Wild garlic and pickled onion wraps at Gwangju BBQ Sangnok Hoegwan

Hi, this is Haruchaejip. When the worst of the heat finally lets up, there are days when I crave pork belly grilled hot over charcoal instead of gas — you know that feeling, haha.

Today's spot is Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch, a well-known BBQ restaurant in Taejeon-dong.

• Name: Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch
• Address: 350-6 Hoeandae-ro, 1st floor, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Sat 13:30–24:00 / Sun 12:30–24:00
• Parking: About 15 spaces in front
• Amenities: Self-bar, baby chairs available

Inside Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch, and where to park

With parking for around 15 cars right in front, we pulled in without any wait. It was two adults and one child — a small family outing.

Walking in, every table had a charcoal brazier with a long chimney running up from it, giving off a retro pojangmacha (street tent bar) kind of vibe.

The round 4-person tables were spaced generously, so we didn't feel crowded by neighboring tables even with a kid in tow. There was storage under the seats for jackets and a baby chair too — a proper family-friendly BBQ spot in Taejeon-dong.

We came at 7:30pm and the place filled up fast right after. Definitely lives up to its reputation.

What's on the self-bar at Sangnok Hoegwan

The self-bar at Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch had myeongi namul (wild garlic leaves), sliced onion, lettuce wraps, sesame oil dip, garlic and wasabi. Best of all was the pineapple — great grilled golden with the meat or eaten cold for dessert, so we loaded up a generous plate.

What we ordered and what it cost

Sangnok Hoegwan grills pork, beef, and even seafood like clams and abalone, but we went with the pork one-geun set.

• Pork one-geun (600g): ₩34,000
• Doenjang jjigae ₩2,000 · Naengmyeon ₩4,500
• 100g portions available / first order starts at 300g

Once we ordered, they brought a whole glowing red charcoal brazier straight to the table — the real deal for direct-fire grilling. It's a different world from gas: from the first moment on the grill the meat picked up a subtle smoky char that had us excited before we even took a bite.

Which cuts come in the 600g pork one-geun platter

The pork one-geun spread was packed with variety — pork belly, pork neck, dwitgogi (rear cut), pork jowl, gyeolsal (skirt-like cut) and pork skin.

With everything going on one grill at once, it was genuinely fun tasting a little of each cut.

The charcoal heat was so intense the meat cooked really fast, so we had to keep flipping busily to avoid burning it.

Still, the outside turned golden and crisp while the inside stayed juicy, and with the extra fat rendered off, it tasted lighter and more tender overall.

Pork skin dipped in soybean powder

I was thrilled the pork one-geun set included pork skin — the chewy texture was really something.

Dipped in soybean powder, the nuttiness doubled — chewy and addictive, a real specialty side we couldn't stop reaching for.

Side dishes and fresh-made kimchi

The basic side dishes were solid too — the tangy geotjeori (fresh cabbage kimchi) wrapped with a piece of meat cut through the richness nicely.

Wrapping the meat in soy-marinated myeongi namul and tangy pickled onion also worked beautifully, and it was fun switching between the two.

Finishing with mul naengmyeon and doenjang jjigae

After eating our fill of meat, the icy mul naengmyeon cooled down our spicy-warmed palates perfectly.

The broth was simple and clean, no harsh edges, exactly right for washing away the richness from the grill.

The doenjang jjigae we ordered alongside was small but packed with zucchini and onion, giving it a rich, savory depth.

For just ₩2,000, it was hearty enough to finish off a bowl of rice — a perfect way to round out the meal.

Who Sangnok Hoegwan suits best

• Anyone looking for charcoal direct-fire BBQ at a Taejeon-dong restaurant
• People who like pork with the fat rendered off for a lighter taste
• Fans of chewy pork skin
• Families wanting easy parking for a night out
• Anyone wanting beef, pork, and seafood all in one visit
• Diners looking for good value BBQ

Final verdict on Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch

Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch left a lasting impression with pork grilled crisp outside, juicy inside, and infused with that charcoal smoke flavor.

Dipping the chewy pork skin in soybean powder and grilling the sweet pineapple made the meal even more fun, and the whole family left satisfied.

We wrapped up the meal with a free slushie — sadly I didn't manage to snap a photo, but it wasn't too sweet and left a clean finish, perfect for closing out the meal.

If you're craving charcoal direct-fire BBQ at a restaurant in Taejeon-dong, I'd recommend quietly seeking out Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui.