Post-workout Korean BBQ in Sinnonhyeon: 600g black pork, salad first

I had a workout near Sinnonhyeon Station over the weekend, and afterward I went to refill on protein properly. Today I'm introducing a Sinnonhyeon Station favorite where you can really enjoy juicy Jeju black pork: Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang (더바른정육식당).

Hours and location of Deo Bareun in Sinnonhyeon

Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch is 1 minute from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station. Weekday and Saturday hours differ, and it's closed every Sunday.

• Mon–Fri: 11:00 - 23:00 (break time)
• Sat: 12:00 - 22:00 (no break time)
• Sun: closed (every Sunday)
• 1 minute from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 3

Free corkage and takeout discount

Corkage is free on Saturdays and public holidays, so next time I should bring a bottle of red wine. Pickup orders also get a whopping 20% off! Good-quality meat would be delicious grilled at home too.

What's the atmosphere like?

It was a clean, relaxed place for a leisurely meal and conversation. I'd booked for 2:30pm, and my first impression the moment I walked in was "so neat and tidy." I came with a friend I hadn't seen in 4 months, and the atmosphere was perfect for taking our time and talking.

What's in the Jeju black pork set, and how does it taste?

We ordered the signature Jeju black pork set, and after we sat down and ordered, it was served right away without a long wait. The meat is neatly scored on the surface, and half a fresh pine mushroom comes with it.

The biggest strength of Deo Bareun in Sinnonhyeon is that the pork belly isn't too fatty. At most pork places there's so much fat that you end up trimming it off, but here the ratio of lean meat to fat was perfect, and it looked mild and clean just from the sight of it.

600g of pork belly, neck and jowl, grilled by the staff

The Jeju black pork set comes with pork belly, neck and jowl, 600g in total, so you taste several cuts at once, which is great value. Best of all, the staff grill the meat for you!

Grilling it yourself usually takes some effort, but they cooked it to just the right doneness, which was really comfortable. Thanks to that, I could chat without interruption with my friend, whom I hadn't seen in a while.

What side dishes come with the meal?

The basic table setting was neat and excellent. The table has salt, wasabi and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), so you can put as much as you like on your small plate.

The white kimchi that comes as a side was also outstanding, cool and clean-tasting.

Fiber first: seasoned lettuce and lettuce salad

I pay attention to the order I eat my nutrients in, so to fill up on fiber first I started with the seasoned lettuce and the lettuce salad. The seasoned lettuce comes in a big bowl with tongs, and there's plenty for everyone to take onto their own plates.

The lettuce seasoning was richly savory and tasty, and the lettuce salad in particular had a sauce clearly different from other places, so I enjoyed it even more.

Myeongi namul, pa-kimchi and grilled garlic

Eating the black pork with myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic leaves) or pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi) is so good that it just keeps going without ever feeling greasy. The side dishes weren't skimpy either, just the right amount for a meal!

You could feel the care in the quality of the side dishes, and the flavors set it apart from other restaurants, which I loved! Garlic also comes out, and when I asked, they grilled it on the grill with oil.

Eating in the order salad, meat, then rice

After the side dishes I started craving rice, so I ordered steamed rice too. Going from fiber (salad) to protein (meat) to carbs (rice) left me nicely full. The meat was so generous and filling that there was hardly any room for rice!

Is it a good pork restaurant near Sinnonhyeon Station?

With a clean grill, strong heat and side dishes with a variety of flavors, I was very satisfied with Deo Bareun. If you're looking for a good pork place near Sinnonhyeon Station, I strongly recommend it. I'll definitely come back to refill on protein after my next workout!