Nari's House

Tucked away in Seoul’s Hannam neighborhood, Nari’s House is the kind of time-honored establishment that locals have been returning to for decades. This no-frills nopo operates with a refreshing dedication to tradition, eschewing trendy renovations in favor of the straightforward approach that made it a neighborhood institution in the first place.

The real draw here is the pork belly, sliced impossibly thin and grilled right at your table. The frozen cuts hit the grill and transform in seconds, developing those beautifully caramelized edges while maintaining that distinctively Korean chew at the center. It’s the kind of technique that only comes from years of doing one thing exceptionally well.

But don’t overlook the scallion salad that accompanies your meal. Shredded into delicate ribbons and dressed with a punchy, assertive seasoning, it’s designed to be swept through the rendered pork fat pooling on your plate. The combination of crispy meat, sharp alliums, and rich drippings is simple and utterly satisfying.

The ordering system here runs on paper tickets and the efficiency of staff who could probably do this in their sleep. It might seem chaotic at first, but trust the process. Nari’s House rewards those who embrace its old-school charm and come hungry for honest, well-executed Korean BBQ.