20-year Jeju pork belly restaurant in Gwangalli, Busan: Myeongseung

A day when I wanted good pork in Gwangalli! I was thinking of samgyeopsal near the beach, but this time I decided to try something a bit special — Jeju black pork belly. The place I visited is Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi, located between Gwangan Station and Gwangalli Beach.

There are tons of pork restaurants in Gwangalli, but this one specializes in Jeju pork, so I was curious. After eating there, I understood why people specifically come for Jeju black pork and pork belly. Let me introduce Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi, a Gwangalli restaurant I'd love to visit again!!

How to find Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi, and where to park

Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi is located at 24 Suyeong-ro594beon-gil in Gwangalli, Busan. It's about 100m from Gwangan Station Exit 1 toward Gwangalli Beach, so it's convenient if you're taking the subway!! It's tucked slightly off the main street in a quiet residential area, which I actually liked :)

There's one parking spot in front of the restaurant, but if it's taken you'll need to use a nearby paid lot!! Business hours are 17:00–22:00, weekends 11:00–22:00, and it's closed every Tuesday.

What the inside of Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi feels like

Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi has that comfortable, neighborhood pork restaurant vibe where you can grill and eat at ease. Rather than a flashy tourist restaurant on Gwangalli's main street, it felt more like a place you'd casually drop into when you want pork nearby.

Being a pork restaurant, it suited family dinners, meals with friends, or a drink with meat in the evening. If you're looking for a local's pork restaurant in Gwangalli rather than a tourist-focused one, this is worth considering.

What's on the menu at this Gwangalli pork restaurant

Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi sells a variety of meat dishes centered on Jeju pork.

• Jeju black pork belly
• Jeju pork belly
• Jeju pork raw ribs
• Seasoned ribs
• Jeju pork noodle soup
• Jeju wild bracken

Jeju black pork belly is introduced as the signature dish, so I ordered it without hesitation that day.

Jeju black pork belly and the house side dishes

When the meat arrived, I could tell right away that Jeju black pork was something different, just from the look. The tight knife-cuts showed the owner's care in preparing the meat :)

The wrap vegetables were also really fresh and clean!!

And the side dishes were no joke!!!! They showed the skill of an owner who's run this same spot for 20 years. Every single side dish was tidy and delicious, ugh.

You grill the meat yourself :)

Pork belly with the skin attached — a step up from regular samgyeopsal — is a favorite for those who like a chewier texture than samgyeopsal. Taking a bite of the black pork grilled golden on the plate, I could really taste that rich, savory pork flavor. Grilled crisp on the outside and moist inside, the juices stayed locked in, and the chewy texture unique to this cut was great.

Ending with Jeju pork noodle soup and doenjang jjigae

After the meat, I also ordered Jeju pork noodle soup (gogi guksu), a must when it comes to Jeju food. Soft noodles and pork in a warm broth made a great meal to follow the grilled meat. The broth had a deep, savory pork flavor, and the noodles weren't too heavy, making for a satisfying finish.

Eating the pork alongside the noodle soup gave me the same feeling as eating gogi guksu in Jeju itself, and it paired well with the grilled meat too.

We also had doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), a must-have at a pork restaurant. The savory doenjang flavor with warm broth cut through the richness of the meat, and it went well with rice too. Taking a spoonful of the stew between bites of meat cleaned my palate, and since it wasn't too strong, I could enjoy it comfortably throughout the meal. If you like a clean, light style of doenjang, I highly recommend it!!

Honestly the meat was so chewy and delicious, it's the real deal, ugh.

Who should eat at Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi?

If you're craving samgyeopsal or Jeju black pork in Gwangalli, Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi is worth a visit!! It's close to Gwangan Station so it's easy to reach by public transport, and being a bit removed from the crowded main street of Gwangalli actually felt refreshing, haha.

Being able to enjoy a variety of Jeju pork dishes, including the black pork belly, was appealing. It seems especially suited to those who want to eat Jeju pork generously in a relaxed atmosphere rather than at a tourist-feeling restaurant in Gwangalli. If you're looking for a pork restaurant in Gwangalli and love Jeju black pork belly, give Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi a try!