Seoul Korean BBQ in Nowon: thick pork belly and steamed egg at Hanam

After work, my friend and I said, "Let's have some proper meat today!" and the place we found was Hanam Doeji Jip Seokgye branch (하남돼지집 석계점).

Finding Hanam Doeji Jip Seokgye branch from Seokgye Station

Hanam Doeji Jip Seokgye branch is close to Seokgye Station, so it was easy to find. It sits inside an alley, yet customers kept walking in. The smell of grilling meat drifted out to the street and we just couldn't walk past :) Even on a weekday evening many tables were already full, which is what you'd expect from a popular spot.

Atmosphere and table spacing

Inside, the restaurant was clean and well ventilated, so we could eat comfortably. The tables are spaced fairly wide, so it didn't feel crammed against the next table, and the diners ranged from families to office group dinners.

The staff greeted us brightly the moment we walked in and showed us to a table quickly, which put me in a good mood from the start. Small things like this really raise how satisfying a meal is :)

Side dishes: wild garlic pickles, kimchi, bean sprouts and scallion salad

Once we sat down, the side dishes were set out one by one, and the lineup was really generous. Wild garlic pickles (myeongi-namul), kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts and scallion salad (pajeori) were all neatly prepared and great with meat.

If we ran short of a side dish, we could ask for more without any fuss, which made the whole meal easy. I think it's not only the meat that matters but also what you eat with it, and I liked that part too.

Ordering the pork belly: thickness and looks

This time we ordered pork belly (samgyeopsal). The price wasn't daunting, so my friend and I ordered right away without agonizing over the menu, and it turned out to be a good choice. When the thick pork belly came out, the color looked fresh and my expectations shot up. The thickness was just right, and it looked like it would stay juicy.

Staff grill the meat for you

What I found really convenient at Hanam Doeji Jip is that the staff grill the meat for you. From start to finish they handle the heat and even the timing of the flips, so we could just chat and wait comfortably.

While the meat cooked, they also put kimchi and mushrooms on the grill and cut the meat into bite-size pieces, very carefully. Thanks to that we could eat it at its best right away, which raised my satisfaction even more. I could see why so many people looking for a good Seokgye Station BBQ place come here.

Pork belly flavor and wrap combinations

I first dipped the golden-brown pork belly lightly in salt, and it was crispy outside and moist inside, so I was impressed from the first bite. The more I chewed, the juicier it got, with a rich savory flavor filling my mouth. Hanam Doeji Jip isn't famous for nothing.

Next I tried it on wild garlic pickles, with scallion salad, and with kimchi, and each combination had its own charm, so the flavors kept changing. Stuffing a big wrap full and eating it was just so happy, haha.

How was the steamed egg custard we ordered?

Midway we also ordered steamed egg custard (gyeran-jjim), and it was far more generous than I expected. The texture was soft and fluffy, perfect for taking a spoonful between bites of meat, and it came out piping hot so it stayed good to the end. It wasn't too seasoned, so it went really well with the meat, and I was glad we ordered it. Personally, I'd recommend getting the egg custard too if you visit :)

Service that kept going throughout the meal

Looking around during the meal, I saw the staff keep checking the tables to see if anyone needed anything. They changed the grill plate at the right time and matched the pace of grilling, so we ate comfortably until the end.

The service was natural and kind, which made us leave feeling even better. Maybe that's why customers kept coming in throughout our meal, and it made sense to me.

A Seokgye Station BBQ restaurant I want to revisit

It was a day of finally eating really good pork belly again. The meat itself, the comfort of having staff grill it, the clean dining room and the side dish lineup were all satisfying overall.

If you're craving good meat near Seokgye Station, I'd recommend Hanam Doeji Jip. Next time I plan to come back with my family and try other menu items :) I had a hearty meal and headed home in a great mood!!