Gwangalli pork barbecue with myeongran rice: Donbegi Gwang-an

While looking for a nice pork belly spot in Gwangalli, I visited Donbegi Gwang-an Branch (돈베기 광안점), a polished, upscale Busan barbecue restaurant where the staff grill the meat for you. It has private rooms, so it would be great for family meals or gatherings with friends—and because it is a pet-friendly restaurant in Gwangalli, it is also a lovely place to stop by when you want to dine comfortably with your dog.

Where is Donbegi Gwang-an Branch?

Donbegi is at 34 Millakbon-dong-ro 11beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan. It sits behind Seohui Starhills Centum Primo toward Millak Park, so it was easy enough to find even on a first visit. Hours are 12:00–23:00. I could use the Seohui Starhills Centum Primo underground parking lot, with one hour of parking support.

The interior and bringing a dog

The blend of hanok-inspired and modern touches created an upscale yet neat atmosphere. There were plenty of tables, plus private rooms and an open hall, making it easy to settle in for a comfortable meal.

They also had high chairs, so it seemed good for a family meal as well as a get-together with friends.

And I really liked that it is a Gwangalli restaurant where you can dine with your dog. *When entering with a pet, they can check whether vaccinations have been given, so be sure to bring vaccination records or a receipt!!

The 480-hour-aged pork menu

The menu includes a range of cuts based on pork aged for 480 hours, including pork neck, pork belly, and special cuts, with both individual dishes and sets to choose from. I ordered the aged ogeopsal (five-layer pork belly) and meal dishes. Honestly, it was an excellent choice..

Once you order, they set out the basic side dishes that go so well with pork belly.

The sides were clean-tasting and neatly presented, perfect alongside the meat.

The soybean sprout soup was so refreshing, a great way to wake up the appetite before the meal.

The sweet-and-tangy scallion pickles were a perfect match for the meat. They were exactly my thing, so I got two refills, haha. And it was extra convenient that I could freely help myself to any sides I needed at the self-service bar.

How was the fire-kissed ogeopsal?

Our order arrived lightly cooked through an initial grill.

Because it had been pre-grilled, it carried a gentle smoky aroma, and the staff grilled it once more at the table until it was ready to eat. It was nice to chat comfortably with my friend while the meat cooked instead of having to worry about grilling it myself. They cut the nicely browned meat into easy-to-eat pieces, too. Just enough fat rendered out while the juices stayed inside, and I loved how tender it was from the first bite.

The gentle smoky flavor made it good wrapped in ssam (leaf wraps), but it was also delicious on its own, letting the clean flavor of the pork shine through.

There was a wide selection of sauces and jangajji (pickled vegetables), and adding a little to the pork belly gave it a clean, different kind of flavor.

The pork was so tender and light that, as the two of us chatted and ate, we had somehow cleared a whole platter.

Kimchi stew and myeongran rice, too

After finishing the meat, we ordered kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew).

It was generously filled with meat, and its pleasantly spicy broth was great with plain white rice. And the myeongran rice here was truly a specialty. With the signature sauce unique to this Busan staff-grilled barbecue restaurant and salty myeongran (pollock roe), it had a nutty, savory flavor that completely won me over.

I finished a whole bowl with just the myeongran rice—no other sides needed. If I come back, I think I will absolutely order the myeongran rice again.

Why I recommend it for dining with dogs in Gwangalli

Because it is a restaurant where the staff grill the meat, we could relax over the meal without wondering who should cook the pork belly. The atmosphere was neat and upscale, so it would be nice for a birthday or a gathering with friends. It can be hard to find places where you can comfortably eat with your dog, and that made this pet-friendly Gwangalli restaurant even better. If you are looking for a place to enjoy a relaxed meal in a stylish atmosphere, I recommend it.