Sejong Korean BBQ after work with unlimited doenjang stew: Hanmaeum

After work on a weekday, I went to Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Sejong Daepyeong Branch for dinner.

Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Sejong Daepyeong Branch: location and parking

It is in the building next to the Starbucks in Boram-dong. Hours are 11:30 AM to 10 PM, and the kids' zone is open until 9:30 PM. There is an Ediya Coffee on the first floor and a Starbucks across the street, so it is the perfect route for taking care of dessert in one go too.

The parking area is very spacious. There is only one entrance and exit, and there is a curb, so be careful when leaving. Parking is free.

You can hear the lively buzz right from the door.

A large kids' zone and roomy seating

The kids' zone is the first thing you see when you enter. There were so many children that, even though I took this on the way out, there were still quite a few! The kids' zone is huge and has lots of play equipment, including a slide and a bouncy trampoline, so it looked like a great place for kids to spend time. Great for parents to enjoy their meal too.

I wondered why there was no wait, but there are just so many seats. I took these when we left because there were lots of customers, yet it was so busy that there were barely any empty seats. With tables for four and six, Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Sejong Daepyeong Branch lets even families sit comfortably with plenty of room.

The half-pig set ordered at the table

You can order through the table ordering system. We ordered the 500g half-pig set. They also have lunch specials, so it would make such a good-value lunch if it were near the office—such a shame for meㅠ

I think the side dishes vary by branch, but the Sejong Daepyeong Branch served a wider variety.

Scallion spicy chewy noodles that go beautifully with meat

Their signature scallion spicy chewy noodles! The generous portion of jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles) was great alongside the meat. You can add more noodles for ₩2,000. Of the branches I have tried, this one had the most jjolmyeon, haha.

Use the self-service bar for any side dishes you need more of, but mushrooms have to be ordered separately.

The 500g half-pig set includes pork belly, five-layer pork belly, pork neck, pork jowl, and gabrisal (pork shoulder cut), and it was more than enough for the two of us.

Thick, tender pork neck

We grilled the beautiful-looking pork neck first. Wow, the color of the meat was so good, haha. This pork neck looked especially fresh.

Since we came after work on a weekday, we had a simple drink with the meal too. I cannot forget this taste....

I really do not like pork neck, but this was thick and not tough at all, so I enjoyed it so much. Pork belly is delicious too, but you all know that five-layer pork belly with its chewy skin attached is even better, right?

For pork jowl with the best crisp bite, try cutting it into chunky kkakdugi-style cubes and grilling it. The springy, firm texture becomes even more pronounced, and you can taste the juices and savory fat even better!

Dip it in the sesame oil sauce from the self-service bar for extra nutty goodness. So good.

Doenjang-jjigae with unlimited broth and ingredients

One big reason I love the Sejong Daepyeong Branch is its unlimited-refill doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). Is it bland just because it is unlimited? Not at all—it is tastier than the doenjang-jjigae at most Korean BBQ places. You can keep it simmering at the table, and refill both the broth and ingredients at the self-service bar, so if you love doenjang-sulbap, like me, you absolutely have to try it.

It is a kid-friendly restaurant, with a claw machine for children and coffee and hot chocolate offered for dessert. I could see why Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Sejong Daepyeong Branch has so many customers.

The restaurant is spacious, making it good for work dinners, and above all, the kids' room was large and clean, so it was such a great place to visit with children. I live in Jongchon-dong, but I may have to start coming to the Daepyeong Branch, haha. The owner is kind and the meat is delicious—Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Sejong Daepyeong Branch gets my huge recommendation!