Daegu Jongno makchang grill for offal beginners, pork neck set: Bongja

A while ago I recommended mungtigi (Daegu-style raw beef) as a food to try on a Daegu trip, and today I'm bringing you a review of another Daegu specialty: makchang (grilled beef intestine).

To be honest, I'm not a fan of makchang, gopchang or offal in general, so I was nervous, but I ended up enjoying this Daegu makchang specialist, Bongja Makchang (봉자막창), a lot. Here's my review!

Where is Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch, and what is it like inside?

Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch is in Jongno, Jung-gu, near Dongseongno, so it's easy to get to. I didn't know this, but it has apparently been on TV a ton. Expectations UP!

Since it's a famous spot, there are waiting seats outside for customers in line.

The place runs long toward the back, so it's much bigger than it looks from outside. It's a decent size for a company dinner or group gathering in Jung-gu, Daegu.

They show games like soccer and baseball when there's a match on, so it's a good place for sports fans.

Since it's a makchang restaurant, your clothes can pick up the smell, so I liked that you can store your bags under the chairs.

What can you eat at Bongja Makchang if you're new to offal?

Bongja Makchang is a makchang specialist in Jongno, Daegu, but it also sells regular meat like pork belly and pork neck. That's why I recommend it to people like me who aren't used to offal.

So we ordered the set menu with a makchang and pork neck combo (offal + meat).

Is ramyeon unlimited at the Bongja Makchang self-bar?

At the self-bar you can help yourself not only to side dishes but to ramyeon too, and it's unlimited! Big portions, and it's a seriously appealing place for ramyeon lovers.

Even though there's a self-bar, they set out the basic side dishes for you at the start.

What comes in the makchang and pork neck set, and how to grill it

The tables at Bongja Makchang have two burners, so you can grill meat and cook a stew at the same time.

When you order the set menu, they also bring bracken, mushrooms and rice cakes. Grilled bracken with grilled meat is really good, and I loved that it's included by default.

They put all the meat on the grill and you cook it yourself. The kiosk keeps showing how to grill it well, so I followed along.

Everything's great, but the only downside(?) is that I wanted to eat right away and had to wait for it to grill...

How did the pork neck and makchang at Bongja Makchang taste?

I heard makchang tastes best grilled crisp, so I tried the pork neck first. It was so juicy and good that I wondered if this was a pork neck specialist rather than a makchang place.

Dipping it alternately in salt and meljeot (salted anchovy sauce) kept it from getting boring.

For the makchang, be patient and grill it until crisp!

Maybe because it was grilled crisp, it wasn't greasy at all. It was good with the ssamjang-style makjang (seasoned bean paste) that came with it, and good with just the sesame oil dip too. The rice cakes to finish were perfect!

Halfway through the makchang I couldn't resist and ordered a zero beer right away. They have zero beer, so it's fine even if you've brought your car.

Is the 5,000 won beef brisket doenjang stew a good portion?

The beef brisket doenjang stew (doenjang jjigae, soybean paste stew) at Bongja Makchang is ₩5,000. For five thousand won I wasn't expecting much brisket, but it came out packed with brisket and zucchini, which surprised me.

You boil it on the burner next to the grill, so you can eat it while waiting for the meat to cook, which I was happy about too.

Free steamed egg with the set, shaved ice dessert and deodorizer spray on the way out

I heard that if you order a set at Bongja Makchang, the steamed egg is a free service. I was just getting full when they brought out the steamed egg! You can even get more.

I was stuffed, but I couldn't pass up shaved ice, so I ordered the included bingsu (shaved ice dessert). It was old-fashioned shaved ice, sweet and cold, just right after meat. I was full and drank down the shaved ice anyway ^_^

As I paid and was leaving, the owner suddenly came running out shouting, "Deodorizer!!! Want me to spray you!!!" and I was startled, haha. He came all the way outside to spray us and press candy into our hands, and I was really touched by the service.

Is Bongja Makchang a good pick for makchang beginners?

As a makchang beginner I worried it would taste bad, but at Bongja Makchang both the makchang and the meat were great. With meat on the menu, even offal beginners can go. How about Bongja Makchang as a Daegu makchang pick?