Suncheon Korean BBQ with two kids: Goban Sikdang cooks it for you

When you go out to eat with two kids, it is not easy for Mom and Dad to properly eat a meal, right? You have to take care of them one at a time, and on days when you also have to grill the meat, I can barely tell what is even making it into my own mouth.

But at Goban Sikdang Suncheon Jorye Branch (고반식당 순천조례점), which we visited this time, the staff grilled the meat themselves, so we only had to look after the kids and eat the perfectly cooked meat. It was so convenient! Baby chairs and kids’ tableware were ready too, so even with two children, we were able to enjoy a relaxed meal for the first time in ages.

Near Homeplus in Suncheon: location and parking

Goban Sikdang Suncheon Jorye Branch is near Homeplus in Suncheon, making it a nice plan to finish your grocery shopping and go out for a meal too. The restaurant has a dark brick exterior and a large Chinese-character Goban Sikdang sign, so it is easy to spot from a distance. The phrase “premium aged Korean pork specialist” gave it the feel of a proper meat restaurant.

There is also space to park right in front of the restaurant, making it easy to come by car.

Why it was great to visit with kids

The interior was clean overall, with fairly generous space between the tables. The ventilation seemed good too, as there was barely any meat smoke or smell, which made it comfortable. When you visit a Korean BBQ restaurant with children, you have to think carefully about seating because of the hot grill, right? Here, the grill was set to one side, so seating the kids on the opposite side made me feel more at ease.

Best of all, they provided not only baby chairs and kids’ tableware, but also seaweed and yogurt that the children could eat. They may seem like small touches, but as someone dining out with kids, I was really grateful for this kind of consideration.

Giving the children a yogurt each while we waited for the meat bought us a little breathing room, and it made things much easier for us as parents too.

We ordered the Geunbon assorted platter and galbi

At Goban Sikdang, you can order various cuts individually, including samgyeopsal (pork belly) and moksal (pork neck), and there are assorted platters for trying several cuts together as well. Since it was our first visit, we wanted to try the most basic selection, so we ordered one Geunbon assorted platter.

The Geunbon assorted platter lets you enjoy fresh pork belly and fresh pork neck together, so it was perfect for our family because we like both. As we ate, the kids enjoyed it quite a bit too, so we also ordered galbi, which they usually love.

A generous table of sides and steamed egg

When you order meat, they set the table with a generous spread of basic side dishes. There were lots of accompaniments that went well with the meat, including kimchi, pickles, and fresh kimchi salad, so the whole table felt full. Meat is important at a Korean BBQ restaurant, of course, but I really like places with a wide variety of side dishes like this.

If you ask, they will even put the kimchi on the grill and cook it with the meat, and that was another special treat. A piece of pork belly on top of kimchi browned in the pork fat—what more is there to say!

You can also choose either doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) or steamed egg as a complimentary item, and I recommend the steamed egg if you are with children. Just mix rice into the fluffy steamed egg, and the kids polished off half a bowl in no time!

Why we could eat meat comfortably with two kids

And the thing I liked most about Goban Sikdang! The staff grill the meat from beginning to end. At some Korean BBQ restaurants, they only grill it at first and you have to take over once it is partly cooked, but here, the staff cook it deliciously all the way through, like a dedicated server.

Grilling meat can be part of the fun when you eat out without kids, but it is a different story with two children, right? Looking after the children alone is hectic enough; when you are also trying not to burn the meat, you start wondering whether you came to eat or to work.

At Goban Sikdang, the staff do everything from grilling to cutting the meat, so all we had to do was take care of the kids’ meals and feed them the well-cooked meat. I cannot remember the last time we ate this leisurely at a Korean BBQ restaurant with two kids! It really made me appreciate a place that grills the meat for you.

Thick aged pork and galbi suited to the kids

Both the pork belly and pork neck on the Geunbon assorted platter were impressively thick. The pork belly in particular was browned on the outside while staying juicy inside, and one bite was full of rich savory flavor. It was delicious lightly dipped in salt, and adding grilled kimchi or fresh kimchi salad meant I could keep eating it without it feeling too rich.

The pork neck was a little firmer than the pork belly, with more chew. The kids found it a bit difficult to eat, so we added the galbi they usually like. With its tender texture and sweet-salty marinade, the galbi was clearly much more to their taste.

The seasoning is a little strong, though, so I recommend serving it to children with rice rather than giving them only the meat!

A relaxed Korean BBQ meal with kids in Jorye-dong, Suncheon

When you dine out with two children, being able to eat comfortably matters just as much as the taste. In that respect, Goban Sikdang Suncheon Jorye Branch was satisfying because we could enjoy our meal without feeling burdened.

I loved the thick, tender pork belly, while the kids ate the galbi and steamed egg really well. The prices are not especially low, but considering the staff grilling service and all the preparation for children, it was a thoroughly satisfying meal out. If you are looking for a Korean BBQ restaurant to visit with kids in Jorye-dong, Suncheon, give it a try. On days when you eat meat with children, a place that grills it for you really is the best!

Hours and information

• Address: 18-31 Namsinwol 3-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
• Mon–Fri 17:00–23:00
• Sat–Sun 16:00–23:00
• Last order 22:00