Baby-friendly grilled pork bones in Yecheon-dong, Seosan: Bultan Wang

Today I'm sharing a place near home where my husband, our 9-month-old Kkamjjaki and I had a really satisfying dinner. Picking somewhere to eat out is never easy when you're raising a baby, but this one was easy with a baby and tasty too: Bultan Wang Ppyeo Gui (불탄왕뼈구이) in Yecheon-dong, a well-known gamjatang spot in Seosan.

Is Bultan Wang Ppyeo Gui Yecheon Junghung Branch easy with a baby?

Bultan Wang Ppyeo Gui Yecheon Junghung Branch (불탄왕뼈구이 예천중흥점) is on the 2nd floor of the building with the CU convenience store, across from the main gate of Yecheon Junghung Apartments. There's an elevator inside the building, so it's easy to bring a stroller, or to carry a baby who is getting a little heavy.

A baby chair prepared from the Naver reservation note

When I booked through Naver before the visit, I'd written "2 adults, 1 baby (9 months)" in the party size note. And when we arrived, the baby chair had already been wiped clean and set up at our reserved seat! I walked in carrying my very heavy baby, and seeing the seat ready for us, I was so touched by the owner's thoughtfulness.

Why I chose grilled pork bones instead of gamjatang

The most popular order here is the set menu, which lets you enjoy the signature gamjatang and the grilled pork bones together. The name says pork bones, but I'd heard many times that it's also a top gamjatang spot in Seosan, so choosing was a dilemma. Honestly, I wanted a hot, rich gamjatang in a cool room, but given our situation I had to compromise a little.

With a 9-month-old, a stew that takes a long time to eat is a bit stressful, because the baby's voice can get louder and louder. Rather than a dish you have to keep boiling over a flame, the single order of grilled pork bones comes fully cooked and can be eaten right away, so it seemed like the better choice.

How spicy is level 2 at Bultan Wang?

You can pick the spice of the grilled pork bones from 5 levels, and we ordered level 2. My husband, who can't normally handle spicy food, said level 2 was deliciously spicy and ate well. It isn't bland, just pleasantly spicy, and it suited my taste too. When the pork bones finally arrived, the charcoal aroma and the smell of the sauce as soon as they hit the table made my mouth water.

Some of the meat had slightly charred spots, but they actually add a big smoky flavor. If the char bothers you, just pick it off lightly with chopsticks. What surprised me was how tender the meat was. It's cooked so thoroughly that the meat slides off the bone with the lightest touch of chopsticks, so it's really easy to eat.

The owner's tip for eating the pork bones

The pork bones are good on their own, but the owner also showed us how to eat the meat on a tuna rice ball with the special sauce.

• Get a savory, packed tuna rice ball (jumeokbap). Ordering one to cool down the spice is a must, right!?
• Pile plenty of the picked pork bone meat on top.
• Scoop up the special sauce pooled at the bottom of the plate and spoon it over the top.

Eating it the owner's way, I got the savoriness of the tuna, the filling rice, the tender meat and the sauce all at once, a much richer and more varied flavor. After that, every time I picked off meat I dipped it generously in the sauce at the bottom.

Verdict: dining out with a baby at Bultan Wang Yecheon Junghung Branch

Between the elevator access, the spicy yet tender food and the baby chair, Bultan Wang Ppyeo Gui Yecheon Junghung Branch was a comfortable place that satisfied us overall. When eating out with kids you often give up on taste or put up with inconvenience, but not this time.

Next time, when the baby is a bit bigger and we have more room to relax, I'll definitely order the set menu and try the gamjatang of this Seosan gamjatang favorite too. If you're looking for a family dinner spot, or want to blow off stress with spicy-sweet meat, don't hesitate: head to Bultan Wang Ppyeo Gui in Yecheon-dong!