Yongin Korean BBQ with doors open: pork belly & iberico jowl, Dongbaek

When I wanted charcoal-grilled pork belly and iberico pork jowl in Dongbaek, Yongin, I headed to Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill Butcher Restaurant.

This time I ordered pork belly and iberico pork jowl alongside mul memil naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup) and hanwoo doenjang jjigae (Korean beef soybean paste stew). The charcoal heat was pretty strong, so the meat cooked fast — the outside browned nicely while the inside stayed juicy, which made every bite feel full of flavor.

The day I visited, the store's front door was left open, so a cool breeze drifted in naturally. You could still feel the heat of the charcoal, but it never felt stuffy — a great atmosphere for relaxed grilling on a nice day.

Dongbaek Hanokjip pork belly and iberico jowl, in short

What stood out most about the pork belly and iberico pork jowl at this Dongbaek, Yongin BBQ spot was the strength of the charcoal heat.

The fire was strong enough that the meat started sizzling the moment it hit the grill. The pork belly browned to a nice golden color with a savory aroma rising off it, while the inside stayed juicy enough that each bite delivered real juice.

The iberico pork jowl had a noticeably chewier texture than the pork belly. The outside grilled up crisp, and the more you chewed, the more savory it got — good for alternating bites with the pork belly.

Pork belly had a soft, juicy charm, while the iberico jowl stood out for its chewy bite and nutty flavor. Being able to enjoy two very different textures of pork made the meal feel more satisfying.

It was also nice being able to eat with fresh air coming in through the open door. This is the kind of Dongbaek, Yongin BBQ spot that comes to mind when you're craving charcoal grilling on a cool day.

Where Dongbaek Hanokjip is and where to park

Located on Eodong-ro in Giheung-gu, Yongin, Dongbaek Hanokjip was easy to visit by car. With its own restaurant parking lot, it's a low-hassle choice for a family meal or a group outing.

Inside Dongbaek Hanokjip: how it feels with the doors open

Walking in, the first thing I noticed was the spacious, clean layout. The tables were spaced comfortably apart, and it looked like a good setup for a group meal.

The day I visited, the door was left open, so the view and breeze outside came in naturally. The charcoal grill's characteristic heat was still there, but the air never felt stuffy, which made for a comfortable meal.

The Dongbaek Hanokjip menu and what we ordered

This time we picked pork belly and iberico pork jowl. Ordering both — the soft, juicy pork belly alongside the chewy, savory iberico jowl — meant we never got tired of either one, right through to the end of the meal.

How the food tasted

Pork belly over charcoal

Laying the pork belly on the charcoal brought an immediate sizzle and a savory aroma. Since the heat was strong, it was better to grill a little at a time and flip often while watching the meat closely rather than piling too much on at once.

The nicely browned pork belly had a savory crust, and biting into it revealed juicy meat still holding its moisture inside. The subtle charcoal aroma gave it a different charm than the usual pan-grilled pork belly. Dipped lightly in ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste dip), the natural savoriness of the meat came through, and wrapped in lettuce it made for an even more filling bite.

Iberico pork jowl

The iberico pork jowl had a noticeably chewier texture than the pork belly. Grilled over charcoal, the outside crisped up while the inside stayed nutty without drying out.

The more you chewed, the more savory it got, making it great to alternate with the pork belly. If pork belly's charm was its soft juiciness, iberico jowl's was its chewy bite — a menu item that could easily become the favorite depending on your taste.

Both cuts tasted even better thanks to the strong charcoal heat bringing out the flavor on the surface.

Mul memil naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup)

When I wanted to cleanse my palate between bites of meat, I ordered the mul memil naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup) alongside it. Made with house-pulled buckwheat noodles, the strands held together well and had a chewy bite.

The cold broth was clean and refreshing, a good match between rounds of charcoal-grilled pork belly and iberico jowl. Topping the noodles with a slice of meat brought the savory juices and the cool broth together deliciously.

Hanwoo doenjang jjigae (Korean beef soybean paste stew)

The hanwoo doenjang jjigae (Korean beef soybean paste stew) opened with a rich, nutty doenjang aroma. After all that charcoal grilling, warm soup was exactly what I was craving, and eating it alongside the meat rounded out the meal nicely.

The rich doenjang broth with hanwoo's savoriness paired well with rice, and it cut through any greasiness left over from the pork belly or jowl. A good order to have alongside the meat when meat alone isn't quite enough.

Verdict on Dongbaek Hanokjip

What stuck with me most from this visit was the strong charcoal heat and the open, airy atmosphere of the restaurant.

The pork belly kept its juiciness nicely, while the iberico pork jowl stood out for its chewy, savory bite. The mul memil naengmyeon refreshed the palate, and the hanwoo doenjang jjigae rounded out the meal on a warm, savory note.

Grilling meat with the door open on a nice day especially made the meal feel more relaxed and enjoyable. This is a good spot to visit in Dongbaek, Yongin when you want charcoal-grilled pork belly and iberico jowl together.

Tips for visiting Dongbaek Hanokjip

Since the charcoal heat runs strong, it's better to grill a little at a time rather than piling on a lot of meat at once, adjusting as you go.

Pork belly is better pulled off while still a bit juicy rather than cooked too far, so you can taste the juices more; for iberico jowl, grilling the outside a bit more golden brings out the chewy texture and savory flavor even more.

On a nice day, it's worth enjoying the open-door seating — grilling charcoal BBQ with a cool breeze coming in was a genuinely pleasant experience.

Frequently asked questions

What did you order at Dongbaek Hanokjip?

We had pork belly, iberico pork jowl, mul memil naengmyeon, and hanwoo doenjang jjigae. The pork belly's juiciness and the iberico jowl's chewy, savory texture stood out.

How strong is the charcoal heat?

The heat runs fairly strong, so the meat cooks quickly. It's best to add a little at a time at first and flip often to get your preferred doneness.

Does the mul memil naengmyeon go well with the grilled pork?

Yes, the clean, refreshing broth paired well with the charcoal-grilled meat. Eating a slice of meat together with the noodles gave a nice balance of savory and cool flavors.

Is Dongbaek Hanokjip good to visit on a mild day?

When I visited, the store's door was left open, letting in a breeze and giving the space a nice sense of openness. It felt like a great atmosphere for enjoying charcoal BBQ on a cool day.

Would you go back to Dongbaek Hanokjip?

I was satisfied with the texture of the pork belly and iberico jowl grilled over strong charcoal, and the atmosphere on a nice day made me want to return.