Cheongju Korean BBQ with staff grilling: Anmin Cheongju

Location, parking, and hours

📍 Location 1F, 40 Deogam-ro 12beon-gil, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea 🅿️ Parking Parking is available in front of the restaurant, for about five cars! 🕧 Hours Daily 16:30–23:00

What are the exterior and waiting area like?

There is parking for about five cars in front of the restaurant.

There is parking for about five cars right in front of the restaurant! It was convenient to park and head straight in, though there are not many spaces, so it is worth keeping in mind before you visit :) There is also a separate waiting area~ There are seats both outside and inside, so even if there is a wait, it seems like you can wait comfortably! The first thing I noticed when I visited was how neat the whole exterior looked. It felt calmer and more atmospheric than a typical meat restaurant, so I was curious about the inside even before going in haha.

The interior had an overall dark color palette, which made it feel a little more atmospheric than a typical meat restaurant! The tables were neatly arranged, and each one had good ventilation, so it was nice for chatting while eating meat haha. The overall atmosphere was quiet and tidy, so it looked like a nice spot for a date or dinner too :)

Tablet ordering and thick pork belly

You can order using the tablet at the table! Everything from the meat options to meals and alcoholic drinks was organized at a glance, so it was easy to order without having to call a staff member. We ordered pork belly that day, and as soon as it arrived, it looked thicker than expected—delicious from the visuals alone haha.

I think it was even more delicious because it was grilled over charcoal!

Staff grilling service

And one thing I liked about Anmin Cheongju was that the staff grill the meat for you!! The pork belly was quite thick, so if we had grilled it ourselves, I think we would have kept checking whether it was cooked through. But the staff handled everything from grilling to cutting, so we could eat while chatting comfortably haha. They grilled it until nicely browned and cut it into easy-to-eat pieces, so all you have to do is eat :)

Pork belly with sauces and shredded scallions

There were lots of sauces to enjoy with the meat too! First, I tried the pork as it was, then dipped it in salt and sauces. Each combination tasted different, which made it fun to choose haha. There were plenty of side dishes as well, and the shredded scallions were especially tangy and crisp, making them great with the pork belly! Eating them between bites of meat cut through the richness, so they went really well together :)

Once it was cooked, the outside was nicely browned while the inside stayed moist! Pork belly can get tiring after just a few pieces if it is too greasy, but this one kept its savory richness without feeling as heavy as expected, so I kept reaching for more haha.

The mushrooms and shishito peppers grilled alongside the meat went well with it too. Best of all, since we did not have to grill it ourselves, our conversation was never interrupted by tending the meat lol. Being able to chat while eating comfortably was a bigger advantage than I expected!

Wrapped in myeongi (pickled wild garlic leaves), and wrapped in lettuce too.

We ordered pork skin, and it was thick and chewy, so we ordered it again. You can get pork skin through the Naver receipt event, so be sure to take part with your receipt!

What we ordered and the total

• Half whole-pig set ₩41,000
• Fresh whole pork belly ₩15,000
• Earthenware soft tofu stew ₩6,000
• Steamed egg ₩3,000
• Zero Coke ₩2,000
• Total ₩67,000

Cheongju pork belly grilled for you: final thoughts

If you are looking for a tidy, atmospheric pork belly restaurant in Cheongju, I recommend Anmin Cheongju! The staff grilled the meat for us, making it easy to eat comfortably, and I liked the thick pork belly along with the wide variety of sauces and side dishes haha. The prices are on the higher side, but considering the atmosphere and service, it seems like a good place for a date or special occasion :) I would like to visit again when I am craving meat grilled for me!