Suwon Station Korean BBQ: cheongyeopsal with wild garlic at Ssosam 208

Around 5:30 pm on a Tuesday, I went to Ssosam 208 (쏘삼208) Suwon Station Branch for some pork belly. I was worried parking near Suwon Station would be a hassle, but the Hwanggeum parking lot right next to the restaurant was available, which was great. If you mention car support when you pay after your meal, you get 2 hours of parking help, so definitely remember that on days you bring a car. This time I ordered the medium mixed stone plate (500g), 2 portions of chewy pork skin and a beef brisket doenjang (soybean paste) stew. I also wrote a Naver receipt review, so I got to try the lava fondue cheese too.

Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch at a glance

Three things stuck with me at Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch: the parking support that makes driving to Suwon Station easy, the mixed stone plate where you get pork belly, pork neck and cheonggyeopsal (a chewier cut of pork belly) in one go, and the lava fondue cheese that is great for dipping the meat. The pork belly was moist and rich, and the cheonggyeopsal had an even chewier texture that I loved. With the seasoned pork skin and beef brisket doenjang stew added, it made a hearty meal.

Where to park at Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch

Park in the Hwanggeum parking lot right next to the restaurant, and when you pay after your meal, tell the staff you need car support to get 2 hours of parking help. It was a really practical plus for anyone looking for a place to eat near Suwon Station with a car.

Weekday evening atmosphere and seating at Ssosam 208

The restaurant is quite large. I visited at 5:30 pm on a Tuesday, a weekday evening, and it was quiet, so I could eat in a relaxed way. The tables are spaced widely, so it never felt like you were too close to the next table. Even with a big group it doesn't feel cramped, so it looked like a decent spot for a company dinner or gathering near Suwon Station.

What we ordered at Ssosam 208

This time I ordered the medium mixed stone plate (500g). You get three cuts, pork belly, pork neck and cheonggyeopsal, so it's easy to pick the one you like best. I also added 2 portions of chewy pork skin (150g each) and the beef brisket doenjang stew, and after writing a Naver receipt review I got the lava fondue cheese.

Medium 500g mixed stone plate: how was each pork cut?

The mixed stone plate at Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch came with pork belly, pork neck and cheonggyeopsal, so I could compare the texture of each cut. The pork belly I tried first was golden on the outside and moist inside. The juices were still there in each bite, and the rich, nutty flavor came through strongly.

Eating it with myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic-like greens) or shredded scallion salad kept the richness of the meat but cut the greasiness, so the combination worked well. Personally, cheonggyeopsal was the most memorable cut. It was chewier than the pork belly, and the more I chewed, the more the savory flavor came through. Alternating between the moist pork belly and the chewy cheonggyeopsal made the difference between cuts even clearer. The pork neck was a clean, mild cut that neatly reset the palate between the pork belly and cheonggyeopsal.

Chewy pork skin: 150g, 2 servings

The pork skin at Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch was seasoned rather than plain raw skin. It kept a springy, chewy texture, and a mild soy-based seasoning added a nice savory depth. Having it between bites of pork belly and cheonggyeopsal cut the greasiness you get from eating only meat, which I appreciated.

Lava fondue cheese from the Naver review offer

The lava fondue cheese I got for writing a Naver receipt review was satisfying too. The cheese flavor was rich and nutty, great for dipping pork belly. It added savoriness rather than covering up the taste of the meat itself. At first I wondered if meat and cheese would be too heavy, but it wasn't as heavy as I expected, and I kept going back for more. Eat one piece of pork belly plain, then dip the next in the fondue cheese, and you'll notice the difference even more.

Thin-sliced beef brisket doenjang stew

The beef brisket doenjang stew was a brothy dish that goes well with the meat. When you only eat meat, a meal can start to feel a little heavy, but with a warm doenjang stew alongside, the whole meal felt more filling.

Verdict: when is Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch a good pick?

Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch was easy to visit by car from Suwon Station, and I liked the large space and the generous table spacing. On the mixed stone plate, the moist pork belly and chewy cheonggyeopsal were especially good, and the seasoned pork skin was a nice change of pace mid-meal. Adding the lava fondue cheese from the Naver receipt review made for a slightly different take on regular pork belly. It's a good place for days when you want several cuts of pork at once near Suwon Station, or when you're looking for a BBQ restaurant with parking.

Tips for visiting Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch

• If you came by car, use the Hwanggeum parking lot and mention car support when you pay.
• Try the pork belly on its own first, then with myeongi namul or shredded scallion salad.
• Cheonggyeopsal is chewier than pork belly, so it's worth trying together.
• When you write a Naver receipt review, check whether the lava fondue cheese is being offered.
• At 5:30 pm on a Tuesday, it was quiet and I could eat in a relaxed way.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drive to Ssosam 208 near Suwon Station?

You can use the Hwanggeum parking lot right next to the restaurant, and if you ask when paying, you can get 2 hours of parking help.

Is Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch spacious?

The restaurant is quite large and the tables are widely spaced. At 5:30 pm on a Tuesday it was quiet, so I ate comfortably.

Which pork cuts come on the Ssosam 208 mixed stone plate?

You get pork belly, pork neck and cheonggyeopsal all in one go.

What does Ssosam 208's lava fondue cheese taste like?

It's a cheese fondue with a rich cheese flavor and nuttiness. Dipping pork belly in it adds even more savoriness to the meat.

How is the pork skin at Ssosam 208 seasoned?

It's pork skin with a soy-based seasoning, and the springy chewiness and savory depth went well together.