Blind-date Korean BBQ near Kyungsung Univ., Busan: Wanbeoljip

Near Kyungsung University and Pukyong National University in Busan, Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch (완벌집) was a place where I had a truly satisfying meal. It's a Korean BBQ restaurant where you can enjoy meat comfortably and cleanly, with no grilling stress.

I really love pork like samgyeopsal (pork belly), but I sometimes hesitate because the smell sinks deep into my clothes and hair, and because you have to grill it yourself at the table. Wanbeoljip, the Kyungsung University BBQ spot I visited this time, blew those worries away. It was a perfect, charming place.

The soft, moody atmosphere feels nothing like a typical BBQ joint, so I strongly recommend it as a blind date spot near Kyungsung University. Two of us went, and I'll tell you all about the small platter, the doenjang (soybean paste) risotto and the refreshing highball we enjoyed.

Getting to Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch: 3 minutes from the station

Take Exit 1 of Gyeongseongdaebugyeongdae Station on Busan Subway Line 2 and walk about 3 minutes, and you'll find Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch. It's so close to the station that it's easy for a walking date or a meetup.

When you look for BBQ near Kyungsung University, places are often deep in some alley or have awkward parking, which is a hassle before you even arrive. The route to Wanbeoljip was clean and easy, and I liked it from the first impression.

What's the vibe? A restaurant-like BBQ place (is this really a BBQ joint?)

The first surprise when I walked into Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch was the interior and the fresh air. It was nothing like the noisy, smoky BBQ scene you might picture. With soft, warm lighting and stylish decor, it felt like a pretty restaurant or a moody wine bar.

There were several kinds of seating, from bar seats where you sit side by side for cozy, close conversation to wide tables where you can sit comfortably facing each other.

With no greasy meat smell and such a fresh, moody atmosphere, I thought it would be just right for people in the early "something" stage or anyone with a blind date near Kyungsung University coming up.

What to order for two? The small platter and a highball

The meat menu at Wanbeoljip is split into a large platter, a medium platter and a small platter, so it's easy to choose according to how many people come and how much you want to eat. We settled in and went through the menu slowly.

Since two of us came, we ordered the small platter (500g), which looked like the best fit. And it was a really generous set! You pick two cuts of your choice from options like samgyeopsal, and the chewy pork skin (kkeopdegi), Wanbeoljip's signature item, comes included as standard.

To go with the meat, we added doenjang risotto as a hearty meal and also ordered a highball to wash down the richness. The drinks lineup is trendy enough to include highballs, so it's also nice on a blind date for easing the awkwardness with a light drink.

How does it taste? Fully grilled pork belly, crispy outside and juicy inside

The meat at Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch isn't grilled at your table; it comes out as one fully grilled platter. While we sipped our highballs and chatted, a mouthwatering platter of fully cooked meat appeared. I hear Wanbeoljip became popular by word of mouth, starting from this Kyungsung University main branch.

Its biggest feature is the "wanbeol grilling" method that the owner researched and developed over a long time. The meat is already perfectly cooked when it reaches the table, so conversation never breaks off over a grill and there's no hot oil splattering. The moment I picked up a piece and ate it, that crispy-outside, juicy-inside texture (what Koreans call "geotbasokchok") filled my mouth, and it was really impressive.

Maybe because an expert grills it at the ideal temperature and timing, the pork had deeper flavor and juiciness, a different level from pork belly I've burned or undercooked grilling it myself elsewhere. The signature pork skin was also wonderfully chewy and nutty, and it went perfectly with the highball.

With no grilling stress at all, you can focus entirely on your companion and the conversation, and I couldn't think of a better choice for an occasion like a Kyungsung University blind date, where you need to focus on each other.

Is the Wanbeoljip doenjang risotto worth adding?

The doenjang risotto we ordered with the meat at Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch was the finishing touch of the meal and a stroke of genius. I've often had doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), fried rice or cold noodles to finish at BBQ places, but doenjang risotto was a new, unusual dish for me. At first I was half doubtful that Korean doenjang and Western risotto would go together, but after one bite I couldn't help exclaiming.

The deep savory umami of doenjang combined with the soft, creamy texture of risotto, and it was oddly addictive, somewhere between Korean and Western, so I kept reaching for more. It was pleasantly salty yet smooth, and it finished off my mouth nicely after the meat.

If you come to Wanbeoljip, I recommend ordering the doenjang risotto as a must rather than an option. I think women especially would rave about it, so on a blind date or a date meal you'd get credit for a smart menu choice.

Oh! They also have dessert ready, so be sure to have some~

Why I'd return to Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch for a blind date

Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch had special flavor as a given, plus a fresh environment where you don't worry about smell sinking into your clothes. A sip of cool, sweet highball, a piece of crispy-juicy wanbeol pork belly, a bite of chewy pork skin, and then the irresistible doenjang risotto! Two of us finished a full, very happy meal with the small platter.

Considering a table setting where nobody has to sacrifice themselves to grill and you can talk comfortably, plus the mood-setting interior, it's a place I definitely want to revisit. If you're planning a date with your partner or a Kyungsung University blind date where you really need to score points, I strongly recommend trying the owner's heartfelt wanbeol grilling at Wanbeoljip, where you can eat cleanly without worrying about smoke!