Yesulhoegwan Station pork BBQ: mango jowl and free parking at Midonjip

Midonjip (미돈집) is one of my favorite meals in Guwol-dong! I went in person and was seriously impressed. Let me introduce Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch, a true local-approved favorite.

Where is Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch? Location, parking and hours

Midonjip Incheon Guwol Main Branch is at 63 Inha-ro 507beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon (1F, Unit 120), a 3-minute walk from Exit 6 of Yesulhoegwan Station. Parking is free, and the Moa Medical Tower basement levels 1-2 have plenty of room, so park without worry!!

• Hours: weekdays 16:00-24:00, weekends 13:00-01:00
• Friday closes at 01:00
• Free parking (Moa Medical Tower basement levels 1-2)
• No pets allowed

Since parking is free, it's also easy to come by car.

Can you eat at outdoor street-style tables at Midonjip in Guwol-dong?

Some tables sit by the door where the big windows open up, so you can enjoy your meat in a yajang (open-air pub) style that suits this season perfectly. It was properly cool and just right. You can't do this any other time of year, so go enjoy it soon..

What's in Midonjip's Don Set for two, and how much is it?

Midonjip's signature is aged pollack roe pork belly (myeongran samgyeopsal)! I already liked that the portion is 200g. We ordered the Don Set for 2 at ₩41,900 and added kimchi-mari guksu (cold kimchi noodle soup).

Don Set: 200g pollack roe pork belly + jowl or gabrisal (pork shoulder-rib meat) + doenjang stew + drink, ₩41,900

The Don Set includes the signature pollack roe pork belly! You can choose mango jowl or gabrisal, and I picked the mango jowl.

What side dishes come with the meal at Midonjip?

You get 7 side dishes. There's house-made kimchi and a generous pile of scallion salad that was really delicious, and sauces and breadcrumbs are set out on the table too. There are lots of sauces, and even the pickled radish for wraps is made in-house, which moved me..

There's kimchi and gosari (bracken fern) to grill with the meat, plus meljeot (salted anchovy dip). The kimchi mukbap soup also comes in a big full bowl, and we enjoyed it as a refreshing appetizer.

The doenjang stew included in Midonjip's Don Set

The doenjang (soybean paste) stew in the Don Set comes in a big earthenware pot packed with pork belly and vegetables. It's a cool, savory style that's perfect with rice or as a drinking snack. I really recommend the set.

Does Midonjip grill the meat for you?

Yes, the staff set mushrooms, gosari, kimchi and meat on a heated cauldron-lid pan. The meat comes big and thick, so I thought grilling it would be hard work, and I was really glad they did it for us.

Minari (water dropwort) with pollack roe pork belly

Once the meat is cooked, the staff lay minari (water dropwort) on top. I heard it turns tough if grilled too long, so I only let it wilt slightly before eating.

How did Midonjip's mango jowl taste?

If you like the crunchy-chewy part of pork fat, Midonjip's mango jowl could become your favorite. The chewy fat comes with the skin attached, and it's really delicious.

What's the best way to eat Midonjip's pollack roe pork belly?

The pollack roe pork belly here is covered in roe like this, and you can really taste its savory umami. It's even nicely salty already, so just a light dip in salt is perfect.

It goes really well with the wilted minari, and a light dip in salt is good too. Kimchi, gosari and mushrooms come along as well, and I ate happily the whole time. The pollack roe pork belly was the best pork I've ever had.

Topped with a generous dab of wasabi it's seriously the best.. The crunchy mango jowl and wasabi were a really great combination.

To finish: kimchi-mari guksu (cold kimchi noodles)

The kimchi-mari guksu I ordered for dessert has a tangy, icy cold broth, chewy noodles, and kimchi, seaweed, egg strips and cucumber. These dishes made me feel this is a restaurant that truly knows how to cook.

Midonjip: a local BBQ favorite found only in Guwol-dong

Actor Ko Kyung-pyo, from the show "Happy When Getting Fat" (뚱뚱해질 때 행복한), has visited, so I figured this really is a trustworthy place. He really knows good food.. By the way, Midonjip isn't a chain; it's a local restaurant only in Guwol-dong. If you want a real Guwol-dong favorite, I highly recommend it.