[NON-HALAL]

With the K-wave having taken root, it is not surprising that the culinary scene has seen quite the transformation as well. Drive through any urban centre and you’ll find a Korean restaurant or two around every corner.

But if you’re in search of good food at affordable prices, head to the food haven of Sri Petaling where “Don Dwae Ji Sam Gyeob Sal” welcomes a steady crowd of customers daily.

Loosely translated to “Pork Belly”, this eatery is open from 12.00pm to 10.00pm and is often crowded, doubly so on weekend evenings when a queue builds up outside.

What’s so great about this eatery that many are willing to wait for a table?

For one, it is a Korean barbecue restaurant, where slabs of raw or marinated meat is given to patrons to cook by themselves using attached grills.

Secondly, it operates on an “eat-all-you-can” concept and it is quite serious about that; most of the dishes, including the meats, will be constantly topped up with no limit.

It is not too dissimilar from a buffet restaurant in that sense, though you won’t have to go around refilling your plates personally.

And thirdly, unlike most buffets, this is a very affordable option, being priced at an absurdly low RM29.90 per person.

If you have kids tagging along, take note that those below the height of 130cm will be charged RM17 per meal, and anyone shorter than 80cm gets a free meal.

Given that this is the all-day price with meats, side dishes and noodles included, it is definitely value for money. So, come hungry and leave content.

Expect to queue up if you come here for a weekend dinner, but the staff are often swift enough to show you to a table once available.

The restaurant itself is surprisingly comfortable, though the grill smoke and smell of grilled meat is pervasive in the air-conditioned dining area.

Upon being seated, feel free to take your pick of refreshments. Tea is always available, as is a large variety of soju – but get that GrabCar ready.

As is tradition in Korean restaurants, the “banchan” or side dishes come first and there are eight of them to sate your hunger.

The homemade kimchi is possibly the highlight, being equal parts sour, spicy and garlicky; a nutritious treat to start the meal with.

Other goodies include the peanuts with sweet sauce and pickled radish. Needless to say, given the endless refills, you will be half-full before the meat even shows up.

Speaking of the meat, it’s nothing short of glorious. You can pick from five types of protein; namely, pork belly, pork shoulder loin, sausage, marinated pork and spicy marinated chicken.

The meat is flavourful and juicy in all the right ways and having to grill it yourself gives you the satisfaction of cooking it just the way you want it.

For that reason, it is recommended you bring family or friends along, as Korean barbecues are meant to be enjoyed by many rather than one.

Some spotlight is definitely reserved for the pork belly, which if you cook it long enough, will achieve a perfect crispiness and crunch.

The spicy marinated chicken is also nothing to sneeze at, and it’s best enjoyed wrapped in fresh greens.

However, perhaps some improvement could be made with the sausages, which seemed to be more akin to dry, store-bought stuff than big, juicy frankfurters.

Then again, the meats are completely refillable, so feel free to gorge on whatever your heart desires, or your stomach craves.

If you are in need of carbs, perhaps stick with the Ra Myeon or spicy instant noodles, since rice is not included in the package.

All in all, given the reasonable price and plentiful food, money spent here is money well spent, especially if you’re a voracious carnivore on the hunt for your next meal.

Don Dwae Ji Sam Gyeob Sal (NON-HALAL)
83, Jalan Radin Tengah
Sri Petaling
57000 Kuala Lumpur

Business hours: 12pm-10pm daily, 3pm-10pm on Sundays
Contact: 03-9056 2573