Hwamyeong-dong Korean BBQ, Busan: tortilla chipotle wraps, Go Ok-hui

What kind of BBQ restaurant is Go Ok-hui Hwamyeong Main Branch?

Go Ok-hui Hwamyeong Main Branch (고옥희 화명본점) is a rising meat spot in Hwamyeong-dong, and it specializes in fully grilled meat: every cut comes out perfectly cooked. When you go out for BBQ, usually one person is frantically grilling, getting oil splattered on their clothes and breathing smoke, and everyone ends up eating in a rush, right? At Go Ok-hui you really just pick up your chopsticks, so it feels like heaven. I'll share my honest visit review, covering the atmosphere, the taste and the convenience, which they nailed!

Go Ok-hui Hwamyeong Main Branch location and parking

Go Ok-hui Hwamyeong Main Branch is at 10 Hwamyeong-daero, Units 102 and 103, Buk-gu, Busan. From Lotte Mart in Hwamyeong-dong, keep going toward Hwamyeong Station and you'll find it on the first floor of the building across from the movie theater. If you use the building's underground parking lot, they say they cover 2 hours of free parking. Hours are Mon–Sat 17:00–22:30 and Sunday 16:00–21:30.

What is the atmosphere like at Go Ok-hui?

Soft lighting and a retro feel greet you from the entrance, and there's none of that typical BBQ smoke, so it's comfortable. Inside, neatly arranged tables and a stylish yet homey interior welcomed me. There was no thick smoke or stuffy air, so it felt very pleasant the moment I walked in.

It's so well known as a Hwamyeong-dong favorite that there's even a waiting list, and I hear it's extra popular because the meat comes out already grilled for you.

Go Ok-hui menu and ordering the mixed platter

Because oil drains out during cooking and the weight shrinks, Go Ok-hui always serves 20–30g more than the amount you order. We ordered the mixed platter: 200g gochujang pork belly, 200g aged pork belly and pork skin, and I ordered soju too, for the first time in a while.

Side dishes and table seasonings

Once you order, side dishes like wrap vegetables, a special sauce, scallion salad and pickles (jangajji) are set out quickly. The fresh lettuce wraps that go so well with meat were the start of a really solid lineup.

The table has salt, soybean powder, curry powder and mayonnaise, so just spoon some onto your small plate.

I ordered soju and this BBQ place even gave me milk thistle (a liver-support supplement)!! Amazing.

Steamed egg before the meat

At Go Ok-hui, steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) comes out first while the meat is being grilled. I scooped up a big spoonful of the steaming egg, and it was soft and savory, a perfect palate opener before the meat arrived.

How does the grilled pork belly taste in the Go Ok-hui mixed platter?

The mixed platter arrives with golden-grilled pork belly already cut into bite-size pieces on the grill plate, and you can eat right away. While I was enjoying the steamed egg, the main dish I'd been waiting for showed up, and since I was hungry I could dig in immediately, which I loved.

Let me wet my throat first, and then we'll get properly started.

Aged pork belly

Even without dipping it in anything, Go Ok-hui's aged pork belly is crispy outside with juices running inside. The savory flavor filled my mouth the more I chewed. Maybe because an expert controls the heat and grills it, it was so much juicier and softer than anything I've grilled myself.

Gochujang pork belly

Go Ok-hui's gochujang pork belly pairs a sweet-and-spicy gochujang marinade with a faint charcoal aroma, and the savory depth is crazy good!! It isn't overly hot, just pleasantly spicy, and it makes you think of white rice. If you visit Go Ok-hui in Hwamyeong-dong, I strongly recommend adding this gochujang pork belly as a must-order.

Pork skin: regular or spicy

Go Ok-hui's pork skin (kkopdegi) is thick, and you can choose regular or spicy. I dipped a thick piece in the nutty soybean powder and spicy sauce, and the texture, crispy outside and chewy inside, was amazing. The savory flavor keeps coming as you chew, so it was the perfect side dish for a glass of soju. The spicy version is very spicy, so I highly recommend it to spice lovers.

How to enjoy Go Ok-hui pork belly

Go Ok-hui's pork belly is delicious with scallion salad and pickled radish wraps, and also with the chives, kimchi, mushrooms and bracken (gosari) grilled alongside it.

And one of my favorite ways to eat it is to put meat on a tortilla and top it with olives and chipotle sauce or mayonnaise. It's seriously so good, T_T! If you go to Go Ok-hui in Hwamyeong-dong, definitely try it this way.

Go Ok-hui desserts and amenities

Go Ok-hui Hwamyeong Main Branch has yakgwa (a traditional honey cookie), candy and yogurt drinks for dessert, and also dental floss, toothpicks, mouthwash and tissues. If you're looking for a Hwamyeong-dong BBQ place that grills everything for you and tastes great, don't hesitate and run to Go Ok-hui! I'm 200% going back.