Odam (온담)
After an afternoon exploring Jeonju's historic streets, we settled in for dinner at Odam (온담), a modern Korean barbecue restaurant that specialises in premium pork.
The signature dish is thick-cut pork neck, grilled over charcoal until beautifully caramelised on the outside while remaining remarkably juicy and tender in the centre. Rather than slicing the meat thinly like many Korean barbecue restaurants, Odam serves generous cubes that showcase the natural flavour and texture of the pork. The staff grills everything for you, ensuring every piece is cooked perfectly.
One of the highlights was the accompanying aged kimchi stew. Deeply savoury with a pleasant tang from the well-fermented kimchi, it was loaded with generous chunks of pork that had absorbed all the rich flavours of the broth. Comforting, hearty and packed with flavour, it paired wonderfully with steamed rice.
We also ordered a pot of spicy ramen, cooked with bean sprouts, tofu and a freshly cracked egg. The broth was robust without being overwhelmingly spicy, making it the perfect way to round off the meal.
Simple, honest and expertly executed, Odam reminded us that sometimes the best Korean barbecue isn't about extravagant cuts of meat, but about quality ingredients, careful cooking and letting the natural flavours shine. It was a satisfying first dinner in Jeonju and another reminder of why Korea does pork so exceptionally well.
