Family-friendly Korean BBQ in Gajeong-dong, Incheon: Heukdwaeji

Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul Gajeong Ruwon City Main Branch

• Address: 15 Yeomgok-ro 464beon-gil, 1st floor, units 101–103 (3M Tower), Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Transit/location: Near Gajeong Station, Incheon Subway Line 2 (walking distance)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 16:30–24:00 (last order 23:00), Sat–Sun 12:00–24:00 (last order 23:00)
• Parking: Underground parking available in the building

A charcoal-grilled black pork spot for a chilly-day family meal

The weather's been getting chilly lately, and I really wanted to grill meat over a warm fire. So I went with my family to a restaurant in Ruwon City, Incheon.

We drove there, and the parking space was well set up, which was convenient. Parking ease is actually a pretty big deal for family outings, right? It was easy to get from parking to the restaurant, so it worked out fine visiting with a child too.

Walking in, the staff greeted us kindly and took good care of us throughout the meal.

The aging meat and the restaurant's atmosphere

We could see the meat aging on display.

The interior has that comfortable, lively vibe typical of Korean BBQ places. There are multiple tables, good for company dinners, family outings, or larger gatherings. Plenty of baby chairs are on hand too, so it's good for bringing a little one.

There's also a self-serve bar you can use.

All the side dishes were kept clean and well managed.

Since this place uses charcoal briquettes, once we sat down there was a faint charcoal scent in the air.

Charcoal-grilled black pork neck and belly — how thick is it?

I usually grill meat over wood charcoal, so it had really been a while since I'd had it over charcoal briquettes.

What we ordered — Jirisan black pork Yukbaegi: pork neck 400g + pork belly 200g

The pork neck looked to be about 3cm thick — heftier than a typical steak, honestly quite thick. I wondered if something this thick would be dry, but I was wrong.

Pre-grilled elsewhere, finished tableside

There's a separate space set up just for pre-grilling the meat. If you're constantly grilling right at the table in hot weather, the heat gets pretty uncomfortable, right?

The owner brought the meat over already grilled to just the right point, so we only had to finish it at the table. With less grilling time at the table, it was easier to eat while chatting with family. Not much oil splattered either, which made the meal a lot more comfortable.

I tried the pork neck first. I can say for sure it's the best pork neck I've ever had. It was mild and tender — it just melted in my mouth.

Even though it's pork neck, it wasn't dry at all — moist and tender in texture. With each bite, juices came out along with that faint charcoal scent.

Dipping it lightly in the restaurant's own house-made sauce — fermented for a long time and only found here at Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul — added a deep, savory flavor that paired really well with the meat.

The thick fatty parts were surprisingly not greasy, just nutty and rich. I also tried the pork belly — clean, with no gamey smell, and chewy. Since it was thick, the nutty flavor came through even more.

A meal made even better by the complimentary jelly soup and steamed egg

There was a nice variety of accompaniments — salted anchovy sauce (meljeot), mountain herb (myeongi), chive salad, and fresh wasabi. The cabbage, apparently steamed in-house, had no fishy smell at all and tasted sweet and delicious.

Eating just meat can get a bit greasy, but having the basic side dishes alongside made it much better.

I especially liked the mukguk (buckwheat jelly soup). They apparently use top-grade jelly, and there was no bitterness at all. It was cool and tangy, and taking a spoonful between bites of meat cleaned my palate. A bite of meat, a spoonful of soup, and then I wanted more meat again.

My child finished a whole bowl of steamed egg alone

The complimentary steamed egg (gyeranjjim) was great to share with my child. It was fluffy and soft, so my kid ate it well. My child already likes steamed egg in general, but here finished an entire bowl solo.

We also ordered rice with a nice glossy stickiness. Putting a piece of meat on the warm rice was a surprisingly great match. The rice itself, made from premium Suhyangmi rice, was so fragrant that the grains tasted naturally sweet. Eating it with the meat made the meal really filling.

Rounding it off with moist grilled mushrooms

At the end, we also tried the grilled mushrooms. They wrap the mushrooms in foil and grill them over the charcoal. Opening the foil, the moisture that came out of the mushrooms was still sitting there, keeping them moist. One bite had a chewy texture and a strong mushroom aroma.

There was no fishy smell from the mushrooms at all. No burnt spots either, and the taste wasn't even mushroom-like — it was more like chewy clams.

Grilling meat over charcoal briquettes gave off an aroma you just can't get at home, and I liked that. If you're looking for a place to eat meat with family in Ruwon City or Gajeong-dong, Incheon, it's worth a visit. There's something for a child to eat, and adults can enjoy the meat comfortably, so it suits a family outing well. This feels like the kind of place I'll think of when I want to grill pork neck and belly by a warm charcoal fire on a chilly day.