Hapjeong pork belly restaurant with doenjang rice: Dojeok Hapjeong

I was looking for a place to eat meat in Hapjeong and ended up at Dojeok Hapjeong. 🤩🤩🤩

That day I ordered pork belly (samgyeopsal) for two, along with doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice) and cheese egg soufflé.

The meat quality itself was good, and I especially liked how thick the cuts were. It was also nice that after going through an AI pre-grilling system, staff came and grilled it for us themselves. (Totally fascinating... 🤩)

We could just chat comfortably and eat without worrying about grilling the meat ourselves.

What the Dojeok Hapjeong dining room is like

Dojeok Hapjeong is a large, comfortable Korean BBQ restaurant near Hapjeong Station. The space spans the 1st and 2nd floors and felt more spacious than I expected.

The wooden tables gave the whole place a clean atmosphere. There are also outdoor tables, which looked great for a nice-weather day. It works well for a casual meal for two, and also for a bigger group, so it would suit a gathering or a work dinner too.

Parking at Dojeok Hapjeong and what's on the menu

Parking at Dojeok Hapjeong fits about 4 cars in front of the restaurant. That said, spots aren't plentiful, so if it's already full you'll need to use a nearby lot. Worth keeping in mind if you're driving.

Dojeok serves a variety of pork dishes including kal-samgyeopsal (knife-cut pork belly). Depending on your taste, you can also choose gochujang samgyeopsal or hangjeongsal (pork neck). There are also dishes like kimchi kalguksu (noodle soup) and bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) that go well alongside the meat.

How the AI pre-grilling works

One of Dojeok's standout features is its use of an AI pre-grilling system. It was convenient to get consistently pre-grilled meat that staff then finished cooking for us. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 With thick cuts, the taste can vary a lot depending on how well it's cooked, so not having to worry about that made the meal that much more enjoyable.

Pork belly for two: thicker cuts, better flavour

The main dish we ordered that day at Dojeok Hapjeong was pork belly for two.

The first thing I noticed as soon as the meat arrived was how much thicker it was than expected. It gave a satisfying bite completely different from thin-cut pork belly. The surface was golden and nutty, while the inside stayed moist and delicious.

The meat quality itself was solid enough that I felt satisfied the whole way through. The balance of fat and lean meat was good, and the signature nuttiness of pork belly really came through. With the thickness came a satisfying chew too, which I think meat lovers would enjoy.

More than anything, having staff grill it for us made the whole meal really comfortable. Not having to keep flipping or cutting the meat myself was great. Eating it right when it was properly cooked made it taste even better, I think.

Doenjang sulbap: the warm finish to the meal

Along with the meat, we also ordered doenjang sulbap. When you're eating pork belly, you inevitably start craving warm rice or soup toward the end.

That day, instead of naengmyeon (cold noodles), we finished the meal heartily with doenjang sulbap. The savory doenjang flavor paired well with the meat, and it was satisfying to eat something warm. A bite of pork belly followed by a spoonful of doenjang sulbap turned out to be a better combination than I expected. Next time I'd like to try the kimchi kalguksu or bibim guksu too.

Cheese gyeranjjim, the standout dish

The side dish that stuck with me most that day was the cheese egg soufflé.

Honestly, I usually think of steamed egg at BBQ places as just a side dish that comes along for the ride. But this was so much better than expected that I kept going back for more. The egg soufflé came out really fluffy, while the inside was moist and rich. It wasn't just a light, airy texture — it had a soft, deep quality to it.

With the cheese added on top, the nutty flavor came through even more. It was also great to have a spoonful in between bites of pork belly. Personally, I think I'd order this again on my next visit.

Is Dojeok Hapjeong worth it for pork belly in Hapjeong?

If the weather's nice, eating at Dojeok Hapjeong's outdoor tables would be a great option. If you're looking for thick-cut pork belly in Hapjeong, Dojeok Hapjeong is a solid choice.

The meat quality itself was good, but the cheese egg soufflé is what stuck with me most. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Fluffy yet rich, with cheese added on top, it went really well alongside the meat. Next time I'd like to try hangjeongsal or gochujang samgyeopsal instead of just the pork belly.