Munjeong-dong BBQ with grilled kimchi on a 5th visit: Minari Naengsam

I went back to Minari Naengsam. This is a place I keep coming back to — I've already visited more than five times. The first time I tried it, it was so good that I kept thinking about it and going back whenever the craving hit. It's the kind of place I can drop into easily whenever I want meat, so it feels pretty familiar to me by now. I wanted to properly write it up this time for anyone looking for a good frozen pork belly spot in Munjeong-dong.

Inside Minari Naengsam and its outdoor patio

The inside of Minari Naengsam has a comfortable vibe. The tables are spaced well, so it feels easy to chat while eating meat. And on nice-weather days or in summer, they run an outdoor patio too. If you like eating outside, it's worth visiting on a good-weather day. If you're looking for a Munjeong-dong pork belly spot and want to enjoy that patio atmosphere too, this is a nice bonus.

Ordering 3 servings of frozen pork belly and the table setup

The menu was laid out like this, but we always order frozen pork belly whenever we come here. We started by ordering 3 servings.

Ordering a soda alongside the meat cleanses the palate nicely and pairs really well. We sipped a cold one while waiting leisurely for the meat. Since we came this day to eat at a relaxed pace, we ordered a drink too and settled in comfortably.

There was pepper set out on the table too. It was nice being able to add pepper to taste while grilling the meat. Since it's already there without having to ask, you can use it right away whenever you need it. When these basic things are prepared well, you end up needing to ask for extras a lot less while eating.

What sides and sauces come with it, and how much minari you get

The side dishes at Minari Naengsam included fresh kimchi salad and kimchi, and the sauces were ssamjang (soybean paste dip), salt, and sesame oil. Lettuce wraps came out too, which were great with the meat. There was also a house sauce prepared separately, and it went so well with the pork that it was fun dipping the meat in different things. When I'm looking for a good pork belly spot in Munjeong-dong, I care about the side dishes just as much as the meat, and the basic spread here already won me over.

And they gave us a really generous amount of minari, which I loved. It's not just about eating meat — you get to grill minari alongside it too, so the table filled up fast. I love the smell of minari, so I was happy it came out in such a generous amount from the start. True to its name, Minari Naengsam is the place to properly enjoy the combo of minari and meat together.

3 servings of frozen pork belly, plus 1 extra

The 3 servings of frozen pork belly arrived. As we ate, it felt a bit short, so we added one more serving later. Rather than ordering a ton up front, ordering a bit and adding more if you're still hungry seems like a solid approach. I've checked out several pork belly spots around Munjeong-dong, but personally, whenever I come here, I order plenty of pork and eat it generously with minari. The portions are hearty enough that I've kept coming back as a regular.

We put the meat on the grill and cooked it up. Watching the pork belly sizzle away, I thought again that meat really does taste best grilled. Taking a bite of the well-cooked meat, it was so good, and eating it together with minari added a fragrant note. The thin, crispy texture that frozen pork belly gets was great too, and eating it as minari-naengsam style, my chopsticks kept going back for more. If you're looking for a good pork belly spot in Munjeong-dong, I'd recommend trying this combo.

Why cheonggukjang is a must-order here

We ordered cheonggukjang along with the meat. The cheonggukjang here is the real deal. Eating warm soup alongside the meat went really well, and you could properly taste that distinctive nutty, savory cheonggukjang flavor. Rather than just eating meat nonstop, having cheonggukjang in between made the meal feel more filling. Personally, whenever I visit this place, I tend to order cheonggukjang along with the meat.

Grilled kimchi and grilled minari together

My favorite combo is eating it with grilled kimchi. Putting kimchi on the grill and cooking it alongside the meat softens the kimchi's flavor and pairs really well with the pork belly. Eating it with grilled minari is also really tasty. You get the fragrant scent of minari together with the savory taste of the meat, and it keeps you reaching for more. If you like minari, I really recommend grilling it together with the meat.

Free minari refills at Minari Naengsam

And minari can also be refilled for free. You already get a generous amount from the start, but it's nice being able to add more when you want. As you eat meat and minari together, the minari disappears fast, but being able to refill without worry made it easy to pile it on freely. If you want to properly enjoy minari-naengsam, this part will probably be pretty satisfying too. If I had to pick one reason I've visited this Munjeong-dong pork belly spot so many times, it would include being able to enjoy the meat and minari so generously.

Since this is a regular spot I've visited more than five times, I ate well and enjoyed myself again this time. Pairing frozen pork belly with grilled kimchi and minari, plus cheonggukjang on the side, made for a hearty meal. On nice-weather days you can enjoy the outdoor patio too, so it might be worth visiting in different seasons for a different vibe each time. If you're looking for an easy spot to eat meat in Munjeong-dong, this one's worth a visit.