Daegu Korean BBQ with a couple set: Mijin Chuksan Chilgok Branch

The atmosphere at an aged-meat Korean BBQ restaurant near Daegu Chilgok District 3

Right near Daegu Chilgok District 3, Mijin Chuksan Chilgok Branch (미진축산 칠곡점) is where you can enjoy high-quality aged meat to your heart’s content at an approachable price. It is easy to find on the roadside, and the neat, well-kept exterior gives a pleasant first impression.

Once inside, soft lighting warmly fills the whole restaurant, making it a comfortable place to eat. The tables are spaced generously, so it is easy to move around; it would work just as well for a small gathering as for a larger company dinner. The entire place is kept very clean, and each table has a proper ventilation system that pulls in smoke, so there is less worry about that classic Korean BBQ smell clinging to your clothes.

On the kitchen wall at the back are witty lines such as, “Life is meat after all,” and “Don’t put off until tomorrow the meat you can eat today.” They gave us a little laugh while we waited for our food, haha.

The self bar and tablet ordering setup

To one side in the middle of the restaurant is a self bar where you can freely help yourself to whichever side dishes you want. I liked that the various sauces and basic banchan (Korean side dishes) were neatly stored in containers and hygienically maintained.

The self bar is stocked with fresh lettuce, perilla leaves, and peppers, plus pungent shredded scallions, kimchi, and pickled items. There are even ramen noodles, pizza cheese, and corn salad, which make it feel even better value.

Ordering is simple through the tablet kiosk installed at every table. Everything from set menus and individual cuts to side dishes is laid out clearly with photos, making it easy to choose. We ordered the Couple Set for two!! The Couple Set for two is ₩35,000.

The basic spread arrived in no time, and it was wonderfully varied. There was meljeot (fermented anchovy sauce), teriyaki sauce, wasabi, mayonnaise, garlic, ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), pickles, kimchi, and even pizza cheese to grill, so we could combine everything however we liked. Just looking at the sauce selection, I could see why this is known as a great meat restaurant in Daegu’s Dongcheon-dong.

The lettuce, perilla leaves, and peppers we brought from the self bar were all wonderfully fresh and crisp, without a wilted bit in sight. They added exactly the right crunch alongside the meat.

The shredded scallions, indispensable at a Korean BBQ restaurant, had a nicely balanced pungent scallion flavor and sweet-spicy seasoning that cleanly cut through the richness of the meat.

The Couple Set meat and accompaniments

On the wall hangs an information board describing the characteristics of different cuts of pork, beef, and chicken. It is more fun eating when you know what makes the cuts on your plate—pork neck, gabrisal (pork collar), pork belly, and more—distinctive!!

The doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), bubbling away in an aluminum pot, came generously filled with tofu and zucchini. It was savory with a pleasantly spicy finish, perfect for refreshing the palate between bites of meat.

A powerful flame came on, heating the grill thoroughly. The dedicated grill plate has widely spaced holes, allowing fat to drain away while letting the smoky flavor soak nicely into the meat.

Today’s main event arrived. Its bright red color and balanced fat ratio looked fresh at a glance, and the parsley sprinkled over the top made it look even more appetizing. Thick sausages to grill alongside were included in the basic set too.

We placed the pork neck, pork belly, and sausages one after another onto the well-heated grill. The sizzle and savory aroma of the meat cooking truly got our appetites going. Once the surfaces turned golden, we cut everything into bite-size pieces and carefully grilled the cut sides too. Perhaps because it was aged meat, the texture was not dry at all and cut beautifully tender. The sound of it cooking so deliciously was just too nice, haha.

Just as the meat was cooking, the bibim jjolmyeon (spicy mixed chewy noodles) arrived. It was generously topped with crisp cabbage, cucumber, seaweed flakes, and a boiled egg, and the sweet-spicy aroma of the sauce drifted up to my nose.

I put a piece of perfectly cooked meat on fresh lettuce, topped it with shredded scallions, garlic, and ssamjang, then made a big ssam (lettuce wrap). The full burst of juices with every bite and the crunch of the vegetables made a perfect match.

Another special combination was a golden piece of pork belly on springy, well-mixed jjolmyeon noodles. The noodles’ sweet-spicy flavor paired with the savory meat so well that I kept reaching for more without getting tired of it. It was a weekday evening, but my friend and I drank too much again.. haha.

If you are looking for a proper Korean BBQ restaurant in Daegu’s Dongcheon-dong, I definitely recommend visiting at least once.