Car-free Kakao Taxi trip to a Namyangju valley BBQ: 2002 Witch's

Why did I only find out about this now. A near-Seoul Namyangju gem, an outdoor creekside barbecue spot where you can bring your dog: 2002 Witch's Arpeggio.

Where is 2002 Witch's Arpeggio, and what are the hours?

2002 Witch's Arpeggio sits by Myojeoksa Valley on Baekbongsan in Namyangju. Hours are 11:00 - 21:00, with a break time from 15:30 - 17:00. The address noted in the original post is 218-2 Wolmun-ri, Wabu-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do.

30 minutes from Seoul: getting to the valley without a car

Witch's Arpeggio is located roughly between Deokso and Hwado. It's only about 30 minutes from Seoul, which is exactly why it's such a well-known nearby valley spot.

Follow the navigation up a hilly road and a fairytale-like outdoor setup by the creek opens up. The tables sit right against the water, so the sound of the stream feels close enough to cool you down already.

There are large parking lots beside the restaurant and across from it, and since it's so close to the city, Kakao Taxi comes here too. A valley you can reach without a car — that's a genuinely important point.

Creekside, indoor and second-floor seats, and the noon wait

The tomato-jang is more famous than the '2002 Witch's Arpeggio' sign itself. Just seeing the posted waitlist notice tells you how popular this place is.

It was about 12:10pm and the outdoor tables were already full. Turnover is fast though, so it doesn't take long to get a seat.

There's indoor seating and a 2nd floor too. The indoor seats reportedly get the air conditioning cranked. The restaurant is known for aging its tomatoes to build umami.

In the aging fridge, meat and makgeolli were both aging away deliciously.

Dogs allowed, and creek wading right by the tables

It's such an aesthetic Namyangju valley restaurant that the wait is long even without dogs, but thankfully, dogs are welcome.

Since it isn't strictly a pet restaurant, I'd recommend bringing a cage, bag, or dog stroller. And of course, creek wading is fine too.

Menu and prices at 2002 Witch's Arpeggio (no baeksuk)

A menu near Seoul with no dreaded baeksuk (whole boiled chicken)... ahh, bliss. Signature cheese tomato-jang pork belly is ₩25,000, plain tomato-jang pork belly is ₩20,000.

Given it's 200g of meat with a special aged sauce, that's a fair price. Even ordering four is still cheaper than baeksuk lol.

Side dishes: tomato kimchi and perilla leaf oil-jang

The witch is fully committed to tomatoes. She even made tomato kimchi out of them!!! But it's genuinely delicious, I keep thinking about it.

The perilla leaf oil-jang, a Korean-style take on pesto, shows real culinary depth. And even while busy, the japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) is freshly tossed to order.

Aged homemade makgeolli (Korean rice wine)

Seeing the bottles aging so temptingly in the fridge, you can't just walk past. It's tangy-sweet and fruity, with just the right body — very refreshing.

Cheese tomato-jang pork belly, or half and half

The top one is the plain ₩20,000 pork belly. They really don't hold back on the cheese, piling it on generously. That's also why you can order one of each and split it half-and-half.

On top, they torch it; underneath, the tomato-jang bubbles away with the pork belly like a reduction. Once the cheese melts into a sticky pull, it's done.

The visuals are genuinely lethal. Even before tasting it, your brain just concludes this has to be delicious.

The sauce carries a spicy kick along with the tomato's tangy sweetness and umami. The rich, stretchy cheese adds a chewy texture and deep dairy aroma that rounds out the flavor.

It's an infuriatingly good flavor. The thought that only Namyangju locals got to enjoy this place! Everyone near Seoul needs to know about this creekside BBQ spot, 2002 Witch's Arpeggio.

What is the gamjajeon (potato pancake) like?

Once again, it refuses to be ordinary. They maximize the surface area touching the oil to push the crispy, savory crunch to the max.

The crunching sound and texture are thrilling, while the inside keeps that distinctive chewy potato quality.

Pairing it with makgeolli needs no explanation. Compared to the bolder-flavored pork belly, its clean, savory style made it a perfect match to eat alongside.

The best way to eat tomato-jang pork belly

The rice cracker, gim (seaweed), pickled radish, and lettuce wrap combo Witch's Arpeggio suggests is a classic. Mix and match to find your own favorite combination.

What happens when you add potato pancake to the sauce and cheese that's thickened from long reduction? That's my personal dopamine-charging combo.

Creek wading after the meal: how deep is the water?

After finishing the meal, I headed down to enjoy the creek. It's a clear valley with no floating debris and a see-through bottom.

Overall the water is fairly shallow, with the deepest spots reaching only about waist-height on an adult. It's just right for light water play.

Especially for those who came with dogs, it'll be a happy splash session with a water-loving pup.

Just 30 minutes from Seoul, a nearby valley that's great, and pork belly that's delicious — 2002 Witch's Arpeggio is a Namyangju outdoor barbecue spot worth the trip.