Daegu family barbecue restaurant with makchang platter: Bongja Makchang

Whenever my family starts wondering what to eat, we somehow always end up choosing meat. This time, I searched for makchang places around Jongno in Daegu and visited Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch (봉자막창 대구종로점). My parents wanted makchang (pork intestine), while my younger sibling wanted samgyeopsal (pork belly), so we chose a set that serves both on one platter.

Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch: location and parking

It is on the first floor at 49 Jong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu. It is open daily from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. the following day.

It is in an area of Jongno, Daegu, packed with restaurants, so it was easy to find. There is no dedicated parking, so I took public transportation. If you are driving, it would be more convenient to check out nearby paid parking in advance.

There was a whole row of TV-featured signboards at the entrance, which got me even more excited for no reason.

How long was the weekday evening wait?

When we arrived at 7 p.m. on a weekday evening, there was a wait. We registered and waited around 30 minutes, with about seven or eight parties ahead of us.

They had set out three notebooks to read while waiting, with topics like the currently popular “legendary trash ex stories,” so time went by quickly haha. If you do not like waiting, I recommend arriving right at opening time, 4 p.m.

Tables and TV inside

There was a TV on the wall, and some people were eating while watching baseball.

There was additional seating farther inside, too. The table layout felt roomier than I expected.

The Bongja Platter with fresh makchang and pork belly

• Bongja Platter (one plate + one plate) ₩43,000
• Extra fresh pork belly, 1 serving (₩12,000) × 2: ₩24,000
• Jinro ₩5,000

You order using the T-order tablet at the table. The most popular choice seemed to be the Bongja Platter set. We chose the one plate + one plate option with fresh pork belly and fresh makchang.

For beer, they had Cass, Terra, and Kelly, plus Chamisul, Jinro, and Ilpum soju. There were also drinks in several varieties, including Coke Zero and Fanta, so families with children can choose comfortably.

Makchang, pork belly, and the side dishes

The spread included kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, fresh kimchi salad, marinated onions, and ssamjang (savory dipping paste). It was just right for eating with meat. The platter also came with fresh pork belly, fresh makchang, seasoned bracken fern, rice cakes, and king oyster mushrooms. Among makchang places in Jongno, Daegu, this one gives you quite a full mix on one platter.

The makchang was chewy and nutty with no unpleasant smell when I ate it after the outside had crisped up. The aged fresh pork belly was juicy but finished cleanly.

The seasoned bracken fern, rice cakes, and king oyster mushrooms were delicious after soaking up the meat fat, and I kept reaching for them.

The pork belly was even better dipped in the meljeot (fermented anchovy sauce) that came with it! My family liked it too.

Unlimited ramen, steamed egg, and patbingsu at the self-service bar

You can get more side dishes at the self-service bar. Ramen, steamed egg, and patbingsu (red-bean shaved ice) are all unlimited, so you can have more without feeling burdened.

There were lots of options: Odongtong Myeon, Jin Ramen, Jjashullang, Buldak Stir-fried Noodles, and Yeol Ramen.

I finished every last drop of the broth haha. You know ramen tastes better when you eat it out, right?

I finished up feeling full with old-school-style patbingsu topped with cornflakes, condensed milk, and red beans.

My overall take on this easy family meal

The meat was clean with no unpleasant smell, and what I liked most was being able to eat makchang and pork belly together with the Bongja Platter. With unlimited ramen, steamed egg, and patbingsu too, we filled up nicely. These days, there are so many places where everything is overly intense, but this was a solid barbecue restaurant where a family could eat comfortably. Personally, if I were looking for a makchang place in Jongno, Daegu, with unlimited refills as well, I think I would come back.