Gwangju Yangsan-dong's Hidden Gem: Ggulggulyi Sottukkeong Samgyeopsal (Pork Belly)
A must-visit restaurant in Yangsan-dong, Gwangju: Ggulggulyi Sottukkeong Samgyeopsal!
Located at 18 Yangsantekji-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Unit 102, 1st Floor), this newly opened restaurant is run by a chef with considerable experience. You can taste the dedication in every single side dish, which are plentiful and delicious.
This place is so satisfying that it makes you forget all about value for money. It's truly a gem!
Ggulggulyi Sottukkeong Samgyeopsal is situated in the food alley near the Yangsan-dong Community Service Center intersection. Parking is available on the surrounding streets.
Even on a late weekend afternoon, the restaurant was bustling with customers, proving its reputation as a popular spot in Yangsan-dong. It's open until midnight!
Inside, there's a separate, very spacious area, making it perfect for company dinners or group gatherings. Making a reservation is recommended.
The menu features 100% Korean female pork. Not only that, but the rice and kimchi are also domestically sourced, showing the owner's attention to detail.
Since the meat is grilled on a large cast iron lid (sottukkeong), and I personally prefer Samgyeopsal (pork belly), I ordered 2 servings of Samgyeopsal and a bowl of Janchi Guksu (banquet noodles).
The side dishes are meticulously prepared. From various dipping sauces to the incredibly delicious Pa-kimchi (scallion kimchi) and Baechu-kimchi (napa cabbage kimchi), and the homemade Jangajji (pickled vegetables), everything is amazing.
Gompi (seaweed) Myuk Jangajji (pickled seaweed stems), Melon Jangajji (pickled melon), Perilla Leaf Jangajji (pickled perilla leaves)...
The quality of these side dishes is unbelievable for a Korean BBQ restaurant!
They also serve homemade Umut-gasari (agar jelly) and refreshing Oi-naengguk (cold cucumber soup), perfect for summer.
Kimchi for grilling with the meat is provided separately. There were so many side dishes that the table for four was completely full even though there were only two of us.
A variety of Ssamchae (wraps) are provided: young radish greens, angelica, kale, perilla leaves, lettuce, and chili peppers. Adults will definitely love it!
Samgyeopsal grilled on a large cast iron lid… This is truly a fantastic restaurant in Yangsan-dong, Gwangju.
You can experience heartfelt side dishes and the rustic charm of a Sottukkeong (cast iron lid) at Ggulggulyi Sottukkeong Samgyeopsal in Yangsan-dong.
Korean female pork Samgyeopsal costs ₩16,000 per serving (we ordered 2 servings).
Fresh Samgyeopsal, mushrooms, and onions are served, along with vegetables perfect for grilling with the meat.
The pork fat that came with it is for coating the cast iron lid!
Since the lid is so large, you can grill 2 servings of meat and all the vegetables and kimchi at once, allowing you to cook the generous portion quickly!
Grilling on the sizzling Sottukkeong gives you the feeling of visiting grandma's house, almost like a trip.
I grilled the meat separately at first and then stir-fried the remaining Samgyeopsal with kimchi, like Kimchi Samgyeopsal.
With a variety of side dishes perfect for enjoying with the meat, such as perilla seed powder, scallion salad, fermented sauce, and Ssamchae (wraps), you can enjoy different combinations to your liking.
The owner frequently checked if we needed more side dishes and quickly cleared our empty plates, allowing us to focus on our meal comfortably.
The grilled kimchi, angelica wraps, and even the seaweed Jangajji were so delicious that I couldn't leave any behind.
Janchi Guksu (Banquet Noodles): ₩6,000
A generous portion of clear broth, perfect for a satisfying individual meal. It's loaded with thin noodles, eggs, and Gim-garu (dried seaweed flakes).
I ordered it in advance to eat with the meat. Bibim-naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) would have been delicious too, but I was really craving the comforting Janchi Guksu.
Maybe it's because there was a large clam in it, but I could taste the seafood's unique coolness in the broth. Eating it with fresh kimchi was a perfect combination, and I devoured it without realizing it.
Ggulggulyi Sottukkeong Samgyeopsal offers a comforting neighborhood atmosphere in Yangsan-dong, Gwangju, where you can fill your stomach and enjoy a pleasant drink.
The friendly owner's homemade side dishes, fresh pork, and Ssamchae (wraps) are the highlights.
Because it's open until midnight, it's great for visiting a Korean BBQ place late at night.
Address: 18 Yangsantekji-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Unit 102, 1st Floor)
Business Hours: Daily 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Last Order 11:10 PM)
Closed: Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
No comments yet.
