Only Got Time for Two? The Best Samgyeopsal Spots You Can’t Miss in Korea

 If you’ve never had samgyeopsal, or Korean grilled pork belly, you're missing out on one of the most iconic Korean BBQ experiences

If you’re struggling to find good samgyeopsal in Korea, just check out these two spots — you won’t regret it.

I recommend two popular samgyeopsal chain restaurants: Hanan Pig House (하남돼지집) and Goban Restaurant (고반식당).

              

The reason I recommend these two places is because they offer grilling service. In many Korean restaurants, you usually have to grill the meat yourself, but at Hanan Pig House (하남돼지집) and Goban Restaurant (고반식당), the staff grills the meat for you, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your meal without the hassle!    

                

Both of these samgyeopsal restaurants are popular chains, so there’s a high chance you’ll find a location near you. 

Just type the restaurant name along with the subway station you're at into Google — it's the easiest way to find one nearby.

For example, if you're looking for Goban Restaurant (고반식당) near Yeouido Station, simply search for the restaurant name and 'Yeouido Station' on Google — it will show you the nearest location!

If you're unsure, just ask the manager at your accommodation for the location.

<Hanan Pig House (하남돼지집)>

Though they are chain restaurants, Hanan Pig House (하남돼지집) and Goban Restaurant (고반식당) are famous for their pre-grilled meat and grilling service by the staff. Hanan Pig House, true to its name, offers a variety of pork dishes! ❤️

                   

They have everything from samgyeopsal (pork belly), ogyeopsal (five-layered pork), moksal (pork neck), naengsam (cold pork belly), to even fresh ribs and makchang (pork large intestines). And the best part? All of their menu items come with pre-grilled meat, so you can enjoy your meal with ease!

Since they serve the meat with pre-grilling, it takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare.

As for the side dishes, they provided a variety of items to grill on the plate. The basic sides include myeongni-namul (pickled garlic leaves), chives, kimchi, tofu, onions, bean sprouts, mushrooms, chilies, perilla leaves, lettuce, and garlic. You also get a selection of sauces like salt, ssamjang (dipping sauce), meoljot (fermented shrimp sauce), wasabi, oil sauce, and bean powder.

Grilled kimchi with tofu is a perfect combination — tofu kimchi at its best! Haha, I even refilled it twice!

If you visit, I highly recommend trying the samgyeopsal (pork belly) and moksal (pork neck). These two are the essentials when it comes to pork dishes!

Once the samgyeopsal (pork belly) and moksal (pork neck) are perfectly grilled, the staff sets them aside so they don’t burn. They even say ‘Feel free to eat now!’ with a friendly smile. 😊

And they go the extra mile by neatly arranging the grilled vegetables on a plate for you. Such great service!

         

My friends are all experts at wrapping ssam! 

We even refilled the ssam vegetables twice. 

The lettuce and perilla leaves were so fresh!

Fast service with delicious meat! And the staff is incredibly friendly too. That’s Hanan Pig House (하남돼지집) for you!

<Goban Restaurant (고반식당)>

Goban Restaurant is also well-known for its grilling service, where the staff grills the meat for you. It's a trusted and reliable brand that you can always count on.

At Goban Restaurant, there’s no menu on the wall. Instead, you can find the menu printed on the table mat. Every time we visit, we always order the same thing — the 'Couple Set.' For just 50,000 KRW, you can enjoy both dishes and leave feeling full!

After placing your order, just sit back and relax – the staff will take care of everything for you! One thing you’ll notice at Goban Restaurant is the sheer variety of side dishes. There are so many, you might even think there are more side dishes than meat! And the portions are incredibly generous. 😊

               

You’ll get a variety of sides like myeongni-namul (pickled garlic leaves), pickled mustard greens, pickled kimchi, green onion kimchi, chili & garlic, fernbrake (gosari), garlic sauce, ssamjang (dipping sauce), meoljot (fermented shrimp sauce), salt, wasabi, spicy sauce, and fermented seafood.

                                                                           

This is eolgal-gi geotjeori (seasoned young napa cabbage). It’s crispy and has a nutty flavor from the sesame oil, so I couldn’t stop reaching for more! 😊

And then came the steamed egg! It arrived all fluffy and puffed up. Since it starts to sink after a while, I quickly pressed it down with my spoon!

In Korea, all the side dishes are free! And you can even refill them!

They grill the meat over charcoal for you. Here we have 2 servings of fresh samgyeopsal (pork belly) and 1 serving of fresh moksal (pork neck), along with mushrooms, green onions, and chili peppers.

As expected, it's always better when the professionals grill the meat. Plus, you don’t have to worry about it, so you can just enjoy your meal. 

          

They also grill the fernbrake (gosari) for you, and once it's done, they neatly place everything on a separate plate. You can always trust Goban Restaurant for fresh samgyeopsal!

It’s delicious when you eat it with the side dishes, especially when you wrap it in myeongni-namul (pickled garlic leaves) — it’s absolutely heavenly!

The meat is great, but the side dishes are also abundant and of high quality. With a variety of clean and well-prepared side dishes, you can enjoy the meal and customize the flavors to your liking throughout the meal.

With the grilling service where the staff grills the meat for you, it's a comfortable and easy dining experience. Head over to Goban Restaurant, a top spot for samgyeopsal, and enjoy a clean and hassle-free meal!

When traveling between Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, be sure to use the subway.

💗I hope you have a wonderful trip to Korea and enjoy lots of delicious food!💗

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below!

If you want to learn more about Korea, 

click on the 'South Korea Seoul Trip' label on this blog.😃