Without a doubt, the most popular posts on my blog have always been the ones highlighting “Best Seafood in Busan.” But honestly, Busan has SO many other mind-blowing foods besides seafood!
[The Best Seafood in Busan : A Guide to Jagalchi Market and Beyond]
My Google Maps list of saved Busan eateries is practically overflowing—I often wonder if I’ll ever manage to visit them all in my lifetime!
During this recent trip, however, we were facing unprecedented summer heat. Thinking about the kids, we decided that a high-quality meat feast would be a much safer and more energizing option than raw seafood under the blazing sun.
A Taste That Still Haunts Me Back in Seoul!
Little did I know, this barbecue spot would leave such an unforgettable impression on us.
Even after returning to Seoul, the rich flavor and unbelievable juiciness of that meat keep popping up in my mind. It was truly that delicious! I realized I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I decided to hurry up and post these mouthwatering photos just to relive the memory—and satisfy my cravings a little bit! Haha.
In fact, the craving was so real that I already made my family promise that we’re going to our neighborhood’s absolute best samgyeopsal spot this coming weekend!
Matchandeul King Salt Grill: Haeundae Branch
The place that completely won us over was none other than Matchandeul King Salt Grill (맛찬들 왕소금구이)!
While they have several branches across Busan, we visited the Haeundae branch.
When we got there, we noticed it was located right in front of the SONO MOON Hotel. Because of the prime location, we saw so many foreign tourists staying at the hotel walking around nearby. I felt such an urge to walk up to them and say:
“Hey, this BBQ spot right outside your hotel is insanely good—you HAVE to try it!”
If you ask any Korean local who knows their way around pork belly, Matchandeul is a spot that’s universally recognized and approved. The quality and flavor are 100% guaranteed!
3.5cm Thick Cuts: Locking in Pure Juiciness
At Matchandeul, they freshly prep and trim thick slabs of high-grade pork the moment an order comes in—and wow, the quality of the meat is outstanding!
One of their signature highlights is serving the pork cut to a precise thickness of 3.5 centimeters.
Different Korean BBQ spots have their own distinct styles: some slice the pork belly very thin to crisp up the edges and drain off excess fat, while others prefer thick-cut slabs. Matchandeul goes all-in on thick cuts, ensuring that every bite seals in maximum rich, flavorful juices!
Butcher-Style Precision: Weighted Right to the Gram
Another cool feature is their butcher-style pricing system!
Just like at a traditional meat shop, once you order your desired number of portions, they slice the pork, weigh it precisely, and serve it on a plate complete with a price tag sticker showing the exact weight and price down to the gram.
Seeing that official weight sticker brought such a fun, trustworthy touch to the table right from the start!
Expert Grilling Service: Hand Over Your Tongs!
Another fantastic perk of Matchandeul is that you don’t have to grill a single piece of meat yourself—the staff takes care of the entire process to ensure it’s cooked to absolute perfection!
Before placing any meat on the grill, they actually use an infrared thermometer gun to check the exact grill surface temperature. Only when the grill reaches the ideal heat do they lay down those thick slabs of pork.
While grilling your own meat can sometimes be part of the fun, with cuts this thick (3.5cm!), having a trained professional handle it makes a world of difference in locking in every drop of savory juice.
So, to all our foreign guests and local foodies alike: just relax and hand over the tongs and scissors! ✂️
(In Korea, it’s almost instinctual for locals to automatically grab the tongs as soon as the meat arrives. But if you try to put it on the grill yourself here, the staff will gently stop you and say with a smile, “No worries, we’ll grill it all for you!”
Feast of Side Dishes: The Ultimate Flavor Ensemble
While the staff expertly grills the meat, an array of vibrant side dishes (banchan) is neatly arranged across the table to pair perfectly with every bite.
Among them, the standout was a massive bowl of crunchy bean sprouts tossed in a spicy, seasoned red dressing. It takes the place of the usual seasoned green onion salad (pajeori) found at most K-BBQ spots, offering a wonderfully crisp texture and bold kick. My husband fell in love with these seasoned bean sprouts and ended up requesting a second huge bowl!
Tangy Pickles & Aged Kimchi for the Perfect Bite
Alongside the bean sprouts, they serve aged washed kimchi (mukeunji), thinly shredded pickled radish, and a colorful assortment of house-made pickles crafted from fresh seaweed and crisp vegetables.
These sweet and tangy pickled accompaniments were fantastic for stimulating the appetite even before the first piece of meat was ready, and they provided the ultimate refreshing balance to cut through the rich, savory pork fat later on!
The Perfect First Bite: Curated Combos & Grilled Salted Shrimp
Once the staff finishes grilling the pork to golden-brown perfection, they treat you to a special service: crafting custom “first-bite combinations” for everyone at the table!
They layer a piece of lightly charred aged kimchi (mukeunji), place a juicy slice of pork right on top, and finish it off with a touch of spicy-sweet shredded radish and pickled chili peppers.
Handing it over to taste, that explosion of rich meat juices balanced by tangy, crisp pickles was so incredible that I felt like I could go on eating forever without getting tired of it!
Golden Crispy Salted Tiny Shrimp: A Savory Game-Changer
Another highlight was how they pan-fry salted tiny shrimp (saeujeot) right alongside the meat on the grill.
I am an absolute fan of this combination! When salted tiny shrimp is toasted until crisp, the saltiness transforms into a deep, nutty, savory umami flavor that elevates the pork belly to a whole new level.
Being able to pair crisp, toasted salted tiny shrimp with such thick, juicy pork here was a detail I deeply appreciated—it made the whole dining experience truly memorable!
Free Lunch Perk: Doenjang-jjigae & Gondre Stone Pot Rice!
As I always say, a true Korean BBQ feast is never complete without a hot bowl of Soybean Paste Stew (Doenjang-jjigae) or refreshing Cold Noodles (Naengmyeon)!
When we tried to order a bowl of Doenjang-jjigae, we were pleasantly surprised to find out they were running a lunch hour promotion—offering both the stew and a steaming Gondre (Cirsium) Stone Pot Rice completely free of charge! YAY!
Ending on a Refreshing Note: Bibim Makguksu & Dongchimi Broth!
Having come all the way down to Busan, it felt like a missed opportunity not to order some spicy buckwheat noodles (Makguksu), so we ordered a bowl of Bibim Makguksu as well! Haha.
Bibim Makguksu is quite similar to standard spicy mixed noodles (Bibim Guksu), with the main difference being the noodles themselves—Makguksu uses hearty buckwheat noodles (memil-myeon), which have a texture similar to Japanese buckwheat soba noodles.
2-in-1 Secret Trick: Bibim & Water Makguksu in One Bowl!
This place had another surprising twist in store for us!
When our Bibim Makguksu arrived, we were surprised to see two separate bundles of noodles sitting in the bowl, served alongside a side bowl of ice-cold dongchimi (radish kimchi) broth.
The staff explained that we could mix the seasoned noodle bundle with the spicy sauce for traditional spicy Bibim Makguksu, and drop the plain second bundle directly into the cold dongchimi broth to enjoy it as refreshing Mul Makguksu—just like cold soup noodles (Naengmyeon)!
Woah! Ordering just one dish gave us two completely different noodle meals in one go. Why is this restaurant so insanely generous with their portions and service?! Heheh. 😆
The sweet, spicy, and tangy Bibim Makguksu was fantastic, and the ice-cold Mul Makguksu with its crisp dongchimi broth was equally refreshing. Our group immediately divided into two passionate camps: Team Bibim vs. Team Mul!
So, which style fits your taste buds better—spicy & tangy Bibim Makguksu or crisp & ice-cold Mul Makguksu?
📌 Related Busan Posts You’ll Love
Once you’ve wrapped up your ultimate pork belly feast with a satisfying bowl of noodles, don’t forget to check out the link below to discover where to grab the perfect cup of coffee afterward! You can also browse through for plenty of delicious inspiration for tomorrow’s meal~
I carefully curated these recommendations specifically for my blog readers because I wanted to share genuine spots loved by local Koreans and Busan residents—not just typical tourist-trap joints.
(As you all know, I’m pretty picky and strict when it comes to delicious food, so you can trust me on this one! 🔥)
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