Sangbong Korean BBQ with open windows and draft beer: Super Naengsam

I really love Sangbong Food Alley — it's basically outdoor-dining paradise. Today I stopped by Super Naengsam, right at the entrance of the alley.

It had genuinely been ages since I'd eaten naengsam (thin-sliced frozen pork belly). As a kid we used to grill thin frozen pork belly at home sometimes, but these days I eat fresh pork belly way more often, so I hardly ever get naengsam anymore. Eating it again after so long tasted like nostalgia.

Easy to find right at the entrance of Sangbong Food Alley

The restaurant sits right at the entrance of Sangbong Food Alley — a spot you've probably walked past before. The big Super Naengsam sign catches your eye from a distance. Once it lights up at night, it puts you right in the mood for meat and a drink.

And personally, what I loved most was this big window wall. With the doors thrown wide open, even though you're technically sitting indoors, it feels almost like eating at an open-air street table. On a day like this when the weather's starting to cool down, that kind of open, breezy BBQ spot is exactly what you want.

Clean and spacious inside

Inside, long tables run toward the back, and the whole place feels clean overall. You might picture naengsam spots as old, crowded, no-frills joints, but this one is relatively bright and well put together. It looked like a good spot for a casual dinner with friends or naengsam with a drink.

Naengsam at ₩9,900 per serving — what we ordered

We ordered three servings of naengsam, two draft beers, and fried rice. Naengsam runs ₩9,900 per serving — considering how much eating out costs these days, it's an easy price point to add on an extra order without a second thought.

Basic sides that go well with naengsam

Once you order, a full spread comes out — lettuce for wraps, kimchi, garlic, shredded scallions, and various sides. Naengsam is definitely more fun when you pile on all the extras.

A Hangang ramyeon machine at a BBQ restaurant?

A few days ago I ate ramyeon (instant noodles) by the Hangang River for the first time in 10 years, and it was so good I still remember it vividly... and here I am running into this machine again. Grilling meat and then cooking up ramyeon to finish — that sounds like the perfect ending. A machine for cooking your own Hangang-style ramyeon at a BBQ restaurant was a genuinely fun idea.

Any sides you run out of, you can grab from the self-serve bar. It had everything from lettuce to kimchi and other side dishes, so it was convenient to take just as much as you wanted.

The tableware was individually wrapped too, which felt very hygienic.

Naengsam after a long time

And now, today's main event. Naengsam, after such a long time. The thin-sliced frozen pork belly went straight onto the grill with a sizzle. No need to wait around like you do for thick pork belly — cooking quickly is part of naengsam's charm.

Watching the naengsam sizzle away on the grill suddenly brought back memories from childhood. It feels like a trendy food these days, but for me it's actually a nostalgic taste from way back. Maybe that's why eating it again after so long felt extra welcome.

A piece of garlic on top, a bite with shredded scallion or kimchi wrapped in — that's good too. I think naengsam tastes even better piled up with extras rather than eaten plain.

Draft beer you can't pass up

Those letters on the menu — d r a f t b e e r — just couldn't be ignored. Pork belly is normally a soju thing, but the draft beer's presence on the menu was too strong to resist. Sitting in a place with the big windows wide open, feeling a cool breeze while grilling naengsam and sipping a draft beer, was exactly right. It also felt like a solid first stop for an easy night out in Sangbong Food Alley.

Since it's thin, it grills golden brown all the way to the edges, and once you start picking off pieces, it disappears fast. Haha.

After eating a fair amount, we threw the kimchi and shredded scallions onto the grill too. Kimchi grilled in pork belly fat needs no explanation.

Flip naengsam only twice.

And of course, fried rice to finish

After the meat, it's time for fried rice. The finely chopped minari (water dropwort) is the highlight. Once the fried rice arrives, they mix it right into the kimchi on the grill.

The result is classic BBQ-restaurant fried rice, evenly mixed with pork fat and kimchi seasoning. It's funny how you say you're full and then somehow still have room when the fried rice shows up. Haha. Eating naengsam followed by fried rice felt like a proper, complete meal.

A casual naengsam night in Sangbong Food Alley

Naengsam that felt extra welcome after so long. It was easy to get to right at the entrance of Sangbong Food Alley, and I especially loved how the open windows made it feel like outdoor dining even while sitting indoors. Naengsam, a cold draft beer, and finishing with fried rice made for a fully satisfying dinner.

And personally, the Hangang ramyeon machine was the coolest surprise! Next time I'll have to try grilling naengsam and then cooking up some ramyeon too. If you're looking for a no-fuss spot in Sangbong Food Alley for naengsam and a drink, Super Naengsam is worth a visit.

Super Naengsam Sangbong Main Branch info

• Location: Entrance of Sangbong Food Alley; easy to spot with the large sign as you head into the alley from Sangbong Station
• Hours: Daily 14:30–23:00, closed every Wednesday
• Parking: Not available
• Signature menu: Frozen pork belly ₩9,900 per serving, plus fried rice, ramyeon and other meal items, draft beer and other drinks
• Self-serve bar for lettuce, kimchi and other sides
• DIY Hangang-style ramyeon cooking machine on site
• Open window wall for an outdoor-dining feel