Dongtan pub pairing gabrisal bossam and kimchi stew: Jusangnakwon

Today I visited Jusangnakwon (주상낙원), a hot spot at Dongtan North Plaza. Every time I walked past the plaza it was packed, so I'd been curious, and this time I finally went. It was more satisfying than I expected. Here's my review!

Jusangnakwon hours, parking and reservations

Jusangnakwon is right in the middle of the main street of Dongtan North Plaza, and it's open every day from 16:00 to 02:00 (last order 01:00). For parking, use the North Plaza public parking lot, which is free for 1 hour 30 minutes, so that's convenient too.

• Location: Dongtan Jisong-ro, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi (middle of the North Plaza main street)
• Hours: daily 16:00-02:00 (last order 01:00)
• Parking: North Plaza public parking lot (free for 1 hour 30 minutes, so convenient)
• Features: group seating, Naver reservations available

There may be a wait at peak times, so I recommend reserving before you go!

What's the atmosphere at Jusangnakwon like?

Jusangnakwon feels more like a neat Korean pub than a noisy meat restaurant. The second floor has 7 four-person tables and seats up to 28 people, so it's good for gatherings and company dinners too.

The retro yet clean exterior caught my eye right away. Inside, the warm lighting makes it a cozy place for a drink. The tables are spaced fairly wide apart, so chatting with my companion was no trouble.

It feels like a tidy Korean pub rather than a noisy meat place, so it works just as well for a gathering or a date.

The second floor has 7 four-person tables, so it holds up to 28 people. It seems good for booking out as a group, and it looked like plenty of people really do come for company dinners.

Jusangnakwon menu and prices

What I ordered at Jusangnakwon was the gabrisal suyuk bossam (boiled pork, wrapped in cabbage) for ₩31,900 and the pork belly kimchi stew for ₩18,900. There are also jeon (savory pancakes), stir-fries and a wide range of drinks, so there's plenty to choose from.

The menu had a wide variety of anju (bar food) and meal dishes. Jusangnakwon has several signature dishes, but we ordered the combination with the best reviews and the one we most wanted to eat.

• Gabrisal suyuk bossam: ₩31,900
• Pork belly kimchi stew: ₩18,900

Besides these there are jeon, stir-fries and a wide range of drinks, so there's a lot to pick from. The prices felt reasonable for the quality of the food.

How is Jusangnakwon's gabrisal suyuk bossam?

Jusangnakwon's gabrisal suyuk bossam (₩31,900) was tender with no gamey smell, and topped with seasoned dried radish strips and minari (water dropwort) it never got boring. Shrimp chips come out as a complimentary side.

The complimentary shrimp chips

And the tableware was super clean, which I liked.

The gabrisal suyuk bossam (₩31,900) was on a different level of tenderness from pork belly or shoulder bossam. Thanks to gabrisal's ideal ratio of fat to lean meat, it felt like it melted the moment it hit my mouth.

It was boiled cleanly with not a hint of gaminess, and the dried radish strips and fresh wrap vegetables served alongside were excellent too.

Rich, mild pork topped with sweet-and-spicy dried radish and minari just keeps going down without getting old. Seriously, seriously delicious, you have to order it.. I think it's a place you could come to just for a meal, not only for drinks.

We'd finished the cabbage, so I asked for just 4 more leaves and they gave us half a head. The vegetables are super fresh too, really!

Does Jusangnakwon's pork belly kimchi stew go well with the bossam?

Jusangnakwon's pork belly kimchi stew (₩18,900) is a spicy broth generously filled with thick pork belly, and it cut the richness of the bossam. It works both as a side for rice and as drinking food.

If you only eat bossam it can get a bit heavy, but this pork belly kimchi stew balanced it out perfectly.

I took a spoonful of the broth and it was deep and rich, just great. Thick slices of pork belly are generously cut into the stew too.

The broth was full of the richness of the pork fat. With the fiery, spicy flavor of moderately sour kimchi, it's the best choice for a bowl of rice and for drinking food alike.

Jusangnakwon verdict: would I go back?

Jusangnakwon at Dongtan North Plaza is a place I strongly recommend for the combination of gabrisal suyuk bossam and pork belly kimchi stew. I was happy with both the atmosphere and the food quality, so I'm definitely going back.

True to its name, Jusangnakwon (roughly "paradise of drinks and food") is a paradise of booze and tasty anju..! The richness of the silky gabrisal suyuk bossam together with the spicy, deep pork belly kimchi stew is an absolutely no-fail combination. Highly recommended!!

The atmosphere is good and the food quality is outstanding, so if I have plans at North Plaza I'll come back without hesitation, 200%. Next time I'll try the other signature dishes too.