Gwangalli pork BBQ for a birthday dinner, 6 servings: Gwangan-mok

Today my boyfriend and I went to Gwangalli for pork BBQ to celebrate my mom's birthday! I wanted somewhere the staff would grill the meat for us so we could just relax and talk through dinner. That's how I landed on Gwangan-mok (광안목) — it's also known as one of the go-to pork BBQ spots in Gwangalli.

Where is Gwangan-mok Gwangan Branch and do you need a reservation?

Gwangan-mok is just 5 minutes from Gwangalli Beach! The exterior is clean and the location is great, so a lot of beachgoers stop by. Even with a 5pm reservation, the place was packed when I arrived! By the time we finished eating, there was a long wait line, so I'd really recommend booking ahead.

Ordering on Catch Table and how the table is set

Since we had a reservation, our table was already set when we arrived. The side dish bowls were ceramic, which felt clean and tidy. Orders go through Catch Table, so you don't even need to flag down staff!

On the Catch Table screen there's also a review event and tips on how to eat the meat for maximum flavor ❤️

Self-bar banchan at Gwangan-mok: the pickled onion wins

If you want more side dishes, there's a self-bar you can use! Staff seemed to be restocking it regularly — it stayed really tidy. The pickled onion (yangpa-jangajji) was so good that we kept refilling it along with lettuce wraps!

Inside Gwangan-mok and its group seating

The interior is clean, with group seating and a separate waiting area! Since it's a popular spot, every reserved table was full.

3 servings of pork belly and 3 of pork shoulder, grilled for you

The meat arrived! We ordered 3 servings of pork belly, 3 of pork shoulder, plus dongchimi cold noodles, steamed egg, and kimchi fried rice. The meat comes pre-seared and staff grill the rest right at the table — they did a great job.

Can you hear the sizzle? That sound alone made me even hungrier 😎

Once the meat is done grilling, they add vegetables on top like this — tomato, corn, potato. The tomato gets very hot, so be careful!

They showed us a few ways to eat the meat for the best flavor, and out of all of them, the restaurant's signature anchovy salt was the tastiest!! The meat basically melted in our mouths — felt like really good quality pork.

Steamed egg and dongchimi cold noodles, the top-ordered side

The steamed egg came out next! It had a cute round shape and was really soft — different from the stone-pot version, more like a Japanese-style steamed egg.

The dish I was most excited for — dongchimi (radish water kimchi) cold noodles. It's listed as the #1 ordered menu item, so I had to try it, and the broth was genuinely icy and delicious. The noodles were cooked just right, giving that classic naengmyeon feel. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a clean, refreshing finish after the meat. Really unique and tasty.

Finishing with cheese kimchi fried rice

Once we finished the dongchimi noodles, the cheese kimchi fried rice arrived. It was piled high with cheese, and the seasoning on the fried rice was just right.

Can you see the cheese stretching? They really don't skimp on the cheese.

Waiting area and restroom at Gwangan-mok

After eating, I went to use the restroom and passed a seating area that looked like a waiting space. It wasn't a smoking area — just a spot for people to wait, with cookies and candy laid out. You could really feel the thoughtfulness for waiting guests!

The restroom was unisex but kept very clean. It's not divided into stalls — just a single-occupancy space for one person at a time!

Is Gwangan-mok worth it for a family birthday dinner?

Everything was so good that we finished every last bite again! When we walked out, the waiting line was really long. I guess that's what happens when the meat is this fresh and tasty.

If you want to enjoy delicious meat with good people on a special day, I recommend Gwangan-mok in Gwangalli!

They say if you visit for lunch, you can get bibimbap and doenjang stew for free.