Hwaseong Korean BBQ for pork belly and aged kimchi: Hwadamga

I was in Suwon for a gathering and, while looking for a dinner spot with acquaintances, ended up visiting Hwadamga, a Korean BBQ restaurant with a neat atmosphere in Bongdam, Hwaseong.

We had par-grilled Korean pork belly, and the juices from the thick-cut meat, along with the combination of grilled bracken fern, shishito peppers, cabbage, and aged kimchi, were quite memorable. The meat was delicious, but what I personally liked even more was the overall atmosphere and the way the food was presented. Each side dish arrived neatly arranged in pretty tableware, and having unlimited access to about 20 side dishes was satisfying throughout the meal. Above all, the staff were kind and even the restroom was kept clean, so I thought it would be a good place for family meals or gatherings, too.

Warm Hwadamga, where conversations linger

What were Hwadamga’s exterior and first impression like?

Even before entering Hwadamga, the first thing that caught my eye was its generally neat, well-organized exterior. It is easy to picture a Korean BBQ restaurant as a little busy or crowded, but Hwadamga felt relatively calm and tidy right from the outside. The entrance was orderly and the building itself looked clean, so the first impression was good. When dining with family or bringing elders along, the atmosphere of the space matters as much as the food, and it did not feel intimidating in that respect.

Neat tableware and restaurant atmosphere

Once inside, the neat atmosphere I felt outside continues. One thing I liked while eating was that not only the food, but also the dishes and table setting, felt carefully arranged. In particular, the green-toned tableware suited the food well, making it feel like a more thoughtfully prepared meal than simply eating grilled meat. I went for the pork, but little details like these seem to create the overall mood of a meal.

Unlimited access to about 20 side dishes

Another memorable part of Hwadamga was the side dishes. About 20 kinds were prepared, and it was not simply that there were many varieties—they also looked lovely, each served in a pretty dish. At a Korean BBQ restaurant, it is easy to focus on the meat itself and think of the side dishes as mere extras, but that day it was nice to try a range of them with the meat. Above all, I liked that the side dishes were unlimited. When eating meat, there are times when you want a little more of a side dish that suits your taste, and it was comfortable to be able to have more of whatever I wanted without hesitation.

Juicy, thick par-grilled Korean pork belly

The menu item I looked forward to most that day was, of course, the par-grilled Korean pork belly. The meat was quite thick, so I was already anticipating the texture when I first saw it. Once grilled and eaten, the juices from the substantial cut were wonderful. Since the pork belly was par-grilled, it felt more convenient to eat than grilling it entirely from start to finish at the table, and there was fun in eating such thick pieces of meat. Thin pork belly cooks quickly, but sometimes lacks in texture or juiciness; the pork belly I had that day had enough thickness to let me enjoy the flavor of the meat itself with every bite.

A combination grilled with bracken fern, shishito peppers, and aged kimchi

The combination I especially enjoyed was the vegetables grilled alongside the meat. Grilling bracken fern, shishito peppers, cabbage, and green onion with the pork belly added different textures and flavors, making it feel quite different from eating only meat. The rich, nutty flavor from the pork belly and the aroma of grilled vegetables came together, and naturally I kept reaching for my chopsticks. Eating only meat can become a little rich, but having vegetables in between refreshed my palate, too.

Adding aged kimchi made the flavor combination really come alive. Its distinctive tanginess joined the rich, nutty flavor of the pork belly, cutting through the richness and making it a combination I kept eating. Personally, I liked having a piece of thick pork belly with grilled aged kimchi, plus bracken fern or shishito peppers. Rather than eating just one ingredient, there were many things to cook together on the grill, so it was a bonus that I could enjoy different combinations throughout the meal.

The pork belly I had at Hwadamga was nicely thick on its own, but it tasted even better with the many accompaniments. Pork belly and aged kimchi are a familiar combination that is hard to get wrong, and adding grilled bracken fern and shishito peppers brought more variety in texture. There was fun in choosing which side dish to eat with each bite of meat. Since there were so many side dishes, I liked being able to enjoy the same pork belly in slightly different ways depending on what I paired with it.

Private rooms and tables for family gatherings and company dinners

Another thing that seemed good as I looked around Hwadamga was that it has private rooms. When several people eat together at a Korean BBQ restaurant, it is certainly easier to talk if there is some separation from the surrounding tables. For visits with a large group, such as a family gathering or company dinner, having private rooms itself seemed quite useful. Rather than simply a place to eat meat, the space looked well suited to meals shared by several people, including family dining, gatherings, and company dinners.

Especially for a restaurant visited with family, it is hard to overlook things such as the freshness of the meat and cleanliness. Looking at the full experience—the food, atmosphere, and staff service—it was bound to be a satisfying place.

Final thoughts on dinner at Hwadamga

It was difficult to pick just one thing I liked most about my meal at Hwadamga. The juices from the thick par-grilled Korean pork belly were great, and I also liked grilling bracken fern, shishito peppers, cabbage, and aged kimchi together. Beyond the food, what stays with me more is the overall balance: assorted side dishes served in neat tableware, a clean restaurant, private rooms, clean restrooms, and kind staff. Delicious meat is important, but I want to return when a meal is comfortable from beginning to end, and in that sense it was a very satisfying meal for me. If you are looking for a family dining or gathering spot in Bongdam, Hwaseong, I felt it was worth considering these aspects together. In particular, those who like pork belly and enjoy many accompaniments with their meat may want to visit at least once.

However, this review is based on the menu and atmosphere I experienced during my visit, so I recommend checking information that can change, such as menu prices and hours, before visiting.

Hwadamga hours

At the time of searching, the listed hours were 11:00–22:00, with a break time of 15:00–17:00 and last orders at 21:00, so I recommend checking the latest business information before visiting.