Jongam-dong Hwaya Gongneung Direct Store

About

Known for thick skirt meat (galmaegisal) pre-grilled and finished table-side, served with grilled white kimchi and generous banchan near Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail.

Just a short walk from Gongneung Station and near the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, Jongam-dong Hwaya offers an exceptionally well-executed Korean barbecue experience centered on prime cuts of pork. The interior is spacious, featuring deep sofa seating suited for family meals or group gatherings, yet the service remains attentive down to the smallest detail. While thick-cut samgyeopsal and juicy moksal have their devoted fans, the undeniable signature here is the whole galmaegisal (pork skirt meat). The kitchen first sears the meat through an initial round of charcoal grilling, delivering cuts that arrive roughly seventy to eighty percent cooked. Staff then finish grilling at the table, taking the pork right to eighty percent doneness to lock in its rich juices and preserve its springy, tender chew without filling the dining room with heavy smoke. The first bite needs nothing more than a touch of coarse salt, followed by dab of fresh wasabi. The banchan spread easily rivals the main proteins. Diners are greeted with spicy marinated raw crab (yangnyeom gejang), pickled myeongi leaves, pungent green onion kimchi, and bountiful piles of crisp lettuce. A bubbling, complimentary doenjang jjigae arrives alongside the meats, balanced and savory without turning overly salty. One insider move is laying the house baek-kimchi (white kimchi) directly onto the hot grill; as it caramelizes, its gentle acidity mimics the depth of aged kimchi in a pancake, effortlessly cutting through the richness of the pork. Guests can pair their meal with a signature Hwaya-ball highball, though the restaurant also offers free corkage for those bringing their own wine. Whether visiting for a leisurely lunch or a bustling evening round of pork skirt meat and cold naengmyeon, it remains a standout dining anchor in Nowon.