We had a college reunion get-together at Gangnam Station. The organizers picked Hanam Pig House, a chain whose branches seem to be popping up everywhere. It was my first time there, and the line was seriously long—we waited about an hour, I think. Once I tasted the food, I understood why it’s so popular.

Side dishes

A well-thought-out lineup that cuts through the richness of the pork belly.

Pork

The meat comes out pre-grilled once. Since the pork belly is cut thick, they sear it in the kitchen before bringing it out, and whether it was the crowd or the thickness, it took a while. Still, the quality of the meat was decent. (If you want truly top-grade pork, you’d have to go to a specialist rather than a chain, of course.)

Grilling and more grilling

There’s no way thick-cut pork belly loaded with fat can taste bad. No reason to bother with any other cut. Maybe it’s the concept, but the chain seems to be multiplying exponentially these days.

Stew

Fried rice

For a chain, I was very satisfied. It seems like a good spot for a casual get-together or a work dinner. With chains at this level these days, I can’t help worrying a bit about the folks running independent barbecue joints…

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