Exclusive Korean BBQ with two ways to enjoy in Tainan – plus super-cute skewer hot pot & unlimited sides

Text & photos bymimi Han

I have to say, the bosses in Tainan are really amazing. Recently, we had a gathering at this place called “烧出名堂” (which translates roughly as “The Art of Grilling”). Not only is the name creative, but their unique take on Korean-style BBQ is also quite something. 烧出名堂 is a Korean BBQ restaurant that serves meat two ways – grilled and hot pot style. Prices per person are around NT$500–800, and they use really good ingredients. You can try signature items like their spicy skewer hot pot, American Red House ribeye, ultra-black Wagyu, and Iberico pork – all absolutely delicious. These dishes are seriously addictive, and the service is top-notch. Staff even offer table-side grilling service when needed. Egg rings and Korean side dishes are free and unlimited. The decor has a cool blend of industrial American and Korean styles, giving off a youthful vibe. It’s a great choice for family gatherings or friend meet-ups. Don’t miss out if you love Korean BBQ. Come check it out.

烧出名堂 is located on Zhonghua East Road in East Tainan, right across from the Nanshan Dream Mall. With its iron-gray exterior and not-so-obvious signage, I walked past it several times without even noticing. It’s very low-key. Parking nearby is okay – the shop subsidizes parking at the Dream Mall lot, or you can find street parking, though the road is pretty busy with fast-moving traffic, so be careful walking along the curb.

Monday night is usually a quiet time for restaurants, but 烧出名堂 was surprisingly busy. I’d definitely recommend making a reservation. The crowd was diverse – couples on dates, families, and colleagues – showing the place appeals to a wide range of diners. I checked their social page beforehand, and netizens rate it highly as one of the better Taiwanese-Korean fusion BBQ joints.

As soon as we sat down, six different Korean side dishes were served – all unlimited and refillable by asking the staff. They pair nicely with the grilled meats. For example, kimchi with beef tastes amazing, and pineapple with pork is a match made in heaven. Try them all. The grill in the middle of the table is made from a repurposed large metal barrel, which looks really unique on the wooden table.

The restaurant uses typical Korean tableware, but honestly, I’m not used to those flat chopsticks – they’re so heavy. Sauce selections are also served, and the staff said they’re all house-made. Soy sauce mixed with chili and onion works well for grilled meats, while sesame oil and salt is better for leaner cuts. The orange-red spicy sauce goes with both BBQ and hot pot.

They offer à la carte options and a variety of group set meals. With a big group that day, we went for the “Mountain & Sea Delights: Spicy Skewer Hot Pot × Ultra Black Grill” (a combo of pork and beef). The set included 120 pieces of hearty spicy skewer hot pot, 16 shrimp & seafood skewers, American PRIME-grade flanken-cut beef, American boneless short ribs, golden pork shoulder (Matsusaka-style), and thick-cut pork belly. We also added some à la carte dishes, making the whole table super loaded.(For the full menu, please click)

The pork and beef were beautifully arranged, and the beef grade was excellent – PRIME-grade American beef with even marbling. And don’t underestimate the pork – it’s the so-called “Rolls-Royce of pork,” Spanish Iberico. It’s completely free of any gamey taste, and it’s awesome.

The meat is amazing, but the broth base is the real highlight. On one side is a Korean cheese-spicy hot pot, and on the other, a ginseng tonic broth. That’s right – it’s a two-way grill AND a yin-yang hot pot combo. Pretty mind-blowing.

And get this – the ginseng chunks in the broth are huge. Most places either use tiny rootlets or just ginseng powder. This is the first time I’ve seen such big pieces in a restaurant. The soup is super rich – a friend said it probably came from bones simmered for 1–2 days.

I was wondering what “spicy skewer hot pot” (烫烫串) was, but when it arrived, it was seriously impressive. It’s made up of 120 skewers with a mix of fish cake, mushrooms, zucchini, bamboo shoots, baby bok choy, rice cakes, and cauliflower. There are also 16 seafood skewers with shrimp, squid, and small abalone. You can grill or boil them however you like.

Each skewer is bite-sized, making your Korean hot pot experience both healthy with veggies and fun with lots of variety. It’s such a creative way to dine.

The ginseng broth is light and refreshing, the Korean cheese-spicy broth is rich and flavorful, and the grilled meats are delicious as long as they’re not overcooked. Honestly, fresh vegetables cooked any way taste great. Eating them skewer-by-skewer, playfully and bit by bit, you end up eating way more veggies than usual. That’s pretty rare for a meat-heavy Korean BBQ meal.

Our à la carte ultra-black Wagyu flap meat was served with slices neatly arranged on a metal rack – each piece had beautiful marbling.

I love Korean BBQ – there’s nothing like digging into big pieces of meat.

You can also order some wrap veggies to go with the meat and Korean sides – perfect combo.

Also recommend trying the meatballs – each one is made from Wagyu burger meat and is super juicy when grilled or boiled. The staff even suggested lightly searing the outside before boiling for an extra-special flavor.

As for the massive thick-cut pork belly, while we were still deciding how to grill it, the staff stepped in to help. Watching them expertly slice and grill it, it quickly turned into tender, chewy strips. With service like that, I think the 10% service charge is totally reasonable. Some restaurants don’t even come by to refill your water.

The table is equipped with strong exhaust vents that can be adjusted in height – lower it when grilling for better smoke extraction. Still, you might end up with a slight smell of grilled food afterward, but it’s not too bad.

We also ordered the “seafood pancake” (海鲜煎饼), which was pretty tasty. It’s not like the typical Thai-style “moon shrimp pancakes.” The outside is crispy, and the inside is moist. You can dip it in Korean chili sauce, but honestly, it’s great on its own.

The plain fried chicken was also really good. The staff said it’s made with fresh, daily-slaughtered chicken. The golden crust is crispy like a cookie, and the chicken thigh meat is juicy and firm. Eat it while it’s hot – it gets greasier as it cools.

At the next table, a Red House ribeye steak set arrived, and the presentation was eye-catching. Where did they even find that giant spatula to serve the steak? The ribeye itself was huge – at other steakhouses, a single piece like that would cost over NT$1,000. Here, the double steak set is only NT$1,299, with one half being tender sirloin and the other chewy New York strip – a true dual-flavor delight.

For such a challenging cut, we left it to the pros. Just sit back and wait to eat. The value here is seriously high, and the set even comes with egg rings. I’ll definitely be back to try it again.

For dessert, we had black sugar pearl sago (we just made up the name) – a sweet ending.

Overall, our meal at 烧出名堂 was really great. The meat and broths were delicious, the experience was fun and novel, and the staff were super friendly. With a combo set plus a few à la carte items, it costs about NT$500–800 per person, which is totally reasonable. Plus, with unlimited egg rings and Korean sides, the value goes way up. It’s a place I’d bring friends or family back to. Plus, right across the street is the Nanshan Dream Mall – you can catch a movie or go shopping after dinner. “烧出名堂” is truly full of “名堂” (good stuff). A quick share from me.

烧出名堂 (Korean BBQ)
Facebook｜Menu
Address: No. 209, Section 1, Zhonghua East Road, East District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-2352988
Business hours: 11:30 - 15:00, 17:00 - 0:30

Mimi韩
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