Seoul Korean BBQ in Guui: 2,900 won drinks, mul naengmyeon — Sanggu's

These days, grilling pork belly and having a few drinks doesn't come cheap. But in Guui-dong there's a pork belly place where every drink is ₩2,900 and the meat is good too. It's Sanggu's Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal Guui Branch (상구네솥뚜껑삼겹살 구의점), and I've already been more than 5 times, so I can recommend it with confidence as my true regular spot.

• Name: Sanggu's Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal Guui Branch
• Location: Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
• Ordered: 1 serving raw pork belly, 1 serving raw pork neck, mul naengmyeon (cold noodles)
• Meat price: ₩15,800 for 200g each
• Drinks: all ₩2,900
• Features: cauldron-lid grilling, unlimited wrap greens
• Return visits: 5 or more

Why I've been back to Sanggu's in Guui more than 5 times

The biggest draw of Sanggu's is that you can grill meat, kimchi, bean sprouts, bracken and mushrooms all at once on a huge cauldron lid (sotttukkeong, a grill shaped like an upturned iron pot lid). It's not just the meat: the vegetables and side dishes are satisfying too, so I never got tired of it even after more than 5 visits.

I first came because it was good value, but now it's where I naturally end up whenever I crave pork belly. Being able to grill meat, kimchi, bean sprouts, bracken and mushrooms together on one huge lid is just charming. And it's not only the meat that's good: the vegetables and sides are satisfying too, so it never gets old no matter how many times I visit. I've really, truly been more than 5 times, so trust me and go haha

Pork belly and pork neck at Sanggu's: price and taste

At Sanggu's Guui Branch, both the raw pork belly and the raw pork neck are Korean pork, 200g for ₩15,800. This time I ordered 1 serving of each, so the meat came to ₩31,600.

This time I ordered 1 serving each of raw pork belly and raw pork neck. Both are Korean pork, 200g for ₩15,800, so 2 servings of meat came to ₩31,600.

The staff grilled the meat and cut it into bite-size pieces for us, so it was easy and relaxing to eat.

The pork belly had a rich, nutty flavor from the golden-grilled fat, and the pork neck was clean-tasting with a satisfying chew.

Grill enoki mushrooms on the cauldron lid too

And the one thing I really have to recommend here is the enoki mushrooms! Grilled on the lid with the meat, they soak up the pork fat and taste amazing. Personally, it's a combo I can't skip when I come to Sanggu's.

Are the wrap greens at Sanggu's unlimited?

Yes. At Sanggu's Guui Branch you can bring as many wrap greens as you like from the self-bar. Lettuce and perilla leaves are standard, and there's a variety including napa cabbage and chili peppers.

Another reason I love Sanggu's is the variety of wrap greens. Lettuce and perilla leaves are standard, and you can bring unlimited refills of other greens like napa cabbage and chili peppers from the self-bar.

Napa cabbage topped with pork belly, grilled bracken and garlic is especially good: the crunch goes really well with the rich meat. I also recommend piling enoki mushrooms onto lettuce and perilla leaves. With so many kinds of greens, I could enjoy the meat to the end without it feeling greasy.

Are 2,900 won drinks really good value?

At Sanggu's Guui Branch, every alcoholic drink is ₩2,900. That's a rare price at a Korean BBQ restaurant, so it's easy to have a drink with friends without worrying about the bill.

What really completes the value here is the drink price. Every alcoholic drink is ₩2,900! It's a price you rarely see at Korean BBQ places these days, so it's great for having a drink with friends without stress. The meat alone isn't super cheap, but considering the drink prices and the unlimited wrap greens, I felt it's competitive enough.

Finishing with mul naengmyeon (cold noodles)

At the end I also ordered mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in chilled broth). The cool broth and chewy noodles cleaned up my mouth after the greasy pork belly, making it a great finishing dish.

Verdict: is Sanggu's worth it for Korean BBQ in Guui, Seoul?

If you're looking for pork belly in Guui-dong, Sanggu's Guui Branch is the first place I'd personally recommend. The meat, the variety of wrap greens and the drink prices are all satisfying.

If you drink, the ₩2,900 drink price is a big plus. If you don't, the price appeal drops a little, but the meat and wrap greens alone make it worth a visit.

I've already been more than 5 times and plan to go back whenever I crave pork belly. I recommend Sanggu's Guui Branch to anyone looking for a good Guui restaurant or good-value Korean BBQ.