Yuseong Korean restaurant pork belly on a cast-iron lid: Jeonju House

I went to look around Shinsegae Department Store, then got completely wiped out from shopping and had the hardest time deciding what to eatㅠㅠ 🛍️ It was the weekend, so it was crowded and I was hungry... and when that happens, what sounds better than sizzling grilled meat, right? I searched like crazy for somewhere nearby with good-quality meat and great side dishes, and the reviews were seriously good. I went, was genuinely satisfied, and had to tell you about it right away!

Jeonju House at a glance

• Location: 36 Oncheon-ro 101beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 09:00–22:20 (last order 21:20)
• Parking: Roadside parking is available in front of the restaurant

A spacious, comfortable dining room

Once I stepped inside, the dining room was much bigger and more comfortable than I expected.

There were plenty of round and square tables, and I saw quite a few people there for group get-togethers or work dinners!!

You know a restaurant is the real deal when there are lots of older diners, right??! This place had exactly that vibe. By the entrance, they had a Catchtable waiting-list kiosk, a thoughtful phone-charging area, and even a mix-coffee vending machine that was perfect for a post-meal cup!

Fresh pork belly and a tableful of 15 side dishes

I scanned the menu and immediately ordered the signature dish! As soon as I ordered, a huge, shiny, oiled cast-iron pot lid was set right in the middle of the table, and I was already drooling... haha

Then the table filled up with a whopping 15 neat side dishes, including bean sprouts, scallion salad, pickles, and, most importantly, Korean aged kimchi!

Every single one had that proper home-cooked feel, so I kept reaching for my chopsticks before the main meat had even arrived. I also loved being able to grab more side dishes comfortably from the self-service bar without feeling self-conscious.

A juicy feast bursting on the cast-iron lid 🔥

Two servings of fresh pork belly! The meat was a vivid rosy red, wonderfully thick, and had the most perfect lean-to-fat ratio.

It even came with the skin attached, exactly how I like it. They laid the thick fresh pork belly onto the hot cast-iron lid with that wonderful sizzle, then neatly arranged aged kimchi, bean sprouts, and mushrooms along the path where the fat would run.

I picked up a nicely browned piece and tried it plain, without dipping it in anything. There was absolutely no off smell; the outside was crisp while the inside burst with juice.

The chewy fatty part seemed to double the savory richness!! I put a piece of meat on well-ripened aged kimchi, dipped garlic generously in ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), wrapped it all in lettuce, and took a huge bite—seriously, it was a party in my mouthㅠㅠ

It was so delicious that I ended up adding one more serving of pork belly and ate until I was absolutely stuffed 🥹 This is the portion from the extra serving I ordered midway through!

₩2,000 anchovy-broth doenjang-jjigae

I feel like something is missing when I eat meat without soup, so I ordered the anchovy-broth doenjang-jjigae (soybean-paste stew). It was only ₩2,000, yet it came in a full earthenware pot—I was so surprised.

It was generously packed with anchovies, mushrooms, radish, scallions, tofu, and chili peppers, making the broth incredibly refreshing with a pleasant spicy kick. After a rich bite of pork belly, one spoonful of this doenjang-jjigae broth completely resets your palate. This is an essential side order that you absolutely have to get!

A meal where aged kimchi and doenjang stew worked beautifully

After looking around Shinsegae, the combination of cast-iron-lid fresh pork belly and spicy doenjang stew on an empty stomach was just perfection.

The meat quality was excellent to begin with, and the generous, homemade-tasting side dishes and aged kimchi went wonderfully with it, so I’d recommend it to anyone looking for great pork belly. Next time, I definitely want to try their other popular dishes: kimchi-jjigae and gyeran-mari (Korean rolled omelet)!