Hello everyone! Today, I’m excited to share my long-awaited review of a restaurant that has been on my mind for nearly a decade, even before I started my YouTube channel. This place piqued my curiosity so much, yet somehow, I never got around to visiting it until recently. The restaurant I’m talking about is none other than the famous Infinite Challenge Spicy Pork BBQ (무한도전 돼지불백) restaurant, Gamnamujip (감나무집)!

The Legendary Infinite Challenge Pork BBQ

For 13 years, Infinite Challenge reigned as Korea’s top variety show. Most Koreans are likely familiar with the “Infinite Challenge Pork BBQ” episode. It aired about 9 years ago, in 2013, as part of the “Wonderful Day (멋진하루)” special. In this episode, the members became taxi drivers for a day. During lunchtime, they gathered at a local “gisa-sikdang” (drivers’ restaurant) to eat. There, the Infinite Challenge members devoured a staggering 11 servings of the restaurant’s daily special: Spicy Pork BBQ (돼지불백).

Usually, in most broadcasts, especially on public channels, there’s an unspoken rule to always say food is delicious, regardless of the actual taste. However, viewers of the episode could tell that the Infinite Challenge members’ reactions to the pork BBQ were genuinely enthusiastic. It didn’t seem like forced praise. Usually, a natural reaction would be to say something is “moderately tasty.” It’s unlikely the production crew would have asked them to exaggerate their reactions. Yet, each member reacted as if they had discovered some legendary, hidden gem, a truly phenomenal local 맛집 (tasty restaurant). This broadcast transformed the ordinary gisa-sikdang into an overnight sensation, becoming one of the most famous 맛집s created by Infinite Challenge.

Finally Visiting Gamnamujip in Yeonnam-dong

As a huge Infinite Challenge fan at the time, I watched the original broadcast. Visually, the pork BBQ looked incredibly ordinary—something you could easily find anywhere, and its taste seemed predictable. I was genuinely curious: what was so special about this seemingly mundane dish that made the members lose their minds and eat so heartily? However, back then, I was working two jobs, a wedding hall job and a late-night part-time job, leaving me with no time or money to visit. And even if I had time, I didn’t have friends to go with, let alone a girlfriend (still don’t have one, by the way – moving on!). So, until now, I hadn’t had the chance to try it.

But today is the day! I’m finally visiting Gamnamujip (감나무집), the best 맛집 created by Infinite Challenge, located in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, a place made famous by the nation’s greatest variety show, Infinite Challenge, led by Yoo Jae-seok!

My Dining Experience: Taste and Atmosphere

The pork BBQ that the Infinite Challenge members ate is indeed available here. They’ve been serving it at this location since the broadcast. I ordered 2 servings of the pork BBQ. The price has increased by ₩2,000 since the broadcast, now costing ₩9,000 per person, with prepayment required.

The meal set includes lettuce wraps, spicy pork BBQ, soybean paste stew (된장찌개), kimchi soup, steamed egg, and side dishes like kimchi, bean sprouts, and seaweed stem salad. My first impression was that while gisa-sikdangs are generally known for cheap prices and generous portions, Gamnamujip, with this menu composition and price, doesn’t exactly scream “great value.” Lettuce, ssamjang (soybean dipping sauce), garlic, and kimchi are available for self-service refills.

Standard Gisa-Sikdang Fare

The taste of the side dishes, excluding the pork BBQ, was typical of any 백반집 (baekban house – Korean set meal restaurant). They were ordinary and familiar, with nothing particularly special or outstanding, which is expected.

The Pork BBQ: Meeting Expectations?

The main event was the pork BBQ, the dish that captivated the Infinite Challenge members. As I mentioned, from the broadcast, it looked very ordinary, and the taste seemed predictable. And indeed, the taste was exactly as I had imagined – incredibly ordinary, almost unbelievably so. Looking at it, you’d probably imagine a certain taste, and that’s exactly what it was. If there was one slight disappointment, it was that the pork BBQ was served lukewarm, not freshly grilled. It seemed pre-cooked. This made me even more puzzled about why the Infinite Challenge members enjoyed it so much.

Let me be clear: I’m not saying the pork BBQ was bad. Pork BBQ, unless it’s overly salty, bland, or has a porky smell, is generally decent. Gamnamujip’s pork BBQ was definitely 맛있는 (delicious), and I had a perfectly acceptable meal. However, it was just very ordinary. Most gisa-sikdangs or baekban houses serve food with this level of normalcy—nothing particularly unique or exceptional. It’s just a typical restaurant. My main question remains: what made the Infinite Challenge members eat 11 servings of this seemingly ordinary dish with such gusto?

The Infinite Challenge Mystery Remains

Infinite Challenge, over its long run, showed many scenes of the members eating. They often praised the food, but the level of enthusiastic reaction to this pork BBQ was almost unprecedented. If you rewatch the episode on YouTube, you’ll see their genuine reactions. It didn’t seem fake at all. And there was no apparent reason for them to fake such reactions. The episode’s theme was about communicating with people while taxi driving, not focusing on a lunch break. It’s hard to believe they would collectively act like a meal during a work break was the most amazing food they’d ever had.

My personal guess? Rewatching the “Wonderful Day” Infinite Challenge episode, I noticed some members mentioning they were hungry from the morning. Perhaps, they were particularly hungry that day, and taxi driving further amplified their hunger, making the pork BBQ taste exceptionally delicious. But that’s just my personal speculation.

Conclusion: Worth a Visit for Infinite Challenge Fans

In conclusion, Gamnamujip is a 맛집 made famous by Korea’s greatest variety show, Infinite Challenge. While I didn’t find anything particularly outstanding about the pork BBQ itself—it was indeed a standard gisa-sikdang dish—my expectations were likely influenced by the members’ reactions. If you visit without overly high expectations due to the Infinite Challenge hype, you’ll likely have a good meal. As an Infinite Challenge fan who’s been curious about this place for 9 years since the original broadcast, finally visiting was satisfying enough for me!

Restaurant Information:

Location: Yeonnam-dong, Seoul (서울 연남동)

General Sentiment: Good