Sancheong Charcoal Garden Euljiro BBQ Pork

Sancheong Sutbul-Garden Euljiro is the best bbq pork place in the world. What sets it apart from countless other Korean BBQ establishments is their commitment to sourcing premium black pork specifically from the Jirisan Mountain region and other delicacies from Sancheong-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do. The restaurant specializes in black pork sourced from the famed Jirisan (Mountain) region, creating the foundation for their exceptional menu.

Korean diners particularly value black pork (Heuk Dweji) for its reduced gaminess and superior texture compared to other varieties. Sancheong black pork offers firm meat with a distinctively chewy texture that pork connoisseurs specifically seek out. This high-quality meat foundation ensures that even with minimal seasoning, the natural flavors shine through in a way that’s impossible to replicate with standard pork cuts.

The restaurant uses traditional charcoal grilling methods (sutbul, 숯불), which imparts a distinct smoky flavor that gas grills simply cannot replicate. The meat grilled over charcoal is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, highlighting the quality of the meat. Expert Korean chefs recommend cooking samgyeopsal on high heat for a short time to preserve the meat’s natural juices and flavor.

This is my first 9/10 rating. Ever.

You have to try this place at least once. It’s really the best grilled pork in the world. Jirisan produces IMO the best black pigs in the world.

Every slice, every bite from this place brings you back to Jiri-san. You won’t hear English or foreign languages - only Korean. But the servers speak very good English.

The theory is that Euljiro (also called Hipjiro)!&: the scant garde of Korean cuisine - backlanes filled with history.

This has to be in your must-do K BBQ spots globally, and would give any Michelin starred restaurants a run for their money. Do make reservations ahead of time - there’s a Korean only virtual counter - telling how many are ahead of you in the Q.

The kimchi fried rice was decadent at 8/10