Sangbong Seoul Korean BBQ with thick frozen pork: Super Naengsam

There hadn't been a frozen pork belly place in Sangbong, but a super-budget-friendly one just opened in the Sangbong food alley, so I had to check it out. I tried frozen pork belly ages ago and remembered not liking it, so I never really sought it out—but this place is worth recommending!

A Sangbong food-alley frozen pork belly spot with outdoor seating

As you'd expect from the Sangbong food alley, outdoor seating is available too. Pork belly outside in weather like this... and you don't leave smelling like smoke—so nice! It was a little hot when we went, so we sat inside instead, and the air conditioning was blasting. Loved it.

Such tempting prices... how could you possibly see that sidewalk sign and not go in?

The interior was very spacious and comfortable, which I loved. Sometimes small restaurants pack everyone in so tightly that it is hard to even talk and everything feels chaotic, but this one has plenty of space between tables.

My absolute favorite: a self-service bar. I love being able to eat as much as I want without feeling self-conscious.

The menu and self-service bar

Frozen pork belly has a three-serving minimum. Even then, it is only ₩27,900! These days, two basic servings at a pork belly restaurant can easily cost ₩20,000–₩30,000, so this is really affordable. And they have doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew), kimchi jjigae, and even Hangang ramyeon... the owner really knows what people want.

The basic side dishes came out neatly like this, with minari (water dropwort) and pickled onions! The owner really does know good food.

There were extra enoki mushrooms at the self-service bar, and I was so happy that the minari was there too. Grab it immediately.

Meat restaurants are always a splattery, greasy situation, so I thought this utensil set was such a thoughtful touch. You can tell the owner has really considered things from the customer's perspective. And everyone was incredibly kind, which made me feel great too 👍

Three servings of frozen pork belly with a different kind of thickness

Three servings of frozen pork belly (₩29,700)

First, take a look at the five rules.

Oh, the meat was noticeably thicker! At most frozen pork belly places, the slices are really thin... you know what I mean, right? I do not usually eat frozen pork belly because I dislike that texture, but these slices had a decent thickness, like regular pork belly.

Pile plenty of minari on top of the frozen pork belly and it becomes so fragrant and delicious. It definitely did not have that typical frozen pork belly feel. Of course, people who love frozen pork belly specifically for its thinness might find it a little disappointing, but it still clearly had its own frozen-pork-belly character—and for someone like me who normally dislikes it, it was exactly right!

Hangang ramyeon cooked before the meat even arrived

Hangang ramyeon (₩3,900)

Hangang ramyeon (DIY instant noodles made with a machine), at a pork belly restaurant? There were so many varieties too: Buldak, jjajang, Yeol, Ansungtangmyun, Shin, Jin, bibim, and more... It felt like my loss if I did not have any, so I went to cook ramen before the meat even came out. I am usually Team Shin Ramyun, but I made Ansungtangmyun for the first time in ages.

I loved that it cooked itself—it was delicious and the best. The price was so affordable too.

Self-fried rice to finish

One serving of self-fried rice (₩3,000)

We considered ordering more meat, but we were getting full, so we tried the fried rice. You cannot skip fried rice at a pork belly restaurant!

It was one serving, but there was more than I expected. It came with roasted seaweed, minari, kimchi seasoning, and sesame oil.

Oh wow, it was seriously delicious. Please, please get the fried rice!!

Cute little Beer 300

Beer 300 (₩2,900)

That furrowed brow of truth. We were full as we were nearly done with the meat, but he said he wanted a beer. We debated it, then saw they had a 300 ml option, so we ordered one. Affordable and cute...

When we finished, there was an angel ring left in the glass. This place does beer well too. My husband liked it as well and said the beer here was good.

Final thoughts from someone who normally dislikes frozen pork belly

The day a frozen-pork-belly hater first thought, “Oh, frozen pork belly can be delicious too?” I told the owner that I do not normally like it but had enjoyed it so much, and they said that apparently there are other people like me who keep coming back! The owner and staff were all so kind too; they gave us soda and even asked whether we wanted cups of ice. We left after such a pleasant meal in every way. I hope this place absolutely thrives in the Sangbong food alley!