, and I liked this place even more because I could have plenty of minari with it.

One unexpectedly great thing about this meal was just how many things there were to eat with the meat. I put pork, minari, kimchi, and different sauces into wrap vegetables in slightly different combinations, and the same pork belly kept tasting different.

I especially tried the whelk ssamjang (savory soybean dipping paste), and it went amazingly well with the pork belly. At first, I thought it would be just another ssamjang, but it was so good in a wrap that I kept eating it with the meat. One thing to note: they give you a generous portion, but it cannot be refilled separately. Still, the initial serving was not lacking, so I did not feel too disappointed during the meal.

Finishing the meal with pot-cooked rice

After eating a good amount of meat, we had the pot-cooked rice we ordered too. You cannot leave out rice after eating meat, right? Having pot-cooked rice with it really made the meal feel more filling. We had two servings of pork belly, pot-cooked rice, and a bowl of rice, and by the end I was absolutely stuffed.

When choosing a meat restaurant in Uijeongbu, I personally prefer somewhere that is satisfying overall, not just somewhere with good meat. In that respect, Cheonpo Hoegwan was quite good. Along with beef brisket, pork belly, and samgyeopsal (Korean pork belly), there were plenty of options such as bulgogi, yukhoe, and soybean paste stew, so I already found myself wanting to try something else next time.

My overall take on Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Branch

After eating there, I could understand why it is worth introducing as a good restaurant in Uijeongbu. It is close to Uijeongbu Station, easy to get to, and conveniently located in the new town area. The restaurant was spacious and tidy, making it nice for a meal with friends, while the rooms also seemed suitable for work dinners or family meals. Above all, the staff were kind, so there was nothing uncomfortable about the meal.

The meat was thick, pleasantly textured, and clean-tasting without any off smell. With plenty of minari and kimchi to enjoy alongside it, plus the delicious minari kimchi pancake, yukhoe, and whelk soybean paste stew served as sides, it was a satisfying meal from beginning to end.

If you are craving pork belly while looking for somewhere near Uijeongbu Station, I think it is worth stopping by. It also seems like a solid option for anyone looking for a restaurant near Uijeongbu City Hall, in Uijeongbu New Town, or simply for a meat restaurant in Uijeongbu. We were absolutely bursting after just two servings this time. For this quality at this price, I think I would come back. Next time, I am already curious to try beef brisket or bulgogi instead of the pork belly. That is the thing about good meat—you finish eating and immediately wonder about the next menu item. If you are looking for pork belly in Uijeongbu, especially if you like it with minari and kimchi, keep Cheonpo Hoegwan in mind. I was quite satisfied with this visit.